[Media-watch]

Thu Apr 1 10:13:31 BST 2004

Dear Mediawatchers,

A quick note on the function of media watch.  As some of you will know this
list was set up in January 2003 following a meeting on media and war in
which we all felt that we had to do something to challenge the endless lies
and distortions being fed to us on the then proposed attack on Iraq.  The
list was intended to  have two purposes.  First the circulate information
about media issues as intellectual self defence.  Second, to try and
encourage people to write to the mainstream media to complain.

Perhaps part of Iain's point is that the latter function has not been as
successful as the former.  I agree that this is the case, although I would
also say that I am aware for list members writing to complain without
copying their missives to the list.  Perhaps I can use this opportunity to
reiterate that the list is intended to provide some inspiration to writing
to the media to complain.  When people do complain it is useful and can be
inspiring for you to share your emails (and any responses) with the list.  I
have heard people say that the erudition of some complainants puts them off
and that many people feel inhibited by their self perceived lack of
knowledge etc.  I would welcome any response on this question and especially
on how it might be overcome.

On the circulation of information for intellectual self defence, my
impression in discussions with various listmembers is that many people do
find this useful.  I know that I certainly do and I have used the list (and
its archives - which for those that don't know are online at:
http://lists.stir.ac.uk/pipermail/media-watch/) as a resource on many
occasions.  Can I just say a big thank you to everyone who takes the trouble
to post and to get involved.

Feel free to email (on or off list) with responses or suggestions.

Best wishes

David

From: "YvonneMarshall" <Brotherhoods at stevenston4.fsnet.co.uk>
Date: Wed, 31 Mar 2004 00:32:25 +0100
To: <media-watch at lists.stir.ac.uk>
Subject: [Media-watch] (no subject)

Dear List-Members,

This is a personal rant, no links attached.

Traffic at this address has diminished of late, and if it wasn't for the
contributions of D Miller and Julie-anne Davis then I'd have nothing -
precisely nothing - to rant about. The fact that submissions are still being
made to media-watch is, in itself, encouraging, but the paucity of comment
and reaction to developments by those who have subscribed to the list since
its inception is depressing.

Who is it that takes the time to read this list, to respond to postings, to
stay up way-past their bedtimes when they could be doing so many other
things ? Who, in their right mind, would want to tap away at a keyboard when
other sensible beings are, if not asleep, partaking in on-line orgies and
quizzes ? What is the point of this ?

Hello ?

Yes, you. It must be you. You're reading this. If you are as half-witted as
me then you're trying, without really knowing why, to create a 'debate'
which does not happen elsewhere. You are perhaps sick and tired of watching
News-24 and the other 'non-stop' news channels which promise so much but
deliver so little. Maybe you're sick of being fed lies by people who are
employed, and work, in shifts, to deliver the scripts which are fed to them
by people who are, in turn, thoroughly sick of what they do but have no
'realistic' option.

Do you have a mortgage ? Yes, so do I. Do you have children ? Yes, so do I.
The very same excuses are made by those who dutifully script and deliver the
often comically inane cobblers fed to us all as 'news'. If this isn't a
preoccupation of media-watch then it f***ing well should be. "I was only
doing what I was told..." Aye, right, sure thing, heard it...nae excuse at
all, at all.

So, why do we do it  ? Why do we send each other bits and pieces of 'news'
which don't appear on the telly or the radio ? What is the point ?

What is it about this list that will make it last, make it relevant, make it
something worth recommending to friends etc etc ? I don't know. Do you ?

Why is it that, even on an open forum like this, people are unable, or
unwilling, to state their own feelings about what's happening in media
rather than simply post links to the work of others ? Is this forum not a
legitimate arena for airing original, personal views ?

If so, where are they ? My name is not Yvonne Marshall, as it appears in
your Inbox, but that's because I haven't changed the name since subscribing.
My name is Ian Brotherhood and I am a real person, and I have real beefs and
rants about what's going on, much of it media-related. What about everyone
else ? What are the personal beefs, what is the problem ? Why are you
writing to this thing, this forum, but not expressing yourself, not stating
openly what YOU think ???

What DO you think ?

Speak up, speak your 'truth', whatever it is. I know media-watch isn't a
chat-room, but it would be nice, invigorating, to hear the real voices
behind the 'posters' - the reason why you post whatever you do is perhaps -
nay probably - as important as the content of your references.

Thanks for your attention, and best regards,

Ian Brotherhood

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