To what extent do the best selling UK newspapers cover stories related to serious issues? To what extent would you think that it is their role to do so? In your opinion does the tabloid media and 'low budget entertainment' (reality shows, soaps) have too much power and influence in this country?



I think the newspapers have far too much of an influence over peoples opinions, and I think its quite sad that in this country 4 of the top 5 are tabloid newspapers. Obviously there is a difference between each paper but not much. Looking at the Sun's website this morning the headlining story is all about Katie Price (http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/) infact every story on their main page has something to do with a celebrity. Then looking at the Daily Mirrors website its exactly the same story again, the latest gossip from the x factor and a sneak peek at whats coming up in Eastenders. On both of these there isn't even theslightest mention of the up and coming UN climate change debate or the latest from the war in Afghanistan. I don't really read these newspapers but I think if i did I wouldn't have a much more informed view of whats going on in the world around me, their fukll of scandle and celebrity. For example in the Mirror one of the closest stories I could get to political is "Millionaire Tory leader David Cameron claims 40p for chocolate bar on expenses - Exclusive" (http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2009/12/03/millionaire-tory-leader-david-cameron-claims-40p-for-chocolate-bar-on-expenses-exclusive-115875-21868701/). I mean I can understand the fact that its coming out of the tax payers money but its 40p who really cares, but the public will be outraged at this kind of story and it has the power to turn people against that particular party. We all know that each of the papers have alliances with political parties and the newspapers are very clever in the way that they can change peoples views on these parties or people.



As regards low budget entertainment I don't understand why it seems to take over peoples lives, I admit I do watch the X factor at the weekend but I wouldn't go and camp outside theire house but people do and I really don't understand it. I think it is quite sad that children now could point out Simon Cowell but wouldn't have a clue who the primeminiter was. I think its a sad reflection of the dumbing down of our society. Looking at the list of the most watched television programmes its mainly dominated by soaps which are so far from reality its unreal. They do look at relavent issues like teenage pregnancies or drugs but they take these story lines to the extreme so miss out on being informal for people. Bearing in mind that the top tv shows listed were over the weekend this week the Queen documentary drama shown on channel 4 pulled in 2.4 million viewers http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/tvratings, however this is still a drama and only loosley based on facts but people will take it for gospel.

I think there needs to be more regulation in to how truthful these programmes and articles are and a possible warning put before they are shown to say they are only based on facts. The public need to learn to not believe everything they hear or read.