Where was the media coverage of the Manchester anti-war demonstration?
Paul O'Hanlon | 25.06.2007 09:58 | Analysis | Anti-militarism | World
Thousands demonstrated in Manchester yesterday ,didn't they? So where are the photos, reports? I collated this from the mainstream and alternative media - not much, is it?
STOP THE WAR DEMONSTRATION MANCHESTER SUNDAYJUNE 24th
There was almost no coverage of the demonstration in the mainstream media. The BBC, ITN, and Channel 5 news of Sunday 24th June all had nothing. There was a 25 second clip of some of the protesters on Channel Four news at 6.55pm on Sunday evening. Around half of all the bulletins covered Brown’s confirmation as new Labour Party leader but the voice of the people outside was not heard.
The afternoon and evening television news bulletins throughout the day added up to 115 minutes and half of all the news was of Brown’s coronation and Harman’s surprise selection as his deputy. There was less than half a minute about the protest – 0.4% of all news coverage – blink and miss it. The radio was no better – nothing on the World this Weekend or the Westminster Hour – 90 minutes between them.
I very much doubt there is anything in the Monday papers. A search of today’s Guardian and Independent websites drew a blank. I suspect the tabloids have nothing – unless Murdoch’s `Sun` has had a brainstorm.
Here is a short video clip from the Stop the war website:
http://www.stopwar.org.uk/newsite/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=153&Itemid=60
Even Indymedia has nothing – Manchester Indymedia has this:
http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/manchester/2007/06/374326.html?c=on#c176278
but where are the photos?
I’m afraid for most people this demonstration, big though it probably was, simply did not happen.
I found this on the BBC Internet website:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/6235170.stm
Last year’s (I stress this is from 2006) demonstration was reported on the BBC website: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/5373128.stm
Sorry, Manchester demonstrators, you don’t seem to exist as far as our wonderful seekers after truth are concerned.
There was almost no coverage of the demonstration in the mainstream media. The BBC, ITN, and Channel 5 news of Sunday 24th June all had nothing. There was a 25 second clip of some of the protesters on Channel Four news at 6.55pm on Sunday evening. Around half of all the bulletins covered Brown’s confirmation as new Labour Party leader but the voice of the people outside was not heard.
The afternoon and evening television news bulletins throughout the day added up to 115 minutes and half of all the news was of Brown’s coronation and Harman’s surprise selection as his deputy. There was less than half a minute about the protest – 0.4% of all news coverage – blink and miss it. The radio was no better – nothing on the World this Weekend or the Westminster Hour – 90 minutes between them.
I very much doubt there is anything in the Monday papers. A search of today’s Guardian and Independent websites drew a blank. I suspect the tabloids have nothing – unless Murdoch’s `Sun` has had a brainstorm.
Here is a short video clip from the Stop the war website:
http://www.stopwar.org.uk/newsite/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=153&Itemid=60 Even Indymedia has nothing – Manchester Indymedia has this:
http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/manchester/2007/06/374326.html?c=on#c176278 but where are the photos?
I’m afraid for most people this demonstration, big though it probably was, simply did not happen.
I found this on the BBC Internet website:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/6235170.stm Last year’s (I stress this is from 2006) demonstration was reported on the BBC website:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/5373128.stm Sorry, Manchester demonstrators, you don’t seem to exist as far as our wonderful seekers after truth are concerned.
Paul O'Hanlon
e-mail:
o_hanlon@hotmail.com
Additions
Stop the War's cure for for insomnia....
25.06.2007 15:03
If the pictures seen here:
http://www.roystpierre.com/index.php?set_albumName=album68&name=gallery&include=view_album.php
are anything to go by, then the demo looked boring to say the least.
I'm all in favour of the STWC holding inclusive events that everyone can attend. But their insistance on pandering to the authorities at every given opportunity is inspiring noone and sending the movement they have built into a coma.
Did thet defy the Police ban on the prefered route of their demo? No!
Did they call their last manchester demo to coincide with the actual Labour conference? No!
Have they organised any direct action or civil dissobedience since 2003? No!
Are people bored of politely asking the Police/Governement for permission and advice on how to protest against mass murder? Yes!
Time for a rethink....
http://www.roystpierre.com/index.php?set_albumName=album68&name=gallery&include=view_album.php are anything to go by, then the demo looked boring to say the least.
I'm all in favour of the STWC holding inclusive events that everyone can attend. But their insistance on pandering to the authorities at every given opportunity is inspiring noone and sending the movement they have built into a coma.
Did thet defy the Police ban on the prefered route of their demo? No!
Did they call their last manchester demo to coincide with the actual Labour conference? No!
Have they organised any direct action or civil dissobedience since 2003? No!
Are people bored of politely asking the Police/Governement for permission and advice on how to protest against mass murder? Yes!
Time for a rethink....
Guido
Comments
Hide the following 8 comments
inform us
25.06.2007 11:18
delta news
Boo hoo
25.06.2007 12:58
"Even Indymedia has nothing" - erm, that's because, if noone else has done so, you should be writing it yourself, rather than waiting for a series of Indymedia reporters (presumably in special hats) to drive up in the Indymobile.
As for the lack of national coverage, no, that's not really a surprise either.
"Protestors hold protest on the same subject they've held some protests on before" won't get many newsdesks that excited, outside the city where it takes place. Particularly when the numbers taking part are - while big for a local protest - smaller than, say, the number who voted in the deputy leadership contest.
What the new Prime Minister thinks should be the future of the country, and the choice of deputy Labour leader (someone who has changed her mind on Iraq, no less), is far more interesting on a national scale than a protest in Manchester. Sorry you didn't get to appear on the telly, though.
Norville B
BLAH
25.06.2007 13:20
AS ANOTHER LAD SAID TO ME YESTERDAY - "DIRECT ACTION REST IN FUCKING PEACE"
NORTHERN ANARCHIST
true that northern anarchist
25.06.2007 14:45
"fuck the civil, let's get disobedient!"
i hereby wish to incite a riot on indymedia!
who is with me? ;-)
other northern activist
...yet another northen anarchist
25.06.2007 17:49
REVOLT damn it, rather than post SHIT on indymedia!!
...yet another northen anarchist
Direct Action my arse
25.06.2007 20:36
It's a sad state of affairs when people think standing in Albert Square in your sandals and organically sourced banners singing slogans is newsworthy.
The Suffragetes would've been resigned to a footnote in history if they didn't shake the system (and occaisionally chuck themselves in front of horses).
The French Revolution would've come to nowt if the streets of Paris weren't bathed in blood. The WWII resistance didn't sit about in church halls reading pamphlets.
Angry is good. Angry means people are motivated to change things. We moan, we chatter, we meet and slap each other on the back about how ethical we are but we don't get angry. If you call yourself an activist then get angry and get active.
individual anarchist
re: northern anarchists
25.06.2007 20:46
What more do you expect? Mass direct action will not just fall from the sky. we have to build a movement.
Chris S
e-mail:
chris_strafford@hotmail.com
Homepage:
http://www.solfed.org.uk
Take inspiration from Brian Haw
25.06.2007 22:48
Paul O'Hanlon
e-mail:
o_hanlon@hotmail.com