Yet another tragedy on our roads. Yet another front page opportunity to feed death to the locals and boost sales. I walk to work when I am home and I pass Dorset Echo billboards outside shops and they invariably have a recurring theme – doom and gloom. Yes occasionally some positive news but usually too much ambulance chasing. They are either licking Tory arses or waiting on a call from the traffic police. On the Echo website on Monday 14th May there were (out of 11 stories) 4 death related; 3 referring to injuries; a burglary; 1 sport; 1 history and 1 about Oliver Letwin. If we take it to 12 it was another regurgitated story about how popular Weymouth is. I know many locals lap it up and it reflects a culture of despondency but surely there is more to this county than the need for Prozac?
I have been away working for most of the past year. Travelling from continent to continent and city to city and in most of these places few people have much of a clue what is going on. They consume the tripe in the papers and on the TV/radio feeling emasculated by fear and nonsense. They work and play and rarely have time to really think. The media is now too often comparable to a fizzy drink vending machine in which nutrition is rarely provided or expected. I do look forward to coming back and visiting family and friends but quickly remember that being static is no longer an option. Understanding what is going on out there (locally, nationally and internationally) requires time and a desire to want to know. Reading The Sidney Morning Herald or the Afternoon Voice (India) or The Dorset Echo reveals little attempt to emancipate the readers and enlighten them; just more of the same. Agenda setting to distract us from who is really responsible for the economic mess or the latest scandal that they don’t want us to uncover or an ideology of madness that instead of challenging they support and justify as it benefits them.
When I inquire of newsagents about public reaction to the papers they openly say that without hatches and dispatches (births and deaths) most people would not buy them. We gave up on the Echo years ago when it was handed over to right wing reactionaries to lead the comment. I am glad I missed the British elections. Dodgy polls; raised hopes; next to no substance and the return of the Eton Rifles. Reminded me of the shambles also known as the Arab Spring. The media apparently across the country joined in on the hoax we call democracy as 24% of the public eligible to vote gave us 5 more years of Tory Terror. Not that New Labour are much better. What was a life buoy for the drowning working classes is now a lump of concrete. Locally and beyond the community should expect and demand much much more. From their media; the politicians and each other. We can all identify and solve problems together. But until the Echo and their Tory stooges start realising this then we are the only ones. Stop buying their crap and move on to something different. Something more inclusive and stimulating. You never know it might already be on your doorstep.
Till the next time.
Flora the Implorer
