Beat the Press? More like a pat on the back!

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When I heard Alex Beam’s disgraceful article, ‘Hardball in Liverpool’, was to be discussed on Friday’s Beat the Press, I was optimistic that he and his article would be ripped to shreds, receiving the criticism and scorn of his peers that would hopefully lead to the apology we are all waiting for. Sadly, I could not have been more wrong. I have watched the discussion once but have no inclination to view it again. However, if you wish to view it, you can find it here: http://www.beatthepress.org/episode/segment/1263

As I commented on the site, their complete lack of research (the host didn’t even know what the ‘correction’ printed by the Globe said) and understanding of the Hillsborough Disaster let Alex Beam escape with an almost apologetic and sympathetic panel wondering why Liverpool Fans have gotten themselves so worked up over Beam’s semantics and phraseology. For me, they have completely missed the point.

According to their own website, “Beat The Press takes a sharp look at how the media, new and old, covers and analyzes the big issues of the week”. In order to save time, it appear that research is not seen as a vital component to cover and analyse the stories of the week.

The final line in the segment is “Everybody loves to be a victim” is uttered by panelist Jon Keller. Tell that to the 96 men, women, and children that died that day, Jon.

Liverpool fans are looking for just one thing and that’s an apology from both Beam and his employers, the Boston Globe. If “Beat the Press” is indicative of the standard American journalism and understanding of the world outside of the United States, I fear that apology will never come.

JFT96 & YNWA

Julian

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10 Comments

  1. Spot on Julian.

    Tim Treacy did our fans and the memory of the 96 a great credit in the interview and it’s unfortunate that his well articulated interview was limited to a handful of quotes that were completely disregarded by a panel whose only interest was to give their old pal a back-slapping for upsetting the Liverpool soccer tribes.

    It seems NESV’s takeover of the club isn’t being as warmly received across the pond as it is here.

  2. Damned right Julian. I watched it as it happened and the panel obviously had no clue whatsoever about the realities of the tragedy. I found their smirking incomprehension infuriating and, sadly,to me, that programme demonstrated the appalling rubbish that passes for journalism currently accepted in the US. Our man had too short a segment to go into detail and why, (oh why), did they have to shoot his segment in a pub, with all its negative stereotypical alcohol + football = mindless violence? A. Beam comes from the same stable that supplies the s*n with its unprofessional, sensationalist chancers. YNWA + JFT96

  3. @ Richard,

    Thanks, and I agree completely. I am sorry I did not mention Tim Treacy’s superb interview. As is generally the case, panelists do not like contributors who know more about the subject than they.

    @ Liam,

    It’s absolutely dreadful and their laughter at various points is quite audible. If they were discussing a US tragedy, you can sure it would have been handled with respect rather than the contempt illustrated.

  4. What makes it worse is that the Globe is owned by the NY Times which is a major shareholder in the Boston Red Sox. Were is John Henry whilst this is going on.

  5. It’s rare that you see a panel of apparently professional people miss the point so scandalously. Imagine the outrage if we made a mockery of a preventable tragedy in the US: mining disaster; plane crash; the deaths in new orleans etc

    I think that it is very important that we respond to this in a dignified manner. A relentless bombardment of reasoned responses without descending to their level.

  6. I watched the video yesterday on the NESN website and was instantly compelled, by disgust and indignation, to speak out about it in the comment section(under the name Member of the Mob).

    The video was sickening. Not only do they add insult to the initial injury inflicted by Beam, but they seem to revel in it. Laughter is not appropriate when discussing this topic.

    In addition to insulting the dead and the ones they’ve left behind, it also serves to damage our global reputation. Such shoddy, irresponsible journalism has no place.

  7. I have suggested a topic for ‘Beat the Press’ to discuss under the username julesLFC76. The topic is their handling of Beam’s article. Please recommend it here http://www.beatthepress.org/suggest-a-topic

    I doubt they will consider it for discussion but if it gets enough votes they might just realise their error and apologise unlike Beam and the Globe.

  8. I can’t quite believe what i’ve just seen. This is a panel of “random journalists” spending 6 minutes talking in very general terms about something they clearly haven’t bothered to investigate for themselves. Not once was a piece of factual information presented to back up any argument……not that any coherent or intelligent opinion was put forward. For me this is simply another example of the sensationalist media world in which we live, where shock value and plain ignorance is packaged as fact. Also it was nice to see that throughout the video, talking about such a tragic event, they still found time to have a good laugh. DISGRACE.

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