Oh dear! A bit of a disaster for the Hammers today. I was just about ready to start believing we might escape the drop after the win at Arsenal. I knew it was too good to be true. I’ve not got much to report on the research front as I was at work on Thursday and Friday. I haven’t done anything today either as we’ve been running around Harrow shopping and trying, unsuccessfully, to sort some banking stuff out. This comes after a rather late night out celebrating a birthday in Balham last night. Anyway, hopefully, I’ll manage to get something done this evening.
One comment I wanted to make refers back to the ABC figures I mentioned in my last post. I thought there was quite a mixed picture but the fact remains that newspaper readership in the UK remains very high and quite stable. This means that traditional media still retain massive power in setting the news agenda and therefore dictating what the politicians talk about. It just confirms my thesis for this last essay I’m working on which is that politicians hope new media will affect the balance of power between them and the media but in the end I don’t think the change is going to happen any time soon.
Saturday 14 April 2007
Wednesday 11 April 2007
Media Power
After a day at the office yesterday, I have finally got round to starting work on my final essay of the year which will be looking at how new technology has affected the traditional relationship between media and politics. I’ve started doing a bit of background reading and have added three books, by Andrew Marr, John Lloyd and Steven Barnett and Ivor Gaber, to the ‘Reading List’ section. Hopefully, they’ll provide some good starting points for whatever argument I decide to construct on the issue.
I suppose new technology is inevitably affecting the relationship with politicians perceiving it as a means, finally, to brake away from the power of the ‘middlemen’ and speak directly to the public. I’m not sure that the end of the traditional press men is that close though. Changing formats, such as freesheets, seem to be keeping old media well in the fight. This week’s ABC figures might give us some interesting clues.
Of course Ofcom have reported a massive decline in use of traditional media among teenagers. It seems therefore that the mutual dependency which has kept politics and media in a love hate relationship since the Victorian era is waning. Will this be good for democracy?
I suppose new technology is inevitably affecting the relationship with politicians perceiving it as a means, finally, to brake away from the power of the ‘middlemen’ and speak directly to the public. I’m not sure that the end of the traditional press men is that close though. Changing formats, such as freesheets, seem to be keeping old media well in the fight. This week’s ABC figures might give us some interesting clues.
Of course Ofcom have reported a massive decline in use of traditional media among teenagers. It seems therefore that the mutual dependency which has kept politics and media in a love hate relationship since the Victorian era is waning. Will this be good for democracy?
Sunday 8 April 2007
Kissing & Cuddling
Here's a story from Sky News referring to the latest political 'scandal'. Of course, I would imagine this story has been kept up someone's sleeve for a while. The SNP's challenge to Labout plus Mr MacNeil's direct involvement with the instigation of the cash for honours investigation is bound to have earnt him a few enemies.
It is also touches one of the big debates in political communication. It's the issue of how much damage you do to the reputation of politics and politicians in general when you rubbish your opponent. Negative campaigning is a marketing trick which politcics has embraced without much benefit!
'Kissing And Cuddling'
Updated: 18:47, Sunday April 08, 2007
An MP has made a public apology to his family after a newspaper revealed he had a "drunken romp" with two teenagers.
The SNP's Angus MacNeil admitted his part in an incident, where he was reported to have kissed the girls in a hotel room.
He described the meeting as "wrong and stupid".
It was Mr MacNeil's complaint to police that sparked the ongoing cash for honours investigation.
The Western Isles MP, 36, apologised for the "embarrassment and hurt" caused by his actions.
Judie Morrison and Catriona Watt had told the Sunday Mail about the encounter in Shetland, in July 2005, when they were aged 17 and 18.
It was reported to have taken place weeks before Mr MacNeil's wife gave birth to their child.
Mr MacNeil said in a statement: "There is no allegation that anything further happened and I wish to make that absolutely clear.
"It was a lapse of judgement two years ago, for which I am sorry."
Judie and Catriona, from the Isle of Lewis, who study music in Glasgow, had been on a pub crawl when they met the MP in a hotel.
Judie, now 19, said he bought them lots of drinks before asking if they wanted to go to his room.
The student told the Sunday Mail: "We all ended up kissing and cuddling together but I was not kissing and cuddling with Catriona."
It is also touches one of the big debates in political communication. It's the issue of how much damage you do to the reputation of politics and politicians in general when you rubbish your opponent. Negative campaigning is a marketing trick which politcics has embraced without much benefit!
'Kissing And Cuddling'
Updated: 18:47, Sunday April 08, 2007
An MP has made a public apology to his family after a newspaper revealed he had a "drunken romp" with two teenagers.
The SNP's Angus MacNeil admitted his part in an incident, where he was reported to have kissed the girls in a hotel room.
He described the meeting as "wrong and stupid".
It was Mr MacNeil's complaint to police that sparked the ongoing cash for honours investigation.
The Western Isles MP, 36, apologised for the "embarrassment and hurt" caused by his actions.
Judie Morrison and Catriona Watt had told the Sunday Mail about the encounter in Shetland, in July 2005, when they were aged 17 and 18.
It was reported to have taken place weeks before Mr MacNeil's wife gave birth to their child.
Mr MacNeil said in a statement: "There is no allegation that anything further happened and I wish to make that absolutely clear.
"It was a lapse of judgement two years ago, for which I am sorry."
Judie and Catriona, from the Isle of Lewis, who study music in Glasgow, had been on a pub crawl when they met the MP in a hotel.
Judie, now 19, said he bought them lots of drinks before asking if they wanted to go to his room.
The student told the Sunday Mail: "We all ended up kissing and cuddling together but I was not kissing and cuddling with Catriona."
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