and why Labour cannot and should not play the mainstream media game by Justin Schlosberg Myth 1. The mainstream media are all complicit in an orchestrated smear campaign against Corbyn This is a common inflection among Corbyn supporters who view the coverage of his leadership with deep-seated cynicism and mistrust. But the reality is more complex and more subtle. There are … [Read more...]
An open letter on the BBC’s dismissal of Corbyn bias findings
We are writing in connection with research published last week by academics from the Media Reform Coalition and Birkbeck, University of London, that found that, during the height of the recent Labour leadership crisis, twice as much airtime on the main BBC news bulletins was given to voices critical of Jeremy Corbyn compared to those who were supportive. We were disappointed … [Read more...]
Should he stay or should he go? Television and online news coverage of the Labour Party in crisis
As the second Labour leadership election in less than a year gathers pace, research produced jointly by the Department of Film, Media and Cultural Studies at Birkbeck, University of London and the Media Reform Coalition, based at Goldsmiths, University of London, has found clear and consistent bias in favour of critics of Jeremy Corbyn. The researchers analysed 465 online … [Read more...]
Updated: MRC’s report on press coverage of Jeremy Corbyn’s first week as Labour leader
Research on press coverage of Jeremy Corbyn's first week as Labour leader that was originally published by the Media Reform Coalition in November 2015, has been updated to include an Appendix that considers some of the key themes underpinning the coverage. Our research indicated how large sections of the press appeared to set out systematically to undermine Jeremy Corbyn with a … [Read more...]
The Media’s Attack on Corbyn: Research Shows Barrage of Negative Coverage
New research by the Media Reform Coalition shows how large sections of the press appeared to set out systematically to undermine Jeremy Corbyn in his first week as Labour Leader with a barrage of overwhelmingly negative coverage. The research looked at all 8 national daily newspapers and their Sunday publications1 and found that out of a total of 494 news, comment and … [Read more...]
Corbyn & Watson Victories: Media Reform Back on the Agenda
Last weekend saw two committed media reformers take the leadership of the Labour Party - Jeremy Corbyn and Tom Watson Jeremy Corbyn - elected with a landslide 59% of the vote - and new deputy Tom Watson, differ on many issues but the media isn't one of them. When it comes to tackling the power of media moguls who are choking democratic debate, demonising the most … [Read more...]
Frontrunner Jeremy Corbyn Backs Media Reform
Labour Leadership hopefuls Jeremy Corbyn and Yvette Cooper Back ‘Urgent Measures’ to Tackle Media Power A survey of the nine MPs hoping to take the Leader and Deputy Leader positions in the Labour Party has shown just under half the candidates backing ‘urgent measures to prevent damaging media concentration’ and policies that would ‘temper the power of the largest media … [Read more...]