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Keeping the records straight

Posted on April 10, 2014 by

The one on the left is for these guys, the one on the right is for these guys.

straighten

We particularly like the Scotsman’s use of the word “error”, as in “Whoops, we totally accidentally rewrote this story three times in 24 hours, with four different headlines, in order to make it more and more pejorative and sneery. Tch, clumsy old us, eh?”

43 to “Keeping the records straight”

  1. Doug Daniel says:

    Maybe David Maddox was rewriting his article for a laugh, thinking “ha ha, imagine if an article like this actually appeared on the Scotsman website! LOLZ!!!!!” and accidentally pressed “publish”?

    Reply
  2. breastplate says:

    Is it not our fault for misinterpreting The Scotsman and that we should apologise? Silly us.

    Reply
  3. Annibale says:

    Truth will out.

    Reply
  4. Grouse Beater says:

    And thee shall smite thine Enemy until He doth grovel and apologise for His Calumny and folly, and furthermore shall offer thee glorious recompense in the form of thy liberty to exude derisive laughter at thy Victory for Truth.

    Reply
  5. Something interesting, The Scotsman is blocked at my workplace over here on this side of the world.

    My employer realises they are trash too!

    Reply
  6. MochaChoca says:

    I’m confused. Didn’t certain unionist commentators tell us that our fundraiser was a figment of your imagination, with the same fifty quid passing through the indiegogo system 20,000 times, each time being immediately withdrawn and re-donated?

    Looking forward to similar retractions about this as well.

    Reply
  7. Ian Anderson says:

    The whole newspaper apology thing needs to change. If their story was front page, the apology needs to be on the front page. If the story was on p7 in a small box, a small box apology is fine.

    Its not right that they can spread lies on the front page and hide an apology away on p32 next to the adverts for Stenna stair lifts.

    Can you imagine the horror of newspaper editors if they had to splash in huge font “Sorry for the error”. Might make them check facts before publishing.

    Reply
  8. Alex Wright says:

    Opens the door for a billboard along the lines of,

    “The Scotsman and other papers lie to the Scottish people. For details go to Wings Over Scotland”

    Could be worth a try.

    Reply
  9. HandandShrimp says:

    The Scotsman have a line they push relentlessly. They are biased, dishonest and devoid of integrity. A bit like most newspapers come to think of it but worse than most because it has pretensions to being a serious paper, unlike say the Record or the Mail or the Express. The Scotsman is living on past glories when it was a decent paper. I wouldn’t give it house room. I can’t even bring myself to participate on their comments boards.

    Might sound a bit bitter but it was my paper and even when I lived down south in the 80s I still used to get it. I despise what it has become.

    Reply
  10. Macart says:

    Oh, that’ll leave a mark. 😀

    Reply
  11. Grouse Beater says:

    Ian

    If their story was front page, the apology needs to be on the front page.

    Isn’t that what Levinson was trying to establish, that the Fourth Estate has become a corrupt law unto itself?

    Reply
  12. Oneironaut says:

    @Ian Anderson
    “Might make them check facts before publishing.”

    No way! That’s what proper journalists do.
    You can’t expect these little puppets to check up on everything they’re told to print, can you? 😉

    Reply
  13. Morag says:

    THOU SHALT smite.

    /pedant

    Reply
  14. heedtracker says:

    “UKOK journalists are idiots shock!” Who knew. Ever read vote NO Severin Carrell? “It’s The Scotsman Wot Won It” 19th Sept teamGB victory edition?

    Reply
  15. David McCann says:

    Perhaps a wee line to the Press Complaints Commission, as if your complaint is upheld, then they are duty bound to place the apology with equal prominence.

    Reply
  16. call me dave says:

    Excellent news on both piecs of information. Well done!

    PS
    Macart is that the new you, cool 🙂

    Reply
  17. Training Day says:

    So, David Maddox is a liar.

    Good to have his employer confirm it.

    Reply
  18. mogabee says:

    Obviously the one on the left was a “genuine mistake” and the other one was Stu. in cahoots with indiegogo!

    Man, I could write for the “Scotsman” too…easy peasy! 🙂

    Reply
  19. Les Wilson says:

    As little as this was, they would have had gritted teeth writing it.Just shows though that no matter who they are, they can be caught telling lies and pilloried for it. Especially when people get the bone between their teeth, eh Stu !

    Reply
  20. Bill C says:

    Sorry to go o/t so soon in Stu but this is cheering news:link to yesscotland.net

    Reply
  21. Ian

    If their story was front page, the apology needs to be on the front page.

    Couldn’t agree more. I don’t really understand why there isn’t more of a push for this from everyone. I remember I while back I heard Heather (I’ve forgotten her name, ex-Mrs McCartney) calling for it and I emailed her giving my support for it as she seemed to be the only person on TV or in the press calling for it.

    It’s not going to happen under Westminster it seems but I think under an Independent Scotland this should be looked to be brought in. We need a responsible press.

    Reply
  22. Edinburgh Quine says:

    Ian Anderson rightly says “The whole newspaper apology thing needs to change. If their story was front page, the apology needs to be on the front page. If the story was on p7 in a small box, a small box apology is fine”.
    Its up to Holyrood to pass a law that says an apology must be printed in exactly the same place a lie – sorry error – was printed. In the same size type with the same headlines. Maybe then this immoral media of ours would think again. It’s the same with TV when they occasionally admit error. Certainly with the E.B.C. its said after the news titles are finished and people are getting up to put the kettle on. It should be a grovelling news item

    Reply
  23. Doug Daniel says:

    What that poll Bill C linked to shows is that people WANT Scotland to be independent – they just need to be convinced that Scotland CAN be independent. That 12% who are currently planning to vote No but would switch to Yes if they thought Scotland would be better off are your typical “I’d *like* Scotland to be independent, but how would we afford it?” folk.

    That’s the fear factor. We need to get these people to see past that and realise that Scotland is a fundamentally rich nation, and that we should be in a better position than we are now within the UK.

    Reply
  24. jake says:

    Sometimes it’s not the misdeed but the less than fullsome apology that damns.

    Reply
  25. No No No...Yes says:

    The Scotsman found out…again!!

    Journalistic integrity is based on the principles of truth, disclosure, and editorial independence. Can the mainstream media types who are reporting on the Referendum really look at themselves in the mirror and say that they have integrity? It is evident that many of them are merely following their paymasters’ mantra.

    The use of yellow journalism is commonplace, but in this age of instantly accessible information, lies and deceit are exposed just as quick as they appear.

    Come on media guys and girls you can do much better, your professional reputation is on the line every time you publish or broadcast biased or poorly researched material. There are exceptions: they know who they are and so do we.

    Reply
  26. Dan Watt says:

    Cant believe that crowdsourcing company charges 9%! How very dare they!

    Reply
  27. Robert Peffers says:

    Some things never change.

    ”It is perfectly true that these gentlemen wish to march through rapine to disintegration and dismemberment of the Empire, and, I am sorry to say, even to the placing of different parts of the Empire in direct hostility one with the other.”

    Quoted from W. E. Gladstone – (United Kingdom Liberal politician and Prime Minister). On the Irish Land League in a speech at Knowsley, 27 October 1881, reported in, “The Times”, 2 October 1881.

    Reply
  28. liz says:

    O/T but I haven’t been able to post since last night, so I’m just checking to see if there is a problem.

    There is a spinning blue wheel at the top which won’t stop -any ideas?

    Reply
  29. David McCann says:

    @Call me Dave.
    Macart and I are from the same gnatnest!
    Floats like butterflies. Sting like bees!!

    Reply
  30. Les Wilson says:

    I think Wings should challenge them over their “error” an error is normally a one time mistake. Not the case here, not what the evidence would point to. Ask them to explain themselves and let them dig a deeper hole for themselves.

    Reply
  31. call me dave says:

    David McCann

    You too! 🙂 gnat’s enough!

    Scotsman painted itself into a corner there. No way out on this occasion, caught while the paint was still wet.

    Reply
  32. theycan'tbeserious says:

    Should the last line of the apology not read ” the error is sorry for the Scotsman”!

    Reply
  33. heedtracker says:

    Mainstream media types have integrity? Look at how the Daily Mail selected and went after YES voters around Scotland merely because these people were online for the why and where they vote Yes. Or the great Severin Carrell of the liberal/progressive/antidemocracy Scotland Guardian, calling WingsoverScotland Glasgow SPT tube ads “an attack on Scottish journalism.” That alone spoke volumes about the mindset of UKOK hacks like that dude. Who knows what they’re planning in the run up to polling day.

    Reply
  34. Macart says:

    @call me dave

    Oh, just a little something I ran up for fun. 🙂

    Reply
  35. Johnney come lately says:

    The MSM will not change direction now or after the referendum. This includes the BBC and their supposed proposed guidelines.
    After the referendum (if it’s a yes) they will continue, as now, in order to try and pressurize the SG during negotiations.
    In the event of a yes vote most powers will be transferred almost immediately, with only the powers which need negotiation left outstanding.
    I would expect the powers over elections, media and broadcasting to be amongst the first.
    In the event of these powers being transferred to Scotland the BBC will be the biggest casualty, as a Scottish state broadcaster will be created.
    Westminster will have to constitute a whole new charter for the BBC, and politicians at Westminster will this as an excuse to curb the BBC’s powers, as many already complain it has grown too powerful.
    Concerning the newspapers. They know what to expect in the event of independence and that will be legislation to govern ownership, a proper and transparent complaints body and new liable laws. The kind of things all normal democracies take for granted.
    It will also be extremely difficult for the newspapers to be seen to be out of step and out of tune with the state broadcaster, as being so would only serve to highlight bias.
    Everybody has everything to play for. I think it’s going to be a very long 6 months.

    Reply
  36. scottish_skier says:

    Survation VI figures (should be close to what is finally reported if they are – I’ve extracted from cross-tabs):

    Holyrood:
    45% SNP
    32% Lab
    14% Con
    6% Lib
    4% UKIP

    Westminster:
    41% SNP
    34% Lab
    15% Con
    6% Lib
    3% UKIP

    EU (actual reported headline figures from survation):
    39% SNP
    30% Lab
    13% Con
    7% UKIP
    6% Lib
    4% Green

    Result (MEPs / % share of MEPs), as per all recent polls:
    3 (+1) / 50% SNP
    2 (nc) / 33% Lab
    1 (nc) / 17% Con

    May is going to be a disaster for the pro-union campaign by the looks of it. UKIP to take second place or win the EU elections according to polls. Not in Scotland of course.

    If those Westminster VI figures are near correct for Scotland, labour would take a pounding with a majority of MPs for the SNP.

    Reply
  37. M4rkyboy says:

    The natural majority exists.The Govt and their press and broadcast buddies need to work overtime to suppress it.

    Reply
  38. scottish_skier says:

    link to snp.org

    Largely in line with my post. Final VI figures.

    Reply
  39. Appleby says:

    The only thing the Scotsman are sorry about is being caught out.

    Reply
  40. Dr JM Mackintosh says:

    My dad still buys the Scotsman every day as he has done for over 60 years. I am not sure why, perhaps habit or some misguided loyalty. However all its biased reporting does not seem to have any effect on him at all.

    He is going to vote Yes.

    But I suppose he does use it for lighting his fire so perhaps it does have some useful purpose after all.

    Reply
  41. Croompenstein says:

    @Dr JM – But I suppose he does use it for lighting his fire so perhaps it does have some useful purpose after all.

    Ah the old paper kindling..getting nostalgic now.. paper kindling – firelighters – wooden kindlers – wee bit coal and light her up..must remember to empty ashpan..lost the fire a few years ago now got wet electric so flick switch instead of sparkin match

    Reply
  42. purplebadger says:

    Many congratulations on reaching your funding total, Stuart. A truly remarkable achievement and possibly an entirely new model for funding online content. Perhaps this can be an example of how new media can defeat the vested interests of old.

    Could I please ask you to give another shout out to Women for Indy’s campaign at some point over the next couple of days: link to indiegogo.com

    They have just £4k left to go, and the importance of persuading women of the merit of a yes vote could be vitally important to securing victory in September.

    Reply
  43. GrabTheThistle says:

    Johnney come lately says:
    American War of Independence took 2year to negotiate peace treaty with the defeated British Empire.

    Reply


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