The media and 'journalism'

It never ceases to amaze me, the sheer ridiculousness of what the British media will do under the name of journalism.

Lets take a couple of scenarios.

First, the so called credit crunch.  Now I am not denying there are some serious issues with the global economy, but I think that this is exacerbated by the 'slash and burn' style of journalistic reporting we see every day.  I think, and remember this is just my opinion, that a lot of the follow on problems could have been avoided. 

This is the way I have seen it unfold, there are some troubles in the US, the Uk media start calling it the credit crunch and 'glamorising' what is happening over there.  Investors get a little wary, they are human after all and are swayed by media attention. meanwhile, the UK banks are having problems.  The UK media band wagon starts ramping up as investors get very wary and then as things get further and further on down the road, the media makes it sound like Armageddon.  As the situation 'actually' escalates, the media glorify it under the banner of 'journalism'.

There is no doubt that there are deep rooted problems around our financial institutions but I firmly believe that they have been made worse by the way it has been reported.

And lets look at Lewis Hamilton.

Lewis is a racer, pure and simple.  He wants to win, not by any means, but by fair competitive racing means.  He will push the boundaries of the rules, thats what Kimi, Felipe, Alonso, Schumacher and all the other world champions have pushed the boundaries to win.   This is the difference between winners and not winners! It is the attitude to take risks, to be enterprising and to push the limits to the very edge.

So what do the British media do?  'has Lewis lost it', 'Lewis losing form'.

Oh Please!

Obviously I am a Lewis fan, but more importantly, I am a Formula one fan and the way that the media is vilifying Lewis as a 'has been' before he has even 'got there' is bugging the daylights out of me.

He is 23 years old, in his second season of Formula 1 and doing rather well with one of the best teams in the world.  But, blimey, Why can't we just get behind him and support a British driver, driving for a British team.  At last we have someone who is successful, ambitious, competitive (heaven forbid) and can be a bit of a role model for people. (Doesn't do drugs, isn't silly with his money, not out partying all the time) and yet the media will look for the worst and then glorify it.

It's a real pity we can't just support him or any of our top athletes.  I pick on Lewis but how long will it be before the very human chinks in our Olympic Champions show and the British media circles like predators, waiting to pounce.

Hey, call me opinionated, call me wrong, call me misguided but irrespective of that thanks for reading.