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‘Thoroughly Delegitimized’: UK Media Slammed Over ‘Vicious’ Corbyn Coverage

Sputnik – July 18, 2016

UK Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn has long been a critic of his coverage in the British press, and now a new study has found that three-quarters of newspaper stories about the Labour leader’s first months of leadership either distorted or failed to represent his actual views.

Academics from the London School of Economics (LSE) undertook a review of Corbyn-related stories in national newspapers from September 1 to November 1 last year, concluding that the Labour leader had been “thoroughly delegitimized” as a result of the coverage he received.

The research concluded that in 52 percent of articles about the Labour leader, Corbyn’s views were not included in the story, while in a further 22 percent of articles his views were “present but taken out of context.”

Meanwhile, out of the more than 800 articles analyzed, 15 percent presented and challenged Corbyn’s views, while just 11 percent presented the Labour leader’s views without challenge or alteration.

“Our analysis shows that Corbyn was thoroughly delegitimized as a political actor from the moment he became a prominent candidate and even more so after he was elected as party leader,” LSE project director Dr Bart Cammaerts said.

Concerns Over Impact on Democracy

Researchers also pointed to the impact this distorted coverage of Corbyn’s views was having on British democracy.

“These results relating to sources and ‘voice’ are evidently troublesome from a democratic perspective,” Cammaerts added.

“Allowing an important and legitimate political actor, ie the leader of the main opposition party, to develop their own narrative and have a voice in the public space is paramount in a democracy.

“Denying such an important political actor a voice or distorting his views and ideas through the exercise of mediated power is highly problematic.”

The LSE team said Corbyn had been “systematically attacked” ever since coming to prominence last summer, and that the British media had “played an attackdog, rather than a watchdog, role.”

Crazy Marxist and Terrorist Friends

The report highlighted particular examples where Corbyn was portrayed as being a radical leftist or as someone with links to terrorist groups such as the IRA, Hamas and Hezbollah.

“Corbyn is systematically ridiculed, scorned and the object of personal attacks by most newspapers. Even more problematic were a set of associations which deligitimised Corbyn as a politician, calling him loony, unpatriotic, a terrorist friend and a dangerous individual,” the report concluded.

Broadcaster Sky News removed an article from its website last year that referred to Corbyn as “Jihadi Jez” following widespread public criticism.

Corbyn has himself hit out at the media following his portrayal over the past 12 months, banning journalists from asking questions outside the front of his home.

“We have a party under attack from much of the media in this country like it has never been under attack before,” he said earlier this year.

The study featured publications with views ranging all across the political spectrum and included The Sun, The Daily Express, The Daily Telegraph, The Daily Mail, the Evening Standard, the Independent, the Daily Mirror and the Guardian.

July 18, 2016 - Posted by | Mainstream Media, Warmongering | , ,

6 Comments »

  1. That’s what happens when one publicly declares that one is a friend & supporter of Holohoax denier Paul Eisen.

    Like

    Comment by Leland ROTH | July 18, 2016 | Reply

    • &Leland Roth, have you read the article. Or even bothered to research any evidence to support your pathetic comment. You have, by the nature of your own comment carried out what the article states. Give yourself a pat on the back for carrying on with Lies and slurs

      Like

      Comment by stewilko | July 18, 2016 | Reply

      • Seems like you are the one slinging lies & slurs stew~iko…Maybe you should read the article again & notice Rothschild’s owned media tend to do the bashing of anyone questioning Israel’s right to rule America, England & Europe for that matter ;-)

        Liked by 1 person

        Comment by Leland ROTH | July 18, 2016 | Reply

        • Yet again, you quote the Guardian, which in many respects, like the Sun as been shown to be anti Corbyn. Each time over and over they have been rebuked and found to have lied. Cooked up disgusting anti corbyn storie.
          May I just digres for a moment. Labour’s membership have l grown since Corbyn’s victory. Nonetheless, he as been under constant attack from right-leaning politicians within the party. In an attempt to weaken his position, some of his critics have manufactured a “crisis” about alleged anti-Semitism.
          Attacks on Corbyn have escalated, more so leadership elections. Since being elected to be leader, not only as his own following grown, but the membership as grown in hundreds of thousands. His type of honest, passionate and speaking directly to the membership scares the opposition. As to your comments, referenced by the Guardian. Like i have noted, they are on a crusade to rubbish or overthrow Corbyn. More like a witch hunt.
          Witch hunt
          Charley Allan, a Jewish member of the party, and a Morning Starcolumnist, has described the current atmosphere in the press and Labour Party as a “witch hunt.”
          It has reached such an absurd volume that any usage of the word “Zionist” is deemed to be anti-Semitic – although tellingly not when used by self-described Zionists.
          Where real instances of anti-Jewish bigotry have come to light, the leadership and party machine have taken robust action.
          According to The Spectator, the party’s general secretary Iain McNicol told a recent meeting of Labour lawmakers that everyone who had been reported for anti-Semitism had either been suspended or excluded.
          Corbyn has responded to the media storm by repeatedly condemning anti-Semitism and saying that anyone making an anti-Semitic remark is “auto-excluded from the party.”
          John McDonnell, the shadow finance minister and a long-standing Corbyn ally, told The Independent that any party member found by an investigation to be expressing anti-Semitic views should be expelled for life. “If people express these views, full stop they’re out,” McDonnell said.
          Smears
          Smears of anti-Semitism against Corbyn started even before he was elected.
          During his leadership campaign in the summer of 2015, the establishment media worked itself into a frenzy of anti-ICorbyn hysteria, led more than any other paper by the liberal Guardian.
          One of the recurring themes in this campaign was Corbyn’s long-standing support for Palestinian human rights.
          Because of this, attempts were made to say outright, or to imply, that Corbyn was a secret anti-Semite, or that he associated with, or tolerated “notorious” anti-Semites.
          Although these hit jobs gained some traction, they were soon debunked, and ultimately seemed to have little impact on Corbyn

          Like

          Comment by stewilko | July 18, 2016 | Reply


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