Well, quite frankly, everyone knows the Guardian is quite a left-leaning newspaper. I mean there’s the whole ‘granola-eating, sandals-with-socks-wearing, hippy Guardian reader’ stereotype. I consider myself somewhat liberal, though, so I don’t mind. I like the Guardian.
But today I noticed this headline on their website: Climate change soon could kill thousands in UK, says report. It’s interesting because it’s ever so slightly alarmist and doom and gloom which is not necessarily the Guardian’s style; that’s more Daily Mail or The Sun. It’s more interesting, though, because I’d just read an article on BBC’s website on the same report but with the title Global warming ‘may save lives’.
Maybe one could actually argue that the Guardian is reporting the news as it is (the report does claim as many as 6,000 people could be killed by hot summers) whereas the BBC is biased towards anti-global warming thinking. It all depends, I suppose, on where you stand on the issues. My opinion is that the BBC are looking at the report as a whole, rather than only the worst bits. It’s also a more ‘glass-half-full’ mentality, which is never a bad thing.
The thing is, most people read a certain newspaper because they lean a certain way. I lean to the left, therefore, I read the Guardian. I do know what I’m getting myself into. While I may see that headline as alarmist and unnecessary, many Guardian readers will identify with it and be relieved to see a major daily newspaper reporting ‘the truth’ about global warming. Each to his own I suppose. Different strokes for different folks. And all the other clichéd phrases that could be used here.
Do you not find the BBC often lean heavily to the left too? It is worrying because to my mind they should remain neutral or only claim licence fees from left leaning people. I agree that the headline you mentioned is alarmist, but I guess they’re business is selling papers after all. Most clear minded people agree climate change is taking place but not many agree on the extent of it and what should be done about it. I think picking something from one report and making a sweeping statement for a dramatic effect is quite tabloid like. My political leanings are to the right so I prefer the Telegraph, backing up your last paragraph.