BBC wins unlikely backing for Nick Griffin Question Time

673734 — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 11:23:00 GMT

I enjoyed reading Saturday's edition of The Sun. While its editors were placed in the baffling position of having to endorse the BBC (which it has been making vitriolic attacks on almost daily for months now) it deserves praise for its strong condemnation of the BNP and Nick Griffin.

But the paper's coverage of Griffin's appearance seemed to lack some of the relish and sharpness that usually characterises its coverage of major events. Maybe this was because it's such a serious subject or maybe because The Sun's staff were confused at having to support the BBC.

For once, it was Saturday's edition of the Daily Star that eclipsed The Sun on a major story. The paper opted for a p2/p3 DPS on Griffin's appearance and ran a side bar story comparing him to an evil Captain Pugwash. This together with the best sports quiz/crossword page in UK newspapers (a must for all travelling football fans on a Saturday)made the Star's package a winning one.

That said, it was good to see The Sun doing the right thing within such a volatile debate, especially as, judging from the texts it ran from readers, many of its audience don't agree with its stance.

The disgrace of the Daily Star

255762 — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 08:40:00 GMT

The Daily Star is a poor excuse for a newspaper, maybe even proprietor Richard Desmond is thinking this today as his papers pay out again (to the tapas seven), but he should be ashamed as should the editor of the front page of today's paper with its headline "BBC put Muslims before you!".

Accompanied by a picture of Muslim woman giving two fingers it panders to racism.

The front page refers to a decision by BBC director-general Mark Thompson who has apparently announced a ban on Muslim jokes because they are more sensitive than Christians.

It sounds a ridiculous sweeping decision, which is if true is quite wrong. All groups should be open to having jokes made about them. That's all part of a healthy democracy as is a free press, which comes with an inherent responsibility that the Daily Star sorely lacks.

No surprise is that this year the paper (along with sister title the Daily Express) has paid out hundreds of thousands of pounds to Kate and Gerry McCann and now today their friends the tapas seven.

It tops that, with today's apology, by insulting a whole group of the British population. Nice work.

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BBC wins unlikely backing for Nick Griffin Question Time

The disgrace of the Daily Star