What's all this whinning about the press?

[Kayless]

They wouldn't exist if the public didn't buy their wares so they are only delivering what the public want. So as they are such an insufferable shower why do they exist? Could it be that the public get the press they want?

[Gromit]

Yes.

The press self regulate and that does not appear to be working too well. There is a case for an independent regulator to rein in some of their excesses.

[Kayless]

Yes but surely if their excesses where indeed excesses then they would not sell their bile?

[anotheoldgit]

Gromit

/// There is a case for an independent regulator to rein in some of their excesses. ///

How could you possibly have an independent regulator?

Surely they would go the same way as all those Government raised independent tribunals?

[VHG]

I am sure if somebody set up a show of bear baiting or cock fighting there would be people who would pay to watch it.

Does not make it right though.

[jackthehat]

It is a circular argument; it is like a supermarket only putting out white loaves on its shelves and then claiming that because people buy this bread, it proves their decision to only sell white bread was the correct one......

I think that any 'daily' which could be persuaded to present proper news stories in a reasonably rational and unbiased manner might be pleasantly surprised at its own sales figures.

[craft1948]

I don't know if the public get the press they want, they may get the one they deserve.

[Kayless]

surely jack there is a fair selection of "loaves" available but the ones that sell the most are the ones that many on here seem to whine about the most.

Craft they get the press they pay for.

[Gromit]

AOG

// How could you possibly have an independent regulator? //

You don't believe OfCom, Ofwat, Ofsted, ofgas etc are fair regulatory bodies?

[craft1948]

lol gromit for a minute I was thinking "What's Oftwat?"

[Gromit]

Kayless

When the public buy newspapers they are not always aware of the unplesent methods used to fill the pages. When News of the World readers bought their newspaper they would be unaware that the paper's journalists had snooped on a dead girls phone. If they did, then some of them may not have handed over their money.

[ludwig]

I was listening to a depressing voxpop thing on the radio, and judging by the comments, most tabloid readers don't seem to give much of a toss about the excesses of the scumbag gutterpress.
As long as there's a good sports section and some t1its on page three it seems they're happy.

[jno]

craft, I presume it's the government regulatory body for red light areas.

[venator]

Have we looked at the continental press? We have some way to fall ...

[Kayless]

Fair enough Gromit but they still buy again even after finding out things like the NOTW hacking etc.

[Kayless]

Papers like the Sun were blamed for hounding Diana and their sales even suffered for 5 minutes but those papers mostly still sell millions.

[Kayless]

I suppose the point I'm making is that unfortunately we have a largely tabloid public.

[ludwig]

I think that's true kayless. The people who buy the tabloids get the press they deserve.

Unfortunately, those of us who don't, also get the press they deserve. If only they limited their phone hacking, bullying, scumbag antics to their own readerships I wouldn't have a problem with any of it to be honest.