Topic ID 2245
Does anyone feel like me that the local paper has become a down market tabloid whose sensationalist (and often totally inaccurate) headlines and stories give a very negative image of what is really a great place to live? I see the editorial team are set to change - I wonder if we'll see any improvement?
Reply ID 31008
quote:It's amusing though when you do know the facts [:o)] Although the majority of us seem to read it.
Originally posted by Rene Francois Artois
Does anyone feel like me that the local paper has become a down market tabloid whose sensationalist (and often totally inaccurate) headlines and stories give a very negative image of what is really a great place to live? I see the editorial team are set to change - I wonder if we'll see any improvement?
Reply ID 31029
I wonder if the editorial changes they announced in last week's paper will improve the paper or take it further down the current route?
Reply ID 31030
I do hope the new editorial team shake-up the current 'tabloid' content. For example, a whole page is devoted now to a 'Lookalike' competition ... and the people don't even look like the people they are supposed to ! ... How very lazy.
Reply ID 31033
As shops are closing as a result of the increase in on-line shopping and more of us get our news via the tv or internet rather than a paper, it is not inconceivable that one day The Mercury will close due to the majority of local people getting their news from this forum! In the not too distant future the forum could end up with it's own journalists with whom we can argue and banter. And the people who feature in the news items will be able to respond.
Reply ID 31034
Nora... you are most definitely a visionary. Then we wouldn't have to endure 'Baby Idol' .. 'Granny Idol' .. and non-look-a-likey type drivel.
Reply ID 31041
I guess we are all journalists to some degree. The photos posted by David Yates are another step in the direction of our own news service. Topics such as "Granny Idol" would get deleted or lambasted by forum contributors very quickly.
Reply ID 31043
This forum’s views on our local weekly have been aired previously on several occasions. Azzza started these three threads on the subject of The Mercury. http://www.hertford.net/yoursay/topic.php?id=1870 http://www.hertford.net/yoursay/topic.php?id=1870 http://www.hertford.net/yoursay/topic.php?id=1870 I endorse what Nora said. Whenever I hear some ‘word on the street’ (very Huggy Bear! I suppose I mean pub gossip or people chatting at work) about a local crime or a major traffic incident, I log on here and can usually find someone has posted some info about it, up to a week before the Mercury goes to press. The thread covering the recent appalling incident in Baroosh is a good example of how this website leaves the Mercury far behind. Mercury journalists seem to rely heavily on this site and its sister site Ware Online for their stories. In the Mercury's defence, I loved Pet Idol and I also enjoy the (admittedly rather feeble) Lookey Likies. [:)]
Reply ID 31045
It does make me want to post a few red herrings... Herbert Lemons would be good at that!
Reply ID 31055
It is shallow sensationalism. They knocked on my door last week to talk about telephone masts and cancer. I asked if there was any evidence other than anecdotal. Had there been investigation into non telephone mast areas and percentage of cancer cases, etc, rather than just saying it's higher that the national average(obviously half the country will be) Nothing appeared in the story.
Reply ID 31057
If so many people are disappointed with the quality of the Mercury then why doesn't someone start a rival local newspaper with higher principles? And would we all buy it if this happened?
Reply ID 31059
quote:Mathematically incorrect. You're confusing your averages with your medians. [:)]
Originally posted by bikeman
...it's higher that the national average(obviously half the country will be)
Reply ID 31063
quote:There was a short-lived "alternative" newsheet/newspapere in (I think) the early 80s. Some of the people involved used to frequent the White Horse.
Originally posted by Ewoowar
If so many people are disappointed with the quality of the Mercury then why doesn't someone start a rival local newspaper with higher principles? And would we all buy it if this happened?
Reply ID 31065
There is The Times, but it doesn't really focus on Hertford very much. Perhaps if it did it would pick up more readers. And there's The Herald, but that's a bit thin on the news front and tends to be more Hoddesdon focussed. I'm very pleased that the Property, TV pages and Drive sections of The Mercury have been separated from the main paper - it means I can bin them straight away.
Reply ID 31068
I believe The Times tried to produce a Hertford specific version, The Hertford Times, but it was short lived. The standard was similar to The Mercury. The Herald contains very little news. Like most freebies it is dependent upon advertising and is more like a flyer than a newspaper. If something better than the Mercury is wanted then the standard of any of the other local newspapers should not be the target.
Reply ID 31070
I don't think the issue is that there needs to be another local paper, just the standard of journalism needs to be increased at The Mercury. Let's hope these new guys can bring a fresh approach to local news. If I were them, I would officially incorporate this forum (and the Ware Forum) into a regular section of the paper...e.g..call it 'WHAT THE FORUMS SAY' That way, they can use this site correctly, without having to blag stories... any views on this?
Reply ID 31079
When asked for an opinion, Whoopeedo (age 97, married for 75 years, 4 children, 16 grandchildren, 64 great-grandchildren) couldn't remember the question after supplying all the totally unimportant drivel used to fill copy space. [|)]
Reply ID 31096
quote:That's like asking turkeys to vote for Christmas.
Originally posted by azzza If I were them, I would officially incorporate this forum (and the Ware Forum) into a regular section of the paper...e.g..call it 'WHAT THE FORUMS SAY' ... any views on this?
Reply ID 31097
quote:Are you throwing down the gauntlet Nora. I'll have you know my sources are above reproach. Actually I've long thought local papers have an impossible job to do with any credibility. The Mercury, as a weekly, is by definition behind the envelope when it comes to newsflow. Also, most readers (me included) want it to be very locally focussed, yet it's debatable whether we get sufficient number of meaty events to give the paper weight. Thus we get the comical flimsy-sensationalist treatment of stories about 'man bites shoe' and 'automatic doors in climate change shocker'. We all lampoon this editorial tone but can you imagine what it would be like if it was merely an earnest newsheet of facts. It wouldn't be half as funny. Incidentally, I was the man who bit the shoe and my side of the story was misrepresented.
Originally posted by nora batty
It does make me want to post a few red herrings... Herbert Lemons would be good at that!
Reply ID 31105
We all lampoon this editorial tone but can you imagine what it would be like if it was merely an earnest newsheet of facts. It wouldn't be half as funny. That's fine if no one takes it seriously. Sadly there are huge numbers who do and this is distressing for the victims of their ill informed rhetoric who appear to have no means of reply. But, as someone pointed out earlier, we all buy it if only because the TV guide's good and you never know when you might want an avocado bidet with one careful owner...
Reply ID 31109
Many people are still under the illusion that the role of a newspaper is to report the news. This of course is wrong. The role of a newspaper is to sell newspapers. They do this by publishing "fact based stories" that appeal to their readership. Newspapers are not a public service - they are a business out to make money.
Reply ID 31120
This may be very true Steve, .. but publishing pictures of people that don't actually look like the people they are supposed to isn't exactly a 'Fact based story' is it ?
Reply ID 31128
I buy the Mercury because I am interested in what is happening in and around Hertford. But I also get that from this forum.
Reply ID 31146
quote:Same here, including all the silly banal stuff that is associated with it. What I don't like is the way the Mercury presents it. The Mercury has moved into tabloid sensationalist journalism of the worst kind, presumably in the mistaken belief that it will increase circulation. It surely understands that it has a limited but captive market? I don't want to see a front page with scare stories, in massive font and obligatory photo of baby and parents. I want to read the facts, how they relate to us, understand what is being done and get informed comment. I do not want speculative nonsense as published in The Sun, Daily Mail, Tabloid Daily etc.
Originally posted by Ewoowar
I buy the Mercury because I am interested in what is happening in and around Hertford. But I also get that from this forum.
Reply ID 31158
quote:I don't understand why you don't want to see this. Is it because you demand higher editiorial standards from your local journals or because you are in fear of being manipulated by their pernicious influence? If you can see past it then I'd suggest so can most others. Hence here we are poking holes in it. It's great fun. How could we ever want the Mercury nor any other local papper to ever feel that they are the de facto trumpet and pulse of the community? That would disturb me more.
I do not want speculative nonsense as published in The Sun, Daily Mail, Tabloid Daily etc.
Reply ID 31164
Of course I live in fear and dread of being manipulated into a clone, unable to think for himself, staying indoors all week until The Mercury assures me it is safe to venture outside because this week there is no radiation leaking from the phone masts or the waste sites and my brain won't be fried. And all because The Mercury campaigned for justice and a safer road network and the dismissal of councillors who spend our tax on chocolate biscuits instead of bobbies on the street. The point is Herbert, there is no choice in the local news output around here. I have to put up with drivel and don't even get a topless tart (sorry, bad taste joke for purpose of emphasising my point, before all the females have a go) or decent sports coverage chucked in. There's only so much bullocks I can put up with. It's funny when you know it's tosh but some people take it all at face value. The sad thing is, some of what's in there is fact and is of value. They just dress it up in a tabloid way and go over the top too often. I still buy it of course because it is the only way to get all the news about the local area. Except for this forum of course, which is the BEST way to get the Hertford news first.
Reply ID 31165
quote:[:D] You are easy to please!!![:D]
Originally posted by 2929paul a topless tart...for purpose of emphasising my point
Reply ID 31169
quote:The Mercury has a captive audience - I can't really disagree with you there. I'm just not convinced that it's position automatically bestows it a level of factual reverence any more than the Sun has. Local papers are bound to be as partisan as any commercial media outlet, but I can see no way of legislating against this. In fact, I'm happier if folk are exposed to hyperbole in this way because it stands more chance of soliciting an individual response. Lobbying for a 'local paper' without it's own manifesto is like trying to legislate for people to absolve themselves of the need to have their own opinion. Bugger this, I'm getting all serious.... There was a young man from Nantucket.....
Originally posted by 2929paul
The point is Herbert, there is no choice in the local news output around here. I have to put up with drivel and don't even get a topless tart (sorry, bad taste joke for purpose of emphasising my point, before all the females have a go) or decent sports coverage chucked in. There's only so much bullocks I can put up with. It's funny when you know it's tosh but some people take it all at face value. The sad thing is, some of what's in there is fact and is of value. They just dress it up in a tabloid way and go over the top too often.
Reply ID 31170
Don't misunderstand me. If the Mercury were to advise that "Kosovans closed my road and made me eat 9 grams of salt a day" then even I would have to reconsider how much I was letting people get away with.
Reply ID 31178
What?
Reply ID 31181
That was the second line in my limerick.
Reply ID 31194
For all it's failings, I suspect the Mercury won't be filling the first 12 pages of this weeks edition to the joint coverage of the sinister poisoning of some otherwise anonymous Russian geezer and the latest nail-biting round of Strictly Come Dancing.
Reply ID 31195
quote:Topless but still with wrinkled stockings and curlers. [:D]
Originally posted by nora battyquote:[:D] You are easy to please!!![:D]
Originally posted by 2929paul a topless tart...for purpose of emphasising my point
Reply ID 31208
quote:Topless tarts are still called tarts. Tarts with tops are call "Pies" Pies need a point to let the air out, a function normally carried out by a small screaming china blackbird, tarts do not need a point. Wrinkled stockings are strange way to refer to filo pastry but Delia makes chocolate curlers to go ontop of cakes and that sound pretty normal, though not very topless tart.
Originally posted by 2929paulquote:Topless but still with wrinkled stockings and curlers. [:D]
Originally posted by nora battyquote:[:D] You are easy to please!!![:D]
Originally posted by 2929paul a topless tart...for purpose of emphasising my point
Reply ID 31464
quote:That was obvious when they reported 9/11. The first week the headline was "Three of my friends were in there" about a Hertfordshire University student from nowhere near here. The next week she had traced one so it was "I can't believe she's alive". By the following week she had traced all three so they ran a story of "It's a miracle, they all survived". So, in reality the story was, "Student form Sussex doesn't know anyone who was killed in the twin Towers" Now that's what I call local news! [:D]
Originally posted by Steve
Many people are still under the illusion that the role of a newspaper is to report the news. This of course is wrong....
Reply ID 31467
quote:The 'Merc' also fabulously reported an account of a lady who, whilst riding her horse through the Meads, came across a lone dog. The dog, as it happens a hound-like woofer, had got too excited and bounced away from it's owner. In the heat of the moment, the rider had considered Fido as a wolf, resulting in 'startled' rider and steed. The Merc beautifully recounted the lady's thoughts - "It looked at me - hungrily".
Originally posted by Rene Francois Artoisquote:That was obvious when they reported 9/11. The first week the headline was "Three of my friends were in there" about a Hertfordshire University student from nowhere near here. The next week she had traced one so it was "I can't believe she's alive". By the following week she had traced all three so they ran a story of "It's a miracle, they all survived". So, in reality the story was, "Student form Sussex doesn't know anyone who was killed in the twin Towers" Now that's what I call local news! [:D]
Originally posted by Steve
Many people are still under the illusion that the role of a newspaper is to report the news. This of course is wrong....
Reply ID 31493
Haha!! .. yes, and also recall a story (from about 20 years ago) that a man was arrested in a field in Great ammwell which was full of sheep ..... the interesting line being ..'He was in possession of a tub of hand Cream!
Reply ID 31500
quote:Yes.. and who can forget the chap who was 'nearly' involved in the 7/7 bombings last year ... a disgraceful and disrespectful attempt at sensationalism.
Originally posted by Rene Francois Artoisquote:That was obvious when they reported 9/11. The first week the headline was "Three of my friends were in there" about a Hertfordshire University student from nowhere near here. The next week she had traced one so it was "I can't believe she's alive". By the following week she had traced all three so they ran a story of "It's a miracle, they all survived". So, in reality the story was, "Student form Sussex doesn't know anyone who was killed in the twin Towers" Now that's what I call local news! [:D]
Originally posted by Steve
Many people are still under the illusion that the role of a newspaper is to report the news. This of course is wrong....
Reply ID 31504
And there was the report of a run-over cat in Sacombe Road. The woman driver was quoted as saying she couldn't describe the cat because it was dark, and didn't know if she killed it or not.
Reply ID 31522
quote:And a length of rope too as I recall [:0]
Originally posted by azzza
Haha!! .. yes, and also recall a story (from about 20 years ago) that a man was arrested in a field in Great ammwell which was full of sheep ..... the interesting line being ..'He was in possession of a tub of hand Cream!
Reply ID 31536
I remember reading the local paper about five years ago before I moved to Hertford. I don't actually remember if it was the Mercury but seeing as the headline was outside the newsagent on Fore Street I guess it was" "HANDBAG STOLEN" was the massive headline, I decided if that warrants headline news I wanted to live here :)
Reply ID 31545
About 5 years ago (when they put "news" stories on the back page) the page 1 exclusive splash was "Shed damaged on allotment" & the rear of the organ proudly proclaimed "Door knocker stolen in Ware" As you say Steven it was rather reassuring ......
Reply ID 31600
quote:Wellie boots?
Originally posted by Leo Densianquote:And a length of rope too as I recall [:0]
Originally posted by azzza
Haha!! .. yes, and also recall a story (from about 20 years ago) that a man was arrested in a field in Great ammwell which was full of sheep ..... the interesting line being ..'He was in possession of a tub of hand Cream!
Reply ID 31608
12 years ago a similar headline prompted me to move to Hertford: The Mercury screamed on the front page: "Vandals knock the tops off Daffodils!!". At the time my house was in Forest Gate in a road where 'the acid bath murderer' lived and my neighbours 2 cars had both been burnt out. Couldn't get up the A10 quick enough!!
Reply ID 31611
ok. so knowing that reporters at the Mercury read the forum, how about some constructive criticism? what do you like and want to see more of? and what would you like to see go, other than the 'tabloid style' of course?
Reply ID 31612
Start just by getting names right. From there, the only way is up!
Reply ID 31618
And maybe the quotes?
Reply ID 31637
quote:I just want to see local news from a positive angle. Last weeks headline and opening paragraph contained almost every negative word begining with B except Basra, Baghdad and Beirut. I visit Illford regularly and I know where I'd rather live but if I based my decision on the contents of the two local papers I'd be off down the M11 faster than Ridley came up the A10...! If the style has to remain as it is I'd like to see less news and more ads and event listings - that way I'd get more value for my money as I currently keep those bits and throw the rest away! Sorry - that didn't exactly answer your question but I'll wind my neck in now!
Originally posted by aea200
ok. so knowing that reporters at the Mercury read the forum, how about some constructive criticism? what do you like and want to see more of? and what would you like to see go, other than the 'tabloid style' of course?
Reply ID 31651
One of the differences between a this forum and a newspaper is that this is instantly correctable and there is always someone who'll quickly point out misinformed bullsh**t. I'm sure you'll notice from many threads that "what most people believe" is rarely the truth or based on any logic, but heavily manipulated by input. If a paper is to sell, it has to bias it's stories to the opinions of it's target readers and the interests of it's advertisers, in effect, winding up misconceptions and popular opinion. With the journalistic element being "cost of sales", plainly this is an expense to be limited and therefor the quality of reporting on local issues will be effected by cheaper cribbing from national opinion (Rupert Murdoch's). From war in Iraq to why your local traffic lights are busted, it is unlikely that what you read in any paper will be without spin, intentional or otherwise. What is "truth", has to be guessed in your own mind from other evidence and experience. There is no way of being sure. Cheapest and safest newspaper content is looky-likey pap. It says nothing, offends no master and the most serious public response is likely to be "Oi, he doesn't look anything like .........!".
Reply ID 31652
I dont mind news reports being "spun" "hyped" or "wrung out" what i do not like is when a story is blatantly missleading or alarmist. It's called a newspaper for a reason....erm its supposed to be..... erm NEWS! I can understand that in a town where not a whole heluva lot happens (newswise) that you may have to eek out the odd story, I also know that the Journo's on the mercury are certainly not overpaid, However, accuracy shouldnt be that hard to achieve should it?
Reply ID 31653
Satire. The antidote. No more accurate, nor intended to be. Often humorous and sometimes offensive, but prompting thought about alternative interpretations. Just as phylosophy can be a more precise science that physics, satire can often provide a more accurate interpretation of news when place alongside it for comparison. Check out Mr Lemon's posts or those of other "performance posters". By seeking humour, they have often hit the nail squarely on the head, or prompted another poster to do so. Though providing a heavy workload for Admin, they are essential to the forum and give it a depth which a local paper can't match.
Reply ID 31659
Nothing wrong with a bit of satire, It's one of the best forms of social comment around, Not sure it would work in a "serious" Newspaper tho? Mind you if you are going to chop down trees in the name of Bull***t you may as well make it entertaining Bull***t!! And before you all chime in saying the mercury is printed on paper from sustainable forests" TELL IT TO THE BLOODY SQUIRELLS!