@HebrideanHecate @TriptychTwinsRidesAgain Either we want a free press or we want a state regulated propaganda outlet.
Unfortunately what we now have is a press owned by wannabe politicians who use it as a soft power to nudge our thinking and shape our opinions. They have shown that they have the power to make and break people; a darling one day and public enemy the next. And they have shown that they work for the Ministry of Truth when it suits them. This is why I no longer give any of them my eyeballs or money.
If we really want a free press then that includes what is in the public interest and what interests the public. They are not always the same thing. Those who court the press should not be surprised when they come calling to observe them at their worst as well as the carefully curated press conferences. And it should be all about investigative journalism where it holds businesses and the state to account. If that also includes abject nonsense, the kiss and tell sex secrets of the B listers, tits, bingo and a variety of opinion pieces signalling virtue and tub-thumping then so be it. My only caveat would be to prevent intrusive practices such as photographing/involving children or people related to but not connected with a story. Other issues such as trespass or libel are already covered.
We all know where we are with the outlets because they pander to their readers and viewers. If they weren't popular then market forces would see them off. We should be under no obligation to bankroll them other than through voluntary consumption. Any other interference is unnecessary and unwelcome and would only be undertaken by the narcissistic and psychopathic control freaks we seem to have elected.
I look forward to the first edition of UKs only newspaper Der Starmer (when we want your opinion we'll give it to you), its new authorised social media platform Newspeak (your only safe source of state-approved information) and its only TV channel BBC (we're here to inform, educated and entertain - don't question it!) any day soon.