Just listened to Ed Balls on Andrew Marr say he has never used the phrase 'failing schools'
Valiant effort by Andrew, but other in this minute online follow-up can we actually have confirmed whether a major political leader did or did not say something and, if so, either knows it and lied or... mis-spoke... again.
'I will close up to 270 failing schools to improve standards, says minister'
Otherwise these interviews are rather meaningless, serving only to let interviewees spout guff.
First posted 9/7/08 - 9.50am
Addendum - I wonder if people read my blog?
BBC Transcript
Ch4 Fact Checker - I guess I need to grasp the subtleties better
The Editors' blog is moving
11 years ago
5 comments:
Aww, there's nobody like Balls to create a cock-up.. well, except maybe Godfather Brown himself.
I see you've been busy, by the way. I am still around - bit too busy to post and can't be bothered with NN blog anymore (at least the webteam bit, don't mind Paul Mason half as much).
Did just catch up with some NN stuff: they had Sorious Samura (a Sierra Leonian investigative journalist), whom I have huge respect for, shoot three short films on immigration which are brilliant, engrossing. They're available here, under the 'Immigration Series' heading on the right. Have a gander if you have 30-45min free time.
Welcome back! Long time...
I still dabble in NN, though I know what you mean.
Other than getting kudos once from Barry S, I still see it as a fairly 'select' soapbox that might get read by those in the BBC and pol establishment enough that a few points can get out there.
Will try and catch your links soon, ta for posting.
ps: as a fellow Blogger user have you come across the latest error frustration? You hit 'Publish' and it ends up at some Google page saying 'sorry, screwed up, all is lost, send us this code'. And there is nowhere sensible to send it to.
I just lost a very worthy piece putting my views on the BBC in context, and lost it all by forgetting to copy before I clicked to send.
Typically it is about 1 in 4 so you get lulled.
Hard to flame a free service, but their lack of decent customer service over major issue can raise the blood pressure.
Hiya Peter,
well, what can I say about the NN blog.. I'm not sure how far I'm allowed to go, feel free to delete, here are some thoughts:
How many people still read the webteam blog? Once I realised that I mostly just wanted to post replies along the lines of 'Yep, did get your point first time round and that was, err, X months ago.. so what are you going to do about it? any constructive ideas?', I figured I ought to stop. I (mostly) don't mind people expressing their views but I much rather read informative comments, preferably liberally sprinkled with links.
I reserve my pet hate for posters who deliberately give interpretations of 'facts' that suit their leaning, when the actual facts are much broader and on closer analysis don't support their view nearly as much as they make them out to (or indeed not at all). And I loath the 'you're so bloody stupid, start thinking like me or we'll all go to hell and it'll be your fault' propaganda from the bottom of my heart.
Meanwhile, back on planet earth... I didn't say before but I hope you've had a nice holiday and came back batteries fully charged. Looks like it's going to be quite a winter.. :)
As for posting errors, I'm afraid I haven't had any. I write most of my stuff on textpad or notepad before posting it. I take it you have been to these pages:
Blogger help - contact home
Blogger help - contact I-cant-publish
Blogger help - publishing trouble
Blogger help - home
or indeed trawled through the Known issues for Blogger.. Really sorry not to be of more help.
Oh, and please, please don't take the above personally, by the way, I wouldn't be reading/posting on your blog if I felt this way about it..
Best regards,
Cloe
I'm pleased to say that, as yet, I have not had to delete anything from anyone.
Well, other than a few spams!
Like you, I like info and links and moving things along, so NN is getting a bit dizzy spinning on its axis.
A few newish posters are offering links, but these guys tend to be rather dogmatic fiskers pushing their... often rather extreme... agendas.
I just like to keep my hand in, and offer the odd tweak when I think the journalism or editorial or even simple communication is erring on sloppy. Certainly when my objective news seems to start from a 'given' that most certainly may not be.... and then trot out the 'if you diasgree you must be a [insert perjorative here] and/or are from the lower orders.
I still have faith in the masses, and when the majority don't agree with me see that is my failing for not persuading them well; not theirs for being so crass as to not share my views.
Just got back from a 'green' event in Brum just like that, and it was almost fun being the subject of so much vitriol from so few who just don't 'get' that you only win by inspiring people to lead, not threating them to follow.
Holiday was great, ta, but stopped as soon as we hit the M25 from Stanstead. At least our plane made it back!
I'm wondering if the posting errors may be my end. But ta for all the links anyway. The Blogger help is next to useless, though I have had great help form the forum. These look productive seams.
I am so thin-skinned I could never be a pol, but I am learning not to take too much personally any more. Especially on the green side I know I am doing my best, plus a fair bit extra for the greater good, and that is betterthan many who have tried to make negative comments or comparisons. And that puts me in a good place when the arrows rain down.
We may have disagreed, but never beyond the bounds of civilised deabte, and I appreciate that.
I value your interest and contributions, and would be sorry to lose them.
So I guess I better keep up to standard!
Peter: "A few newish posters are offering links, but these guys tend to be rather dogmatic fiskers pushing their... often rather extreme... agendas."
Yes! That's who I was referring to with my "I reserve my pet hate..." paragraph. It is some of the most subtle propaganda I have seen in a long time. It twists facts ever so slightly, it leaves out stats which don't suit, it omits to mention mitigating factors etc. and above all else it offers absolutely no solutions whatsoever. Fortunately, it also tends to argue itself into a corner by being so pretentious and up itself that most intelligent, well-meaning people just switch off.
I'm sorry to hear you're being vilified by fellow Greens. They're jealous...
Take care,
Cloe
Post a Comment