ok, so we’ve had the the perfect definition of an oxymoron. Now, the perfect definition of hypocrisy has emerged.
Back in October, Les Hinton, chairman of News International, criticised online citizen journalism, arguing that amateur bloggers are failing to meet the same standards as traditional news organisations.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina he claimed bloggers were responsible for “bad information” that later could not be substantiated. More over at Media Guardian – Hinton blasts ‘citizen journalists’ (subscription required).
The heart-stopping hypocrisy of a News International executive going on about journalistic standards, “bad information” and unsubstantiated stories is staggering. They own the Sun and News of the World for God’s Sake ! Greater repositories of hearsay, unsubstantiated rubbish, gossip, rumour and made up nonsense do not exist. Journalistic standards ? Who’s he kidding ?
Reading between the lines suggests the big papers are shit scared of blogs and the decentralisation of opinion. Before, journalists would dispense their views from the lofty heights of the daily papers. They wrote and we paid to read their views.
Now, any old Joe can set up a blog and comment on any subject. This has to terrify the corporate papers. They no longer control, and profit from, the dialogue of opinion. Their response is predictable. A classic tabloid tactic, attack and criticise to undermine anything that poses a threat.
Such staggering hypocrisy at this level can only mean one thing. They’re shit scared of the net, bloggers and where the future’s going.