European Union Referendum

[Max]

That article has a pretty fundamental flaw.

It moans about there not being enough balance in the print industry on the EU issue. Yet admits that itself puts out more Remain leaning articles than it does Leave because that's what they believe is right.

It goes on to say that the Mail and Express put out too many Leave articles. But if you buy the Mail or Express you've probably had your opinion on the EU formed for years and thus won't be swayed anyway. Otherwise why would you buy it.

I'm struggling to see what point that piece is trying to make.

Newspapers are a poor way to judge media bias, because each of them IS obviously biased from the outset and everyone who buys a paper (these days especially) surely knows that.

To pick you up on that last point, I suppose it's what one perceives as bias.

Newspapers don't hide they have an editorial opinion, whereas TV broadcasters (excluding people like Russia Today) largely try to make a stab at impartiality.

I read The Guardian, know it has a centre-left bias, and The Guardian makes no bones about this. Similarly The Telegraph makes no apologies for being conservative. The problem comes when you get The Sun whose whole editorial shtick is 'standing up for ordinary Brits', 'common sense', etc. and some of their readers perceive this to be the case. Or to take another example, The Times has a bias influenced by its ownership, but this is not always immediately obvious and a good deal more subtle than other papers.

 

[The Paranoid Pineapple]

That article has a pretty fundamental flaw.

It moans about there not being enough balance in the print industry on the EU issue. Yet admits that itself puts out more Remain leaning articles than it does Leave because that's what they believe is right.

It goes on to say that the Mail and Express put out too many Leave articles. But if you buy the Mail or Express you've probably had your opinion on the EU formed for years and thus won't be swayed anyway. Otherwise why would you buy it.

I'm struggling to see what point that piece is trying to make.

Newspapers are a poor way to judge media bias, because each of them IS obviously biased from the outset and everyone who buys a paper (these days especially) surely knows that.

I don't think it's trying to make any point as such. He's a media commentator and is reporting on the results of a study; I think that's about all there is to it.

 

[silkyman]

Numbers are numbers.

And it's no surprise that the press are leaning that way.

 

[Alty]

To pick you up on that last point, I suppose it's what one perceives as bias.

Newspapers don't hide they have an editorial opinion, whereas TV broadcasters (excluding people like Russia Today) largely try to make a stab at impartiality.

I read The Guardian, know it has a centre-left bias, and The Guardian makes no bones about this. Similarly The Telegraph makes no apologies for being conservative. The problem comes when you get The Sun whose whole editorial shtick is 'standing up for ordinary Brits', 'common sense', etc. and some of their readers perceive this to be the case. Or to take another example, The Times has a bias influenced by its ownership, but this is not always immediately obvious and a good deal more subtle than other papers.

I think you're underestimating people there. Yes The Sun switches the political parties it backs, but I don't think most people are naive enough to slavishly follow The Sun's instructions on the basis it always gets it right.

If anything The Times' most obvious political leaning over the years has been Euroscepticism, so it's well known for it.

 

[mowgli]

Anyone watch Cameron's car crash performance on Sky last night? I love the lady who told him "I know waffling when i see it"

 

[silkyman]

The quality of debate from the leaders of both sides has been piss poor. See also Johnson wittering on about numbers of bananas and £350m.

Cameron has never been much cop at a debate. His stock in trade is avoiding the question and whenever possible walking away immediately after not actually answering the question he had been asked.

 

[mowgli]

The quality of debate from the leaders of both sides has been piss poor. See also Johnson wittering on about numbers of bananas and £350m.

Cameron has never been much cop at a debate. His stock in trade is avoiding the question and whenever possible walking away immediately after not actually answering the question he had been asked.

Well he didn't get away with that for once last night,politicians can't cope when are confronted with the publicasking questions and hounding them for an answer,last night made better viewing than PMQ's where Cameron continues to not give any answers just spin.

 

[Liverlad]

The government can't properly be held to account so long as they can use the EU as a scapegoat. They do the same thing when they claim they can't curb immigration, even though half of it doesn't even come from within the EU.

By being a subject of the EU that's all we get to elect, idiots with power and no accountability. The EU is a scam to keep power away from us, we get much less of a say as voters while we remain part of it. This really is a big chance to become a real independent country again but I reckon enough idiots will follow the orders of Cameron and Co and vote to stay in.

 

[silkyman]

How does being in the EU impact who we can and can't vote for in government?

 

[Gilly?]

Thanks to the scaretactics from both sides I'm still no closer to deciding what to vote. It's really quite laughable.

 

[Liverlad]

How does being in the EU impact who we can and can't vote for in government?

How many of the current four EU presidents have you voted for?

 

[mnb089mnb]

How many of the current four EU presidents have you voted for?

How many United Kingdom heads of state have you voted for?

You don't get to vote for a Prime Minister either.

 

[JaseTheVillain]

I'd vote for Lizzie tbf...

 

[silkyman]

How many of the current four EU presidents have you voted for?

I've never voted for a prime minister either. But the president of the EU isn't really a thing in the same way as president of the US. They don't get to bend the continent to their iron will or anything.

There's a few roles with the title of president, and at least one of them rotates among members. I remember when it was Blair. Quite a lot of British people voted for him, IIRC.

 

[silkyman]

How many of the current four EU presidents have you voted for?

That doesn't actually answer my question either...

 

[Liverlad]

How many United Kingdom heads of state have you voted for?

You don't get to vote for a Prime Minister either.

Yes we don't vote for a PM but at least if we end up with a shit one we can vote him out after 4 years, and The Queens position as head of state is ceremonial, the top dogs at the EU are the most powerful people in Europe and they answer to noboddy.

 

[Tilbury]

There's a few roles with the title of president, and at least one of them rotates among members. I remember when it was Blair. Quite a lot of British people voted for him, IIRC.

Presidency of the council of the European Union but it's not an individual, rather a member country which rotates every 6 months.


And the top dogs of the EU are the most powerful people in Europe? Laughable.

 

[Liverlad]

That doesn't actually answer my question either...

Being in the EU doesn't directly impact our voting in general elections, but it does make them a bit less meaningless considering any laws any of our elected politicians make are subject to approval by the bigwigs at the EU. Hence us getting less of a say as voters compared to if were fully independent.

 

[Liverlad]

And the top dogs of the EU are the most powerful people in Europe? Laughable.

Who is then? David Cameron? Tyson fury?

 

[.V.]

Yes we don't vote for a PM but at least if we end up with a shit one we can vote him out after 4 years, and The Queens position as head of state is ceremonial, the top dogs at the EU are the most powerful people in Europe and they answer to noboddy.

It's 5 years. Would think someone so keen on our democracy would know that

 

[Tilbury]

Who is then? David Cameron? Tyson fury?

 

[Liverlad]

It's 5 years. Would think someone so keen on our democracy would know that

To be honest I'm not that keen on it, to me they are all just a bunch of selfish c***. Doesn't take an expert in politics to see that the EU is a scam though. Where do you think Cameron an Co are going to get their next job? No wonder they want us to stay.

 

[Liverlad]

The Germans basically are the EU at this point...

 

[.V.]

If Britain has the influence and clout that team Brexit say we have, why wouldn't we use that to lead the EU in the direct of our choosing? Is it because some British politicians would rather moan about the institution than actually lead it?

 

[.V.]

To be honest I'm not that keen on it, to me they are all just a bunch of selfish c***. Doesn't take an expert in politics to see that the EU is a scam though. Where do you think Cameron an Co are going to get their next job? No wonder they want us to stay.

Are you keen on democracy or not then? Can't moan about the anti democrat nature of the EU if you don't care for it.

The board of banks and other financial firms I should think.

 

[Ebeneezer Goode]

If Britain has the influence and clout that team Brexit say we have, why wouldn't we use that to lead the EU in the direct of our choosing?

How?

 

[Liverlad]

Are you keen on democracy or not then. you can't moan about the anti democrat nature of the EU if you don't care for it.

The board of banks and other financial firms I should think.

I can moan about anything I like thank you, I'm a scouser it's what were good at.

 

[silkyman]

Being in the EU doesn't directly impact our voting in general elections, but it does make them a bit less meaningless considering any laws any of our elected politicians make are subject to approval by the bigwigs at the EU. Hence us getting less of a say as voters compared to if were fully independent.

You've really drunk the Farage Cool-Aid haven't you.

 

[.V.]

How?

Well we're the all powerful GB who can win trade deals from a position of weakness in negotiations, why wouldn't we be able to lead?

In all seriousness

http://www.wsj.com/articles/in-brex...uence-in-eu-is-greatly-exaggerated-1458154337

 

[markwwfc1992]

I plan to vote leave.