Shadid Malik owns up -How many more?

Taken from bbc.co.uk :

Allegations about MPs' allowances are to be examined by a panel of police officers and lawyers amid growing calls for action over the expenses scandal.

Met officers and Crown Prosecution Service lawyers will look at complaints made against individual MPs to see if they merit a criminal investigation.

Labour minister Shahid Malik stood down on Friday pending an inquiry into his expenses, and has defended his actions.

MPs from all parties have repaid thousands of pounds for claims made.

A week after the Daily Telegraph began publishing details of expense claims, many MPs felt events were now "spiralling out of control", said BBC political correspondent Jo Coburn.

TYPICAL , whilst the rest of us sit here in a economic crisis , making a hard honest living, the SCUM we are obliged to adhere to break rules and spend OUR money. And the UK is a fair democracy - my arse! Pardon my french but im fed up of these ignorant no good politicians living the life whilst the rest of us honest people suffer.

Hence why for my politics essay i have decided to answer the question : It has been asserted (by Lord Hailsham and others) that the UK is not a democracy but that it is an elective dictatorship. To what extent is this true, and if it is true, does it matter?

YES ITS TRUE AND OF COURSE IT BLOODY MATTERS!!

Post 1900 Politics

Right back from the very first lecture where we discussed Jean Jacques Rousseau, a French Politician and Tom Wolfe, one of the founders of the New Journalism movement in the 1960's and 70's i have been thinking of the relevance of discussing politics from this period of time in reference to the politicians of today. 

Of course its important to have an understanding of the foundations of the politics that todays society are built on however i'm of the opinion that today's politics are completely different to how they were in the early 1900's. The change in tactics and different politics goes hand in hand with evolution of society, however i believe that studying individual politicians today would be far more interesting and beneficial rather than discussing the likes of Tom Wolfe etc. 

I would far rather discuss current political parties plans etc than to previous politicians , as personally i think it would benefit all of us if we knew more about the politics hidden within journalism.

I believe this because todays society has to be so politically correct its unreal. A politician in Tom Wolfe's time could air his views on anything and had his freedom of speech, however, if any politician from any party was to air his own views and plans in todays society, they would be frowned upon and most likely action would be taken against the offender. This controversy makes for good debate and would allow others to gain a greater understanding of the different political parties within the UK.

Whilst i enjoy learning about politics as i think its quite intellectual and allows for good healthy debate i question its relevance to our course in some ways. Whilst politics are pivotal within Journalism i don't believe that early 1900's politicians are necessarily applicable to the modern political agenda. 

Thoughts please...

Monday Media Lectures

Does anyone even like these? Or think they are in the smallest way relevant to our course?

Tuesday Lectures

Now i know there has been a lot of debate amongst journalism students about Tuesday lectures with the legend that is Chris Horrie. Most students have been saying that the lectures about religion (A-Priori and Empericism) are a waste of time however, whilst i'm not a fan of religion and am agnostic, i think the lectures do provoke some interesting and intelligent debate. We as students are now documenting our thoughts on any subject or topic via these blog websites, and i am thoroughly enjoying the use of the Internet within the course. Thumbs up Chris , but can i request some more sporting debates rather than religion? A guy can dream can't he....?

Student Union Elections

Now, i fully understand the reason behind the elections and understand the positions people are running for are important and integral to the university and how it is run. However, the ways in which people go about trying to get you to vote for them seem to be a tad extreme. I think interviews should be conducted with each candidate recorded and put on to the winchester site for people to watch in their own time and at their own will rather than being disturbed and being spoken to with salesmans' tactics...

Sports Journalism

The subject of sports journalism has me completely bemused...

In our first semester here, we learnt about libel, slander, defamation etc and i thought i had got to grips with it with the help of the Mc Nae's law book. When a reporter is writing a piece on a celebrity or just any story there are certain areas that they have to be extremely careful....

However, it seems to me that with sports writers, the same rules don't apply, some of the transfer stories that appear in The Sun and The News Of The World are simply moronic and don't have an ounce of truth in them, yet they get printed and nothing comes of it?

Please someone explain to me why?

Jade Goody

Is anyone else bored of newspaper headlines involving her? Because i certainly am....

This "Z-list celebrity" came into the spotlight after an appearance on the atrocity that is Big Brother on channel 4 back in 2002 and since then has made her own television programme and sold clothes and various different scents for women. 

Around 6 months or so she was diagnosed with cancer and it was confirmed earlier on this month that it was terminal. Now, don't get me wrong, despite hating her common voice and appearance (judging a book by its cover i know, but really i'm a snob at heart) i feel sorry for the woman, as no one deserves to die, especially through the horrible nuisance that is cancer. 

Many people suffer from the same disease that poor Jade is suffering from but do they get the same coverage in the press? Sir Bobby Robson , a well known (and far more relevant public figure)  ex football player and manager, has been the victim of cancer on no less than six occasions but is he spread across the newspapers?

I would like someone to explain to me why when we are currently in worldwide financial crisis, involved in two seperate wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and are under constant terrorism threats yet Jade Goody's last few days of life make the front pages?

Personally, i think the fact she has allowed her last few days to be almost dictated by the press and their photographs and interview sessions with her is distasteful. I understand she wants the best for her children and that she is getting married to the love of her life, however, i don't think it is really public interest, but maybe it is, you decide.....