Tony Blair Reuters Speech on Controlling the Media Pt 2

[MegaChairmanMao]

Tony Blair should be hung for war crimes.

[Hurlman418]

He had my confidence until he started talking about regulation of the media.

[TheApokaluptein]

He knows that the mainstream media is owned by the same people who own the multinational banking cartels, that own him. Dance puppet. Look people, read- preferably before you excrete curls of opinionated turds off the side of your uninformed pinnacle of cerebral insufficiency. Really listen to what he's saying "distinction between news and comment", "there is, inevitably change on its way", "the regulatory framework will need revision"- he is talking about censoring the Net/ alt-media . ZDAY2010

[WORLD8NSH5KNIGHT1]

Whatever one thinks of TB, it can't be denied this is a crucial speech and he is absolutely right. The press, especially the tabloid press have far too much power. Politicians sometimes cannot win. I don't care if people think I am naive but I still have a fundamental respect for anyone prepared to throw themselves into the political gauntlet, knowing the pressures that come from it. Britons love complaining and we never credit politicians for the good work they do- only the bad.

[WORLD8NSH5KNIGHT1]

cont... I am grateful to TB for this (whilst strongly disagreeing with some of his policies) because the power of the tabloid press infuriates me and Sky 'Views' is no better. Its reporters act more like public vigilantes than professional journalists. To be fair, some corners of the media are still professional. I speak from an interesting perspective because I have been involved in both journalism and politics.

[JeffSMills]

Talk about beating around the bush. 20 minutes in what could have been summarized in ... I guess that's why the media highlights "impact."

[status9002]

well..it's OK

[sammybme]

he's critical of the of lack of separation of opinion and fact in both old and new forms of media saying that particulaly the internet exadurates or whatever. yet youtube as a new media form seperates opinion and fact prety fucking well, at least compared to news programmes. kinda ironic that this vids on youtube really, nice work!

[janeleone]

I hope that he's not implying we are to feel sorry for the mainstream media or making excuses for them for being sensationalist. The bottom line is people are breaking away from the mainstream in hoards precisely because most people are sick of the fluff and filler, the spin, the deception and ommissions. We know something is wrong. So unless they intend on making "controversy" out of telling the TRUTH for a change instead of petty tabloid journalism, they can expect to continue to be discarded.

[RajB1986]

finally, someone in public life with enough balls to criticise the way the media operates. the media disgusts me and needs to be self monitored and regulated as the only way to keep free media a)free and b)truthful

[hillfunky1]

It is up to us all to make the world come together, policy's effect people, news is made by people, media should be used by people, you tube is great, long live you tube!

[Shinybiscuit]

His points made about the way the press is 'evolving' were extremely thought provoking. As a journalism student I found it interesting and relevant. He may have made a massive cock-up in the middle east, but he was great at getting his point across when he felt like it. I'm not sad to have seen him go, but I'd rather we were still being ruled by him than Gordon "what is it I do again?" Brown.

[Shinybiscuit]

OK.....but hwat does his policy on Iraq have to do with his speech on the media?

It's all very well and good regurgitating the same old "the war on iraq is bad" lines over and over, but do you really know understand? I agree as much as the next sensible person that we probably shouldn't have invaded Iraq, but that's by the by.

[zaqmlp1234]

agreed. he is right.

tony blair jumped to wrong judgment with all the facts and created great propaganda to make new 'facts' to support his case to invade and kill iraqis. a deceitful god squad liar who is a war criminal.

[Praxxxis1]

Regardless of what your thought of Tony Blair are, he has a good point. The media is always jumping to judgement without all of the facts.