Channel 4 News Tonight.

[andy-hughes]

A considerable amount of time was given over to a group of black people who have formed a walking group.

It was ludicrous enough that the piece was edited in such a way as to make it appear that a group of black people walking together receive some sort of unspoken affirmation denied to them in the society in which they live, but to intersperse it with footage of Martin Luther King's Civil Rights marches, inviting a parallel that is simply not there, was insulting to every viewer, black or white.

An earnest woman referred to the cultural diversity of Sheffield and Manchester, bemoaning the absence of similar diversity in the 'land in between'. Since the 'land in between' is the Pennines, and does not possess any cities even approaching the size of Manchester or Sheffield, her point was utterly ridiculous.

If a group of black people want to join a walking group, fine, exercise is good for everyone, but the implication that doing so is some sort of cultural and political statement was frankly barmy.

Coupling that with images of Doctor King's marches, which were mixed race, was reaching for a comparison that is simply not there to be found.

Finally, since the film advised that the group was formed in 2004, I fail to see how it qualifies for the term 'news' in any shape or form.

Any thoughts?

[fiction-factory]

Totally agree. Box ticking I think.

[bednobs]

ch4 news is especially good at presenting lifestyle pieces as news although bbc and itv dont seem above it either

[Mamyalynne]

The clip should anyone have missed it and want to view.

https://www.channel4.com/news/black-men-walking-how-walking-hobby-became-a-symbol-of-identity

[237SJ]

Sounds like the Ramblers agenda (get more black people walking)

[andy-hughes]

Thanks mamya.

One individual on the film expressed his friend's sense of wonder at the beauty of the Lake District.

Fine, but the absence of that beauty to date is based on the fact that he lives over two hundred miles south of it, not the colour of his skin!

[fiction-factory]

It'll have been in someone's 2019 performance management objectives' list- got it ticked off early

[andy-hughes]

I'd have to agree FF.

I don't usually watch Channel 4 news, and if this level of insult levelled at its viewers is the norm, it will be a long time before I tune in again.

[mushroom25]

andy, between Sheffield and Manchester is Glossop. it's a local town for local people...….

[Old_Geezer]

Your own fault for watching C4 News.

[andy-hughes]

mushroom - // andy, between Sheffield and Manchester is Glossop. it's a local town for local people...…. //

Say no more ...

[ChillDoubt]

andy, between Sheffield and Manchester is Glossop. it's a local town for local people...….
——————
LOL!

[Peter Pedant]

// andy, between Sheffield and Manchester is Glossop. it's a local town for local people...….//

and etherow country park
but the footage was saddleworth moor or some other peat bog....

I just thought it was a quiet news day

[andy-hughes]

PP - // I just thought it was a quiet news day //

This is the penalty for rolling news, they have to fill the space with something - I just wish it wasn't made-up guff about walking with people with the same skin colour equating to some sort of moral crusade about racism, when all it really is about is getting some fresh air and exercise.

[Peter Pedant]

well the alternatives were more snow in Austria
and three off-piste skiers killed by an avalancje

[david small]

I used to live in Glossop. Nothing special there as far as I recall.

[Peter Pedant]

go to glossop before sniggering about it
( damn long hill )

[vetuste_ennemi]

From Mamya's clip:

"Black Men Walking: How walking hobby became a symbol of identity".

Got it. A man's "identity" (in this context) is determined not by the content of his character, but by the colour of his skin.

[-Talbot-]

Very informative...black people can walk.



I think they dance better though
https://twitter.com/JKCorden/status/1084484954552037376

[steg]

I think I would prefer these black walking groups to these orange walking groups we get up here

[dave50]

Are they implying that black people are banned from joining walking groups and they were trying to make a statement? It's ludicrous, if there arent many black people that are currently members of walking groups it is simply because they arent interested, there is no hidden racism involved. It's like when the national trust were saying they need to attract more members from ethnic minorities, like do what? If they dont want to join then thats it, end of.