#WATTSOCCURRING? NO.5
Fact, Fiction & Bullshit
I buy three quality newspapers on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and generally get through all of them by Monday lunchtime. Despite all the instant online news and the extensive TV coverage of everything current, I still really enjoy reading a physical newspaper with less sensationalist journalism.
I’m still absolutely fascinated by the Brexit fiasco. Despite my belief that facts will out in the end, I still feel powerless in the face of declining democracy. We the public are being served up bullshit, bullshit and more bullshit.
I always particularly enjoy the review sections of the newspapers. Although I don’t go regularly enough to the cinema, the theatre or to galleries, I still get an overall perspective of what’s going on in contemporary culture.
One thing particularly amuses me. The newspapers normally divide the reviews of books into fiction and non-fiction. In the good old days I used to believe most of the news stories were slightly biased non-fiction. TV news is now sensationalist, unashamedly ratings chasing and full of presenters determined to make their names as belligerent custodians of the truth. The tabloids, which are so unfortunately influential, are simply slaves to their reactionary ownership. Serious political journalism now has the problem finding some serious politics to write about.
While Britain and British society face their greatest challenges for 60 years Brighton ticks on regardless! My picture this week is of a group of people learning to jump over walls on a free running course.
In a week when ludicrously low official figures for people sleeping on the streets came out, the Trump administration tore up nuclear proliferation treaties and Venezuela teetered on the point of civil war, people in my local café are still ordering, “Decaf flat whites with almond milk and vegan croissants.” So everything must be alright then!