The File

Starting-out on national newspapers in the eighties I never, ever thought the BBC would create a post like this: International Disinformation and Social Media Correspondent.
Her name is Marianna Spring and it shows how seriously they take this reality. In those days mistakes were made and sometimes retractions or apologies published, but social media has enabled a whole new form of information manipulation! One which deserves focussed scrutiny.
Can you tell the real from the fake news?

Last week we invited a sample of journalists to tell us what they thought about the future of newspapers. It got quite the response. Over 30,000 views on-line and nearly 1,400 votes cast. 51% thought they could see a future with no newspapers in the traditional sense, 22% think newspapers will be around for a while and 27% think there is a place for papers and digital for on-line news.

We estimate that from the strength of feeling expressed through this survey that the printed, paper version of the news could disappear within twenty years. That is progress, that is technology and just a little bit sad. No newspaper to hide behind in the Cafe. No crossword to complete and no convenient fly-swat!

Seriously we will miss newspapers- news just seems more important in a paper. A flickering screen is not the same.

The File will be an online version of what a real newspaper used to be. A news and opinion source which is first and foremost: honest. We are bound by old-fashioned principles that include telling the truth, no invasion of privacy and not chasing sensational stories. The World is sensational enough without us making it more so. Sometimes telling the truth may be at the expense of an individual or organisation’s feelings – tough! The truth is the truth and there is only one version of that.

Regular opinion pieces by quality writers will take-up part of the content which for the main part will include pieces of interest to what has become an increasingly marginalised specimen, the regular human being. If you are a follower of The Woke way of life then you will not like it here and if I had a shotgun I would chase you off our land.

Welcome to The File

“I may disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”

Voltaire