Most UK newspapers have a political bias. To get a balanced view, you need to read at least one on each side of the political divide. (As Britons interested in politics often do.) Even then, the information you end up with is no more reliable than that gleaned from any media source in any country.
The headline for this article is misleading. The journalist stated that his source came from the UK government. That is very different from simply writing what the government to told (ie instructed) him to write, as Techdirt's headline implies.
Yes, it's entirely possible that the UK government supplied inaccurate or misleading information to support its own agenda - just as the US government frequently does. But that's different from directing a journalist to write something. The choice of what to write is the journalist's. Though, as most people know, journalists usually have an agenda. too. The Sunday Times is part of Murdoch's empire, so I don't suppose this guy would last long there if he didn't toe the Conservative party line, any more than would a Guardian journalist who didn't do the opposite!
Techdirt has not posted any stories submitted by mmjj123.
Politican bias is the norm
Most UK newspapers have a political bias. To get a balanced view, you need to read at least one on each side of the political divide. (As Britons interested in politics often do.) Even then, the information you end up with is no more reliable than that gleaned from any media source in any country.
Misleading Headline
The headline for this article is misleading. The journalist stated that his source came from the UK government. That is very different from simply writing what the government to told (ie instructed) him to write, as Techdirt's headline implies.
Yes, it's entirely possible that the UK government supplied inaccurate or misleading information to support its own agenda - just as the US government frequently does. But that's different from directing a journalist to write something. The choice of what to write is the journalist's. Though, as most people know, journalists usually have an agenda. too. The Sunday Times is part of Murdoch's empire, so I don't suppose this guy would last long there if he didn't toe the Conservative party line, any more than would a Guardian journalist who didn't do the opposite!