The Sunday Times
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The Sunday Times, Irish Edition, 12 November, 2006
Essay Notes now up on the wiki for the Sunday Times. A few cautionary notes:
The Sunday Times is not an Irish paper. It is a British paper with an Irish edition. Much of the content that appears in it was wrtitten for the British edition and is, in an Irish context, reprinted material. Some further analysis, exclusively of the Irish content might give us a better idea of it’s ‘Fourth Estate’ role.
While the ‘real journalism’ figure is astonishingly high, at 55%, much of it is inane filler which wouldn’t appear out of place in an in-flight magazine. The only thing I gave a gold star for was the high level of non-wire world news, and even a page of that was composed of idiocy.
Bearing those two factors in mind, the very high score for journalism has not persuaded me to reconsider my view that the Tribune was the best thing I read all weekend. Now, only the Star on Sunday remains to knock it off its perch.
Raw Notes Page 1
Main Photo - Kylie Returns. Has probably appeared in every paper in the world by now, but sure you wouldn't begrudge it to her.
"CIE seeks 9% rise in all fares" Seems a bit press releasey on its face, but the additional reporting brings it within the realm of original journalism.
"Staple Clinics to join war on obesity" 50% HSE PR, 50% advertising for a private stapling firm
(did you read the story? PR for the firm that is lambasted as unsafe by Donal O'Shea while its charges are highlighted to be double the recommended price for stapling? Great PR! :) - MT)
Response: I'll meet you half way on this, MT. Yes, the article mentioned the high price, and the fact that stapling is not usually recommended as an appropriate solution. However, thats only a few lines, and is followed up by several paragraphs along the following lines - "This isn't about money, it's about the personal touch", "Everyone is entitled to have their life saved. I am just trying to help people who want to be helped" both from the company, both unchallenged. Also, "it's the best money I ever spent, I only wish I'd done it sooner" from a client, placed next to her before and after photos. As you say yourself, Great PR! FC.)
(When you are slating someone it's only fair and balanced journalism to give them their say, let the reader decide if it’s BS. Speaking to someone who went to the procedure is a must and pics illustrate the whole procedure and put a human face to what is a desperate measure. The pars from Costello and Cosgrave (who I point out is hiding which clinic he is using) come after several pars of damning comment from O'Shea. If you feel it’s tantamount to an ad then fine. I might be bitching about your analysis here because I feel it’s grossly unfair but overall – well done, great project and hope you keep it up. Although Trib best paper!? - MT)
I'll grant you that not all of this is the fault of the article as written. The more sceptical content was spread over the jump from front page to inside, and so lost a lot of it's impact. Also the type and placement of photos played a large part in determining my categorisation. As regards the Trib, I can only say that I base my decision on five specific good stories. The Times has far more original content than any other paper (world news is exceptional) but most of that isn't Irish, so the Trib, though far from perfect, gets my vote. - FC
"Government shies from tinkering with family"
Based on off-the-record sources, so it's journalism
Page 2
"No Stamp Duty change" The Sindo begs to disagree (even to the degree of having in-house "thinker" Eoghan Harris shill for them, the shameless tart). Anyway, it's based on "government sources", so we'll call it journalism.
I dislike stories based on unnamed "government sources". If the government wants to fly a kite, or leak something and deny it later, anonymous government sources are the ideal way to do it. When not wearing their masks and underwear over their trousers these are more usually known as government spokesmen (or women, though I've never seen a reference to a government spokeswoman). Why class this as journalism, when it's nothing more than targeted PR? - SmcG
I suppose because these are sources that are unavailable to the likes of you and I. But in terms of the work done in producing the story, yes they're no different to The PR stories. - FC
"Leas owner to name culprits" Press Release
"Plan to let Hain choose leader" Northern Ireland
Page 3
"Cowan and Brown Co-star in a tax war" Decent story about competing tax breaks for film production being offered by British and Irish governments. An excuse to show a large photo of Keira Knightly and her famous midriff. Effect rather ruined by juxtaposition next to photos of Cowna and Brown.
"Democrats wins spells Iraq exit" An exit for British troops, that is. Based on army sources. Journalism
"Visitors duped by fake reviews" Good colour story about how proper travel guides are suffering at the hands of websites which often carry fake reviews. Essentially a trailer for a full-page story on page 14, I'll only count the story once in totting up my content figures.
Page 4
"Sisters lose stomachs to avoid cancer" Journalism of the "isn't it awful?" variety, but some advertorial creeps in at the end. I'm going to classify this 75% journalism, 25% advertorial
"Fresh dispute over luas link-up" Decent journalism
Page 5
"Kenny hits out at Shell protesters" Journalism, but with all the flaws seen in other publications treatments of this story. For example, the assertion that Enda Kenny "has come down firmly on the side of law and order" makes the assumption that protesters were breaking the law, and Gardai were not, something which is disputed. There is also an on-going court case where it is being sought to prove that the pipeline should never have been given planning permission. Should this case succeed, it will become apparent that it was the protestors alone who were "on the side of law and order". Mr. Kenny rather, has come down on the side of the forces of the state, a very different proposition, as certain tribunals attest.Allegations of "orchestration" by shadowy "outside forces" also go unquestioned. On the plus side, there is an attempt to place alternative views side by side, allowing the reader to weigh them up.
"Archbishop wages Wintwerval war on atheism" Stupid, stupid, "War on Christmas" story, based on a bishop denouncing something that never happened. Still, it has two sources, so I'll have to call it journalism. Page 6
"UK land deal 'is pie in the sky'" Decent story about a UK investment offer being promoted in Ireland
"Japanese deer 'need culling' to save our woodland" Report on a report
Page 7
"Cameras probe every nook in search for drugs in prison" Dreadfully written Press Release regurgitation
"Irish pay more for music at bad dog HMV" Good story on how HMV are overcharging Irish customers. The pathetic quote from HMVs head PR flack is the funniest thing I've seen all weekend.
"Eden-style rainforest planned for Blackpool" An ad
"Found: Connery in his 007 heyday" An ad
"'Nice' nurses to get free chocolate biscuits" Press Release
Page 8
"MEPs save the world...from barbados" Isn't it awful?/Ooh, those MEPs!
"Thats unlucky - Dublin Horseshoe-throwing club loses its grant" Good colour story
"Ten year olds charged with rape and assault" Isn't it awful?
Page 9
"Corrigan roasts 'rubbish' Irish pork" Ad for Richard Corrigan's new TV show.
"Race case MEPs son targetted by bomb" Police story
"Life on Scottish isle attracts families from four corners" Press Release
"Disputed land could be worth €40m if Kenny loses case" Court Report/Lifestyles of the rich and famous
Page 10
"Urban wind rush powers up (slightly)" Incomprehensible headline for a peculiar story. It feels like simple advertising, only the journalists take a sceptical view of the product they're giving free publicity to. I'll call it journalism, because I don't know how else to categorise it.
"Kelly Death in new BBC probe" Press Release
Page 11
"Terror attacks affected babies" Stupid, STUPID piece of nonsence about how birth weights fell after 11th September 2001. A report on a report.
"Extremists target universities" Terror cells may be forming in UK colleges. Journalism
Page 12
"Five Star Scam" A decent consumer story. See page 3
Page 13
"You've never had it so good/bad" Isn't the celtic tiger awful/brilliant? Banal, hackneyed, done-to-death Opinion.
Page 14
"Closing In On Blair" Good assessment of the story so far on cash-for-peerages.
"Spongebob Brown sets out his jolly new policy stall" Opinion
Pages 15 and 16
five pieces, all opinion
Page 17
"America gets real, but Britain still lost in military cuckoo land" Opinion
"Sue Denham" Political/media gossip. Journalism
Page 19
"Profile - Pat Kenny" Like all such profiles, an ad.
"All politics is local in D4" Opinion
Page 20 - World News
"New Man at the Pentagon puts his hand on Baghdad exit door" Unlike all the other papers I've read so far, the Times can afford it's own world news people. So this is journalism then, not wire, like most world stories.
Page 21 - World news
"Gates Re-opens old wounds in Washington" Journalism
"Saddam's general wants US to stay" Journalism
Page 22 - World News
"Hillary targets the Blue Dog voters" Asessment of front runners for 2008 US presidential elections. Lots of opinion in there, but enough reporting to classify it as journalism.
"Nancy and George, the oddest political show in town" Fallout from US mi-terms. Journalism
Page 24 - World News
"Dog Owners bite back in China's great pet purge" A feature story. Doesn't belong in News, but is journalism nonetheless
"Plan B - turn Beckham into a movie star" Vacuous showbiz story, Again, its journalism alright, but its still pretty worthless
"Martini Moms toast a rebellion against parental correctness" Topping off a whole page wherein the Times uses it's considerable international reporting resourses to feed it's readers inane crap, another vacuous feature.
Page 25 - World News
"Cool it, says royal as she reaches for party crown" Papers in these parts love writing about Segolene Royal, I think because she fits a certain stereotype of what French women are like. Anyway, a decent story on Ms. Royal's presidential campaign.
"Hezbollah's missiles back in Lebanon" Decent original journalism, probably deserved more space.
"Brilliant idea: mirror lights up village" Interesting colour story. Doesn't seem to be from a wire, as far as google can tell me.
Page 26 - World News
"UK genocide suspects face Rwanda trial" Fine journalism from John Swain, of Killing Fields fame
"Princess who triggered royal killings to wed" More original journalism. Page 24 aside, the World News is by far the best thing in the Sunday Times. All original stuff, not a single wire story. Have a Gold Star.
