Donald Trump’s ratings continue to slide on most issues. Recent Economist/YouGov polling across the US, completed on May 9-12, shows 51% think the country is on the wrong track, while only 45% have a favourable impression of his job as president. On inflation and prices in the shops, only 35% approve of his handling of this policy. Trump seems to be scoring particularly badly … [Read more...] about Fox News wins it for Trump
media
Who owns the news?
Remember A Very British Coup? Chris Mullin’s tale of how the Press and Establishment combined to bring down a Labour government highlighted the UK media’s default preference for the Tories. And over the years the political and reputational damage caused by this bias has stacked up. Yet Labour’s election manifesto fails to address this crucial handicap, despite the obvious … [Read more...] about Who owns the news?
Covid, conspiracy theories and ‘truthpapers’
A consistent feature of the pandemic has been the presence of a relatively small but vocal number of conspiracy theorists who resist attempts to tackle COVID-19. Their views might seem marginal and extreme but recent research suggests that we should take them seriously. Survey data shows that belief in conspiracy theories is associated with a lack of confidence in steps aimed … [Read more...] about Covid, conspiracy theories and ‘truthpapers’
‘Strategic lies’ in Downing St
It’s Boris Johnson’s word against that of his former alter ego, Dominic Cummings. And, depending where you have read or heard about the accusations and counter-accusations flying between the pair, one or both are being a trifle “economical with the truth”. The fact is that most of what people see will have originated in either leaks from unnamed witnesses, or via the as yet … [Read more...] about ‘Strategic lies’ in Downing St
Dateline Covid capital of Scotland
It once perplexed me to learn that in 1918 the Spanish flu remained largely unreported. Public health officials and politicians underplayed the severity of the 1918 pandemic to preserve public order and to avoid panic. As a result there was less coverage in the press in a bid to keep morale high in the countries fighting in the First World War. It was named the Spanish flu, not … [Read more...] about Dateline Covid capital of Scotland