Newspapers
A selection of UK newspapers
Newspapers were an integral part of UK culture in the seventies. During the week, they were delivered prior to going to work, so you would peruse them over breakfast. Alternatively you would buy one en route to your place of employment and read it on the bus or train. In a world before 24 hour, rolling news, they were the primary means of keeping the public abreast of events and as such, enjoyed a substantial audience. On occasions a newspaper story could make or break a political career or launch a crusading campaign to address a social ill. Newspapers were a force to be reckoned with and therefore a significant part of the socio-political landscape. However, due to a strong union presence within the workforce, the UKs newspapers often lagged behind other industries with regard to the technology.
Like so many other products, there has always been a hierarchy of newspapers in the UK. Different papers are targeted at specific demographics. The broadsheet newspapers tend to take a more intellectual approach with their journalism, whereas the tabloids are aimed at a more broader readership. I am reminded of a quote from the sitcom Yes, Minister which although 40 years old, still has a degree of truth about newspapers readership. “The Daily Mirror is read by people who think they run the country; The Guardian is read by people who think they ought to run the country; The Times is read by the people who actually do run the country; The Daily Mail is read by the wives of the people who run the country; The Financial Times is read by people who own the country; The Morning Star is read by people who think the country ought to be run by another country; and The Daily Telegraph is read by people who think it is”.
Daily Mail hyperbole
However, things change. Over the course of my life there has been a steady decline in newspaper sales. Dedicated television channels, providing 24 hour coverage is one reason. The internet is another. A story can be quickly disseminated online and be constantly updated as events unfold. Traditional print media lags behind and by the time it reaches the reader, is yesterday’s news. As a result modern newspapers tend to deal more in editorials and opinion pieces, rather than hard news. Sadly, the majority of the UK print media is owned by those with a right wing bias. Something that is at odds with the UK electorate which is broadly centrist. Hence the decline in sales. The only group that still cleaves to print media are over 65 and so the most popular newspapers, such as the Daily Mail and The Daily Express, exclusively cater to them. Neither of these two newspapers reflect a reality that I recognise.
Curiously, despite a decline in sales, there is still a perception that newspapers are at the cutting edge of journalism and have an influence on the wider news agenda. Television and radio news in the UK still often follows and expands upon headlines found in the popular press. Furthermore politicians still spend a considerable amount of time and effort trying to generate headlines in the newspapers. They go out of their way to cultivate relationships with political journalists and will often seek to disclose information to the press as part of the policy agenda. Similarly, newspapers will seek to influence politicians by directly and indirectly lobbying on specific subjects. The Brexit referendum of 2016, was heavily influenced by lengthy and substantive campaigning by the majority of the UK press. All of which were owned by individuals who had openly declared their support for leaving the EU.
Rupert Murdoch, owner of 33% of UK newspapers
Beyond the obvious political and philosophical bias, most tabloid newspapers nowadays are simply a vehicle for celebrity gossip, scandals and doom mongering. They also peddle conspiracy theories, bogus science and perhaps the biggest lie of all, that all of the problems in the UK are someone else’s fault. These publications are inherently parasitical and are not in any way a force for good. Yet in spite of these issues, there is still good journalism to be found within the UK, although much of it resides online. Some newspapers, such as the “i” are even bucking the trend and increasing their readership. Perhaps newspapers aren’t quite dead yet and despite their tawdry current state, people still believe in the noble qualities they remember from the past. Whether the tide will turn remains to be seen.
