Fresh Sky thinking
Thursday, September 6, 2012 at 19:24 On Tuesday I linked to an article on the Sky Tyne and Wear website.
It was headlined 'Should Newcastle become a smoke-free city?' and followed an article published on Saturday entitled UK could be a 'no smoking nation' by 2032.
Today, if you click on the link to Tuesday's report, you will find that it has been updated and is now headlined Stoptober: UK’s Largest Ever Mass Quit Smoking Attempt Launched.
You won't be surprised to know that the updated story is just as biased as those previous reports, with not a single dissenting voice.
PS. Earlier today I responded to Sky's James Marley who had commented:
Sky Tyne and Wear isn't taking one side or the other on this. We sent our reporter out as Nick Forbes outlined his views to the public. That's what we mean by 'joined'. We are reporting a story not joining a campaign. As you can see by the responses in the video there are a range of opinions on this topic which we have covered. Some smokers agree, others disagree, while some non-smokers think it's outrageous. It is a debate that has split opinion in our office too.
My response read:
James, where was the balance in Gerard Tubb's report or his comments on Twitter where he claimed that he had to "persuade" Ailsa Rutter, director of Fresh (Smoke Free North East), "to go public". Tubb wasn't reporting news, he was trying to make news.
I am still waiting for a reply.
Reader Comments (7)
Me too after I pointed out that adult consumers deserved to be heard too and asked him to seek us out - and even sent a friend request in hope that would know where to find such a consumer should he ever be inclined to add a bit of balance. Still, I suppose these days being "on message" is more important that searching for truth and representing both sides.
I saw that site (via Dick P?) and your comment. Frankly, I feel sure that this 'stoptober' is just another publicity stunt to get into the newspapers. Propaganda lies will be told about how sucessful it was and how many thousands 'signed the pledge'. Meanwhile, Jordies will continue to live their lives as though they inhabit a separate country called 'Jordieland'. You can be sure that any official statistics emanating from ASH ET AL about reductions in smoking in Jordieland will be pie in the sky. FRESH is about as relevant to the average Jordie as Newcastle Brown is to a cissy southerner.
"Campaigners say they are not pushing for a ban, but want to make cigarettes.................. less well advertised........"
Er, pardon me ?
And I thought Zombies only existed in movies.
Never mind Stopober - support #Octabber - a month dedicated for people who don't want to quit their enjoyment of tobacco or non smokers who value the tax contribution smokers make or are alarmed at the irresponsible call to deny the Treasury millions in tax in one month at a time the UK economy is fragile enough. Let's face it, if we all stop paying tax en masse, tax will rise on other things like petrol, food and clothing to make up the shortfall lost to the Treasury from a mass quit by the highest tax paying consumers in Britain.
Non smokers don't love us that much that they now want to pay the tax that the tobacco control industry wants us to stop paying so that it can burden everyone else.
http://patnurseblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/octabber-vive-le-resistence.html
"Let's face it, if we all stop paying tax en masse................."
Ever wondered, Pat, why 'government' introduced PAYE all those years ago ?
Somehow, I don't believe it was designed to make our lives easier - knowing, that's to say, what I NOW know about these bastards, and their 'methodology'.
It's not a new Guido Fawkes we need - but a new Wat Tyler.
And I can think of only one man capable of playing the role - but I name no names !
Just a small point. Flew from Newcastle airport about a fortnight ago. Smoking shelter ( after security ) can only be accessed by using one of the bar,s. You have to buy a drink there to be able to use the shelter. Six of us went in but could,nt get a seat. It was full. Likewise the smoking area, crowded, not to mention the bin,s/ashtrays overflowing.
Geordie smokers alive and well. Sorry Ailsa Nutter.
#Octabber, btw, is NOT about witholding our cig tax which some already do in protest at punitive taxes - it is a haven for those who don't want to take part in, or be coerced by, Stoptober. I fail to see what's wrong with that.
I am for choice - so if you choose to quit you've got Stoptober - if not you've got #Octabber. It's nothing to do with tax but I mentioned how much would be lost to the treasury if we all suddenly quit and that shortfall would have to be made up by non smokers whose petrol, food, clothes etc would go sky high to cover the loss of a massive amount of revenue gobenf rom smokers in just one month.
However, as Simon's post above this one shows, we smokers to Govt are as invisible as our smoke.