Same story, very different treatment...

[Gromit]

Glass half full:
// Figures from the Office of National Statistics show there were an estimated 25,400 extra deaths.

That marks a reduction of around 30% on the previous year.

The fall is possibly because while it was certainly cold last winter, there was no big outbreak of seasonal

The elderly are especially vulnerable during the colder winter months but although there are more deaths in winter, few die directly as a result of hypothermia. //

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-11820511

Glass half empty:
// Nine elderly people died every hour from cold-related illnesses last winter against a background of soaring energy bills.

Official figures show the number of deaths linked to cold over the four-month period reached 25,400 in England and Wales, plus 2,760 in Scotland.

Charities and energy company critics claim the UK has the highest winter death rate in northern Europe, even worse than much colder countries such as Finland and Sweden. //

http://www.dailymail....nter-prices-soar.html

[Buenchico]

An interesting post, Gromit (which, no doubt, will be either ignored or vilified by the Daily Mail readers on this site).

Back in 1986 I watched BBC news coverage of the miners' dispute, which (through the images and commentary) made it clear that brave police officers were valiantly striving to combat the illegal actions of striking miners.

I then travelled to Australia where (in a weekly summary of the world's news) I saw exactly the SAME footage but with a different commentary. It was made abundantly clear, in that version, that Britain was akin to a neo-fascist state where the legitimate concerns of striking workers were being brutally oppressed by an out-of-control police force.

I've since qualified as a journalist (and spent a great deal of time examining the 'spin' which newspaper editors can use), so I'm extremely sceptical about any media reports (particularly any which come from the Daily Mail). However I've also met a retired police officer who was involved with the miners' dispute. By his own admission, the Australian report was probably more accurate than the BBC one!

Chris

[jake-the-peg]

The interesting question is why was there no big outbreak of seasonal flu?

Did more people go and get vaccinated due to all the publicity surrounding swine flu?

That would ironically make it the first flu outbreak to save thousands of lives!

[cazzz1975]

the daily mail is awful, they post negatively on most stories and over the top on the rest, not to mention the dozens of inaccuracies

[anotheoldgit]

Gromit says "Don't do as I do, do as I say".

/// I trust you will all be boycotting the paper and website when this story is printed? ///

Posted by Gromit at 21.15 Tues 23 Nov. 2010, referring to the Daily Mail.

The following Daily Mail link used by Gromit at
00.48 Wed 24th Nov. 2010.

http://www.dailymail....nter-prices-soar.html

[Gromit]

Has the Chandlers' story been printed in the Daily Mail yet? No, then no boycott yet.

[jno]

both stories are true. But the fact that people die in cold weather isn't news; the fact that the number is falling is news. A pity the newspaper missed it.