Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Misleading headlines


The tabloids' habit of egging people on.

The Daily Mail is famous for a load of things. One of them is the habit of sticking inflammatory headlines that have very little to do with the actual article content.

Today the bullies are picking on a BA pilot from Scotland, Douglas Maughan. Here's the Mail's headline: 'The Scots pilot suing for racism after being told: 'Your country's a welfare state paid for by the English middle classes''.

As you spot the headline, you can't be blamed for feeling a little peed off: "Kuh!", you may think, "these people really are taking the piss. Get a grip, Scottish pilot, it was just an opinion!"

But then you read the article and it's a totally different story. Far from what the Mail's headline indicates, Mr Maughan was suing over being victimised after he reported several episodes of racism to BA's management, including the use of the words "coon" and "ragheads". He was repeatedly threatened by letter and over the phone and was also sent a note that read: 'Come Separation, will all Jocks f. off to that Welfare State (paid for by English middle classes)??? Please say yes.'

In the meantime, thousands of people who just flick through the Daily Mail without reading the stories in full will be left with the subliminal message that "political correctness has gone mad" and the Scots take exception to everything the English say.

The Mail's contribution towards a society of love, peace and harmony is outstanding.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Saddest thing is: we've become totally accustomed to this type of "journalism" (emphasis on the speechmarks).