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Mark Twain, Napoleon and fatal newspaper mistakes

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By on CQN BLOG & Comments

“If you don’t read the newspaper, you’re uninformed. If you read the newspaper, you’re mis-informed.”

Mark Twain had a knack for overstatement, but you wonder if there was ever a golden age of the newspapers, and if so, what it looked like.  In Scotland, it’s seldom looked like it has this week.

Some weeks ago, Graham Spiers, writing in The Herald, made reference to comments he claimed a Newco director made about the Billy Boys song.  Spiers didn’t name the director, but questioned the club’s board’s willingness to tackle offensive behaviour.

The Billy Boys were a Glasgow razor gang from the 1920s and 30s, named after their leader, Billy Fullerton.  Glasgow was one of the poorest cities in the industrial world, with high unemployment and mortality rates, squalid housing conditions and what we would now term disaffected young people who drifted into criminal gangs.  The Billy Boys were known as a Protestant gang (there were similar Catholic gangs) and started going along to watch Rangers, and singing their signature tune, in the 20s.

So far, so anthropologic.  The song, the gangs, the disaffected masses were a product of their time, but the song persisted through the decades, including the “up to our knees in Fenian blood” third line.  It was the mood music to employment practices at Ibrox from the 20s until 1989.

Scotland has changed enormously since then.  We are a genuinely plural society, not one scandalised by “mixed marriages”.  The vast majority of people don’t care who or what you are, boundaries have been pushed back, there is a fairly level playing field, no matter your creed or colour.  All of this change brought focus to the Billy Boys song, it’s not the mood music to modern Scotland, or to ANY Rangers fans I know.

I couldn’t care less about the song.  For me, it is a millstone around the neck of Newco, as it was of Oldco.  It drags them down to a place they can ill-afford to be.  It offends (not alone in football), has a criminal legacy (not alone in football), but it’s unique quality is that third line.  You can’t say that about any group of people anymore.

Spiers has put his neck on the block over sectarianism at Ibrox repeatedly over the years.  He wrote about his recent experience at Ibrox, expressed an opinion, and submitted his copy.

The club complained.  Football clubs complain lots about many things.  There’s a set answer newspapers give to these complaints: “It was an opinion piece”.  They never retract or apologise for “an opinion piece”.

I’m 100% certain The Herald’s first response to Newco was “it’s an opinion piece”.  This would normally have been the end of it, but on Wednesday The Herald issued an apology.

Spiers then became a blogger to explain “My opinion – as expressed in my column – was based on a truthful account of my meeting with a Rangers director.”

Who you believe is irrelevant for this topic.  The only relevance is that within a 24 hour period, The Herald and Evening Times group changed how they deal with criticisms of an opinion piece – and then used six degrees of separation to drag Celtic into a sectarian headline.

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“Ex-Celtic player in dock for sectarianism”, screamed the Evening Times, using the Celtic badge into the bargain.  A woman is on trial for allegedly making a sectarian comment on Facebook.  She once played for Celtic under-19s, never the senior ladies team.  She doesn’t play for Celtic Ladies under-19s (or any age group) anymore, and didn’t a year ago when she made this comment.  She never held an employed position at the club.

An amateur, juvenile, registered with the club who are a member of the Women’s Association.  Fill your boots, Evening Times.  The apology will do them no favours with any constituency, it will cost them more readers in each than sticking to their guns would have.  Reacting by grasping onto something so tenuous to drag Celtic into the murky waters was unconscionable.

They do not report in this manner elsewhere.  Headlines for court appearances never lead with the person’s club memberships, “Prestwick Golf Club member in driving ban”?   You’ll never read this.

One very good political journalist once told me “The football content pays my wages”.  That being the case, The Herald’s already difficult job to survive has been enormously undermined.  Spiers also explained “the pressure brought upon the newspaper became severe”.  They can ill-afford to lose advertising revenue streams, or readers.

Napoleon once said, “‘Four hostile newspapers are more to be feared than a thousand bayonets”.  He’s been dead a long time, though.  Newspapers can now make themselves impotent in an afternoon.

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  4. Eurochamps67 on

    Just in. Had to leave the golf club do before one had to stand for the queen.

     

    not read back so some questions;

     

    Has the character assassination of the Man City bhoy started yet?

     

    What about the Speirs brought it upon himself campaign?

     

    How about the comparison of attendance at national cup semi final at hampdump v diddy cup final?

     

     

    EC67

     

     

    ToolazytoscrollbackCSC

  7. Auldheid on

    THETIMREAPER on 29TH JANUARY 2016 5:36 PM

     

     

    Got this reply to an email from The Herald….

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    A Graham Spiers column published on heraldscotland in December made a claim about an un-named member of the six-strong board of Rangers. This presented a legal issue which had to be addressed and which was discussed at length, by all parties involved.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    The issue was whether we could defend in court a contentious statement and the advice given was that we could not. Finally, on clear legal advice, we were left with no option other than to apologise and seek to draw a line under the matter.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    After the apology was published we had to abide by it and the spirit in which it was published. Unfortunately that apology was then undermined and we had to take appropriate action.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Our titles have a long history of supporting quality journalism and defending free speech and robust comment. This made all the more difficult the action we had to take.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    While one of our advertisers is on the board at Rangers that was never an issue and we shall continue to report and comment on the pressing issues of the day without fear or favour.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Magnus Llewellin

     

     

     

     

     

    Editor in Chief

     

    ================

     

    My take on this which is speculative is the Speirs did hear what he says he did.

     

     

    If he was only other person in the room it’s his word against his accused – a reason for a stand off and let the issue fade away.

     

     

    Or

     

     

    There were others present who heard what Speirs heard but are ready to say they heard nothing .

     

     

    Protects TRFC and puts Speirs on the back foot at a stroke.

     

     

    Angela Haggerty was an unexpected bonus of the same strategy.

     

     

    If Speirs would say how many were present we might get an idea of what The Herald were facing.

  9. clunks on

    SAINT STIVS on 29TH JANUARY 2016 10:40 PM

     

    Most price tagged player ?

     

     

    Torre Andre flo.

     

     

    Cost a real £12m

     

     

    – See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/mark-twain-napoleon-and-fatal-newspaper-mistakes/comment-page-12/#comment-2763682

     

     

    ===============================

     

     

    Read this

     

     

    http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/rangers-fc/transfers/verein/124/plus/0?saison_id=2000&pos=&detailpos=&w_s=

     

     

    That same year they spent £30 + million on players, in Scotland in 2000/2001

     

     

    That is what we were up against.

     

     

    Click the link and read the cost of there transfers,

  13. clunks on

    Auldheid

     

     

    Was the person in question who liked a certain song maybe the same person who threatened to pull the £40k?

     

     

    Sure the herald mentioned the fact about park being a current director, was that a clue?

     

     

    Allegedly…………………

  20. NegAnon2 on

    Do you remember when we quipped about the grandchildren of Huns being Celtic supporters.

     

     

    Seems we were wrong. I wonder where the new Scottish facism will really lead us.

     

     

    Let’s find out.

  21. Art of War on

    A long, long time ago I can still remember how that copy used to make me smile

     

    And I knew if I had my chance

     

    That I could make those peepul dance

     

    And maybe the Huns would be happy for a while.

     

     

    But January made me shiver

     

    With every Herald I delivered,

     

    Bad news on the door step,

     

    I couldn’t take one more step,

     

     

    I can’t remember if I cried

     

    When I read about his bigot pride

     

    But something touched me deep inside,

     

    The day, the Herald, died.

     

     

    So

     

     

    Bye, bye freedom of the press

     

    Got my lawyer on the blower and Shields was goodbye

     

    Them good ol’ boys were drinkin’ bucky and rye

     

    Singin this will be the day that he lied

     

    Truth and understanding decried

     

     

    Did you write the book of Gove

     

    And do you have faith in King above,

     

    If the Jabba tells you so.

     

    And do you believe in the word of Paul (67)?

     

    Can CQN save your mortal soul?

     

    And can you teach me how to TYPE real slow?

     

     

    Well I know that you’re in love with Pete

     

    Cuz I saw you dancin’ in the street.

     

    You both kicked off your shoes

     

    And I dig the Celtic not blues.

     

     

    I was a lonely teenage Celtic buck

     

    Til the polis stopped me in their truck

     

    But I knew I was out of luck,

     

    The day, my smartphone, died.

     

     

    I started singin

     

    Bye, bye freedom of the press

     

    Got my lawyer on the blower and Shields was goodbye

     

    Them good ol’ boys were drinkin’ bucky and rye

     

    Singin this will be the day that he lied

     

    Truth and understanding decried

     

     

    Now for four years we’ve been on our own

     

    And Peter grows fat on a rollin (contract) stone

     

    But that’s not how it used to be,

     

    When the Snyde sang for the king and queen

     

    In a script they’d borrowed from the latrine

     

    And a voice that came from you and me.

     

     

    Oh and while the King was looking down,

     

    Big Hands had stole his thorny crown

     

    The courtroom was adjourned;

     

    No verdict was returned. (well it is Scotland)

     

     

    And while Lennon read a book on Park,

     

    The quartet practiced in the park

     

    And we sang rebs in the dark,

     

    The day, the Herald, died.

     

     

    We were singin’

     

    Bye, bye freedom of the press

     

    Got my lawyer on the blower and Shields was goodbye

     

    Them good ol’ boys were drinkin’ bucky and rye

     

    Singin this will be the day that he lied

     

    Truth and understanding decried

     

     

    Helter Skelter in a summer signing swelter

     

    The Huns flew off with a fallout shelter, (and all monies owed)

     

    Eight miles high and fallin’ fast.

     

    It landed foul on the grass. (but the ref didn’t see it)

     

    The players tried for a forward pass

     

    With the Warbmeister on the sidelines looking downcast

     

     

    Now the half-time air was full of hate

     

    With half price tickets at the gate

     

    We all got up to dance

     

    The chancellor missed his chance

     

     

    As the players tried to take the field

     

    The marching band refused to yield. (Never cross an Orange walk)

     

    Do you recall what was revealed,

     

    the day, the Herald, died?

     

     

    We started singin’

     

     

    WE’RE UP TO OUR KNEES IN FENIAN BLOOD

     

    SURRENDER OR YOU’LL DIE

     

     

    Oh and there we were all in one place,

     

    A generation lost in space

     

    With no time left to start again.

     

    So come on, King be nimble, King be quick.

     

    Skelly eyes sat on a candle stick

     

    Because a controlled press is the devils only friend.

     

     

    Oh and as I watched him on the stage,

     

    My hands were clinched in fists of rage,

     

    No angel born in hell

     

    Could break that Kingsman’s spell.

     

     

    And as the flames climbed high into the night

     

    To light the sacrificial rite

     

    I saw Satan laughing with delight,

     

    The day, the Herald, died.

     

     

    He was singin’

     

    Bye, bye freedom of the press

     

    Got my lawyer on the blower and Shields was goodbye

     

    Them good ol’ boys were drinkin’ bucky and rye

     

    Singin this will be the day that he lied

     

    Truth and understanding decried

     

     

    I met a man played for the blues

     

    Big Fat Derek and his happy news

     

    But he just smiled and missed his cues

     

    He was corpulent and nostaglic for the ugly way

     

    But the man there said the Sky wouldn’t pay.

     

     

    And in the streets the children screamed,

     

    For decent football but they were reemed

     

    But not a word was spoken,

     

    The Scottish presses voices all were broken.

     

     

    And the three men I admire most,

     

    Jinky. Henrik but Paul the most

     

    They caught the last train for the coast,

     

    The day, the Herald, died.

     

     

    And they were singin’

     

    Bye, bye freedom of the press

     

    Got my lawyer on the blower and Shields was goodbye

     

    Them good ol’ boys were drinkin’ bucky and rye

     

    Singin this will be the day that he lied

     

    Truth and understanding decried

     

     

    They were singin’

     

    Bye, bye freedom of the press

     

    Got my lawyer on the blower and Shields was goodbye

     

    Them good ol’ boys were drinkin’ bucky and rye

     

    Singin this will be the day that he lie.

  23. THE EXILED TIM on

    NA2

     

    Your predictions are getting closer by the day, sadly.

     

    I have been slaughtered on here for saying something similar, tho I did equate Celtic to a modern day version of a Jewish team playing in pre war nazi Germany, but I still believe I was right and so are you.

     

    The racism is so in your face folks are blinded by it.

     

    HH

  25. leftclicktic on

    The Band, It makes no difference

     

     

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rP7r12Rg490

     

     

    In the Weans(24) room on blog now she has flew the nest :)))

     

    looking a a big print she put on the wall

     

    “happiness can be found even in the darkest of times if only one remembers to turn on the light”

     

    think she got it oooooot a harry potter book

  26. clunks on

    TET

     

     

    The racism has always been here,

     

     

    Its just been here so long it seems natural.

     

     

    Am sure it was worse 20 years ago, mores the pity the internet was not here shine a light.

  30. Almore on

    Art of War: will you email please?. Appreciate all your efforts for Dublin 2016 and would like to thank D appropriately.

  35. Cosy Corner Bhoy on

    Watching golf from America.Will need to keep my eye out for the top Herschell is wearing.Looks tailor-made for Dublin 2016!( or should that be ‘Polo’ made? ) :)

  38. Margaret McGill on

    The collective noun of hunnery once recently told Mark Twain

     

    “The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated.”

  41. clunks on

    TET

     

     

    ‘The problem with the world is that the intelligent people are full of doubts, while the stupid ones are full of confidence.’

     

     

    Charles Bukowski

     

     

    This is not a slight on any one in CQN but a view on society as a whole.

     

     

    ie We are run by idiots and we all know it but lack the confidence to shout about it.

     

     

    Real life scenario………………………….all the journalists in Scotland that STFU on the events today, cos they are next

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