Mark Simpson BBC journalist - Anti-Irish?

lima

This guys been on my nerves quite a while, ever since Ireland hit the news with the bailout stuff.. he is the Ireland correspondant for BBC and clearly seems to have it in for Ireland. A lot of things he says seem to have a condescending or patronising tone to them. Why get an anti-Irish, Northern-Irish Protestant to cover Irish news when he clearly is going to be bias?

Check out his Twitter for e.g:
http://twitter.com/#!/BBCMarkSimpson

Here's his 'report' on Omaba in Ireland:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-13512988

(not sure where to post this - is there a Journalism forum?)

arybvtcw0eolkf

There's a fair bit of anti-Irish sentiment expressed in AH on a regular basis, so I'd say he's got a huge fan base right here.

Absurdum

sounds like a **** alright

Fukuyama

Hmm. Thought the BBC would be better than that. A few things there you'd expect to see in a certain British rag that can't be named.

Alter-Ego

Seems about right.

Then again a lot of the stuff people tweet is Smart-Arsery of the highest order.

Or maybe I'm just following knobs.

Cork boy 55

that's a bit heavy

I don't think so can you point to a specific quote or set of quotes

He has a annoying style of talking alright and he tend's to extragrate his reports when reporting to the Lions den to make them more interesting IMO.
but I suppose they(jounro) all do that to a certain degree

henryporter

As far as I can make out from his tweets and Obama article he's just telling it like it is. Move along....

brummytom

Every report he does makes me want to punch the TV, he couldn't be more of a protestant.

Dionysus

lima wrote: »

This guys been on my nerves quite a while, ever since Ireland hit the news with the bailout stuff.. he is the Ireland correspondant for BBC and clearly seems to have it in for Ireland. A lot of things he says seem to have a condescending or patronising tone to them. Why get an anti-Irish, Northern-Irish Protestant to cover Irish news when he clearly is going to be bias?

Check out his Twitter for e.g:
http://twitter.com/#!/BBCMarkSimpson

Here's his 'report' on Omaba in Ireland:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-13512988

(not sure where to post this - is there a Journalism forum?)

He's not the worst, and nothing in the rather vague links you've given tells me otherwise. At least he doesn't refer to this state as the "Irish Republic", something which seems to be an essential qualification to qualify to write Irish-related articles for the British Broadcasting Corporation.

The Jammy dodger

Not sure to be honest. Quote some of your best examples.

Pauleta

lima wrote: »

This guys been on my nerves quite a while, ever since Ireland hit the news with the bailout stuff.. he is the Ireland correspondant for BBC and clearly seems to have it in for Ireland. A lot of things he says seem to have a condescending or patronising tone to them. Why get an anti-Irish, Northern-Irish Protestant to cover Irish news when he clearly is going to be bias?

Check out his Twitter for e.g:
http://twitter.com/#!/BBCMarkSimpson

Here's his 'report' on Omaba in Ireland:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-13512988

(not sure where to post this - is there a Journalism forum?)

Why does his religion matter? and how do you know what church he attends on a weeky basis? :eek:

padd b1975

lima wrote: »

This guys been on my nerves quite a while, ever since Ireland hit the news with the bailout stuff.. he is the Ireland correspondant for BBC and clearly seems to have it in for Ireland. A lot of things he says seem to have a condescending or patronising tone to them. Why get an anti-Irish, Northern-Irish Protestant to cover Irish news when he clearly is going to be bias?

Check out his Twitter for e.g:
http://twitter.com/#!/BBCMarkSimpson

Here's his 'report' on Omaba in Ireland:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-13512988

(not sure where to post this - is there a Journalism forum?)

There is a news and media forum.

hondasam

The Obama visit happened exactly like he said, nothing wrong with that.

Nodin

brummytom wrote: »

Every report he does makes me want to punch the TV, he couldn't be more of a protestant.

????????

Absurdum

BBCMarkSimpson Mark Simpson
http://yfrog.com/h3i6f2j Northern Ireland fans have arrived at Aviva Stadium in Dublin. No trouble. #gawa

Hopefully those pesky notherners will smash up some stuff to give this guy a story

Kevin Duffy

Not sure he's a great journalist, but I can't detect any real anti-Irish comments there. His comments on the Aviva are a bit dopey, but I've heard worse. His comments on Obama's visit seem to say more about what he thinks of Obama than they do about Ireland and the Irish.

My name is URL

He just seems like a bit of a knob. Probably due to the fact that he was landed with the job of Irish Correspondent. =p

Ghandee

/waits for KeithAFC'S invaluable input to this thread.......;)


By the way, what do Mark Simpson and a zebra crossing have in common?
They both have two orange balls!

Dangerous Man

There's nothing anti-Irish about his writing although it does contain a heavy whiff of smugness. I can see why people don't like it - no one likes to have others talk about their affairs in such an offhand, disregarding fashion but the truth is he is not as close to what's going in Ireland to either know or care - nor is he required to be sympathetic.

Kevin Duffy

brummytom wrote: »

Every report he does makes me want to punch the TV, he couldn't be more of a protestant.

Jaysis, watching Songs of Praise or the Vicar of Dibley must send you on a telly-killing spree!

sollar

I read his piece on Obama in Ireland and i couldn't see anything remotely offensive in it.

As for twitter.... well twitter is the internet equivalent of gossiping and bitching over a cup of tea imo.

marcsignal

Absurdum wrote: »

sounds like a **** alright

fixed that for you Absurdum

mike65

At least he didn't call the Aviva a cow-shed!

Some people are so sensitive on the internet I can only wonder how they cope with Real Life TM

An Ghaeilge cac

brummytom wrote: »

Every report he does makes me want to punch the TV, he couldn't be more of a protestant.

At least protestants don't actively protect paedophiles!

I hate all religions, but Catholicism is the most downright repugnant, morally bankrupt cancer that ever infested this planet!

Gunsfortoys

Chana Flabby Whirlwind wrote: »

There's a fair bit of anti-Irish sentiment expressed in AH on a regular basis, so I'd say he's got a huge fan base right here.

Says the proud west brit.

Dudess

Sometimes what's deemed as anti-Irish journalism over the past two years or so is merely telling it is at is. Doesn't mean there's any cause for getting offended by it.

dj jarvis

well he is badly informed - he is quoited on one of his tweets as saying
that Dublin's population is 500,000 , now forgive me but as the bbc jurno on site as it were you would think he would at least get that right ???

as a hater of the south - i have always got he was not a huge fan but considering he kicks with the left foot are you surprised ?

no story here - OP just dont like they guy and thats fair enough but no need for a thread just cause ya dont like the guy !!

cml387

dj jarvis wrote: »

well he is badly informed - he is quoited on one of his tweets as saying
that Dublin's population is 500,000 , now forgive me but as the bbc jurno on site as it were you would think he would at least get that right ???

as a hater of the south - i have always got he was not a huge fan but considering he kicks with the left foot are you surprised ?

no story here - OP just dont like they guy and thats fair enough but no need for a thread just cause ya dont like the guy !!

The population of Dublin city is given as just over 500,000 in Wikipedia.

thereitisgone

Sorry dont get this at all, what do you think he wrote was anti-irish or untrue. Please quote so we can see exactly where he is not telling the truth.

lima

dj jarvis wrote: »

well he is badly informed - he is quoited on one of his tweets as saying
that Dublin's population is 500,000 , now forgive me but as the bbc jurno on site as it were you would think he would at least get that right ???

as a hater of the south - i have always got he was not a huge fan but considering he kicks with the left foot are you surprised ?

no story here - OP just dont like they guy and thats fair enough but no need for a thread just cause ya dont like the guy !!

It's just a rant 'cos I'm giving up ranting on my facebook!!

dj jarvis

cml387 wrote: »

The population of Dublin city is given as just over 500,000 in Wikipedia.

super LOL - so a so called professional juro gets his facts from wiki ????

ok now i really dont like him

mike65

dj jarvis wrote: »

well he is badly informed - he is quoited on one of his tweets as saying
that Dublin's population is 500,000 , now forgive me but as the bbc jurno on site as it were you would think he would at least get that right ???

wiki says

The population of the administrative area controlled by the City Council was 505739 in the 2006 census

Ergo he is right, obviously he is also "wrong" as what people call Dublin includes other areas not within DCC administration.

CSO says County Dublin 1,187,176 which is broken down as

Dublin City 506,211
Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown 194,038
Fingal 239,992
South Dublin 246,935

lima

thereitisgone wrote: »

Sorry dont get this at all, what do you think he wrote was anti-irish or untrue. Please quote so we can see exactly where he is not telling the truth.

Never said he says untrue things

He mentions more of the bad things going on in Ireland than the good ones:

Quotes from Twatter:

'Aviva stadium in Dublin at kick-off looks like the sporting equivalent of a ghost estate'

'Economic theme to NI fans chants in Dublin to Republic fans - "Where's your Tiger gone?"'

"'Ask not what Ireland can do for Obama, but what Obama can do for Ireland' said one Dublin politician. US tourists badly needed."

Badgermonkey

He does not compare favourably with former Ireland correspondent Dennis Murray or Mark Davenport in NI.

His delivery is a touch too Sky News imo.

Reference to his religion's a bit odd tbh OP and nothing from his tweets or Obama report strikes me as anti-Irish.

cml387

dj jarvis wrote: »

super LOL - so a so called professional juro gets his facts from wiki ????

ok now i really dont like him

Ah,but where do you get your facts from?

tim_holsters

Nothing wrong with Simpson's Obama piece.

If you love Ireland so much OP WTF aren't you living here?

lima

Pauleta wrote: »

Why does his religion matter? and how do you know what church he attends on a weeky basis? :eek:

His religion shows that he is most likely a unionist and therefore his views are probably going to be skewed by hostility towards Ireland

tim_holsters

lima wrote: »

His religion shows that he is most likely a unionist and therefore his views are probably going to be skewed by hostility towards Ireland

I feel hostile to you're idiocy.

Aldebaran

An Ghaeilge cac wrote: »

I hate all religions, but Catholicism is the most downright repugnant, morally bankrupt cancer that ever infested this planet!

Including that one that likes to fly planes into buildings?

mike65

Ah that explains everything :rolleyes:

HappyTuesday

Seems like a bit of a nob alright.

Washington Irving

Something like this, is he?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJyhL-m31-I

(yes, I realise thats Skye news, not BBC)

OutlawPete

Wtf!

This Tweet from him about Moneygall has a link to a topless girl for no reason

lima

tim_holsters wrote: »

I feel hostile to you're idiocy.

Good one.

thereitisgone

lima wrote: »

Never said he says untrue things

He mentions more of the bad things going on in Ireland than the good ones:

Quotes from Twatter:

'Aviva stadium in Dublin at kick-off looks like the sporting equivalent of a ghost estate'

'Economic theme to NI fans chants in Dublin to Republic fans - "Where's your Tiger gone?"'

"'Ask not what Ireland can do for Obama, but what Obama can do for Ireland' said one Dublin politician. US tourists badly needed."

So now you agree we are castigating a journalist for telling the truth.

lima

The Jammy dodger wrote: »

Not sure to be honest. Quote some of your best examples.

In his Obama Visit article (however I realise this was posted in the USA/Canada section of the BBC website:



"It also allowed him to woo the 37m Irish-Americans back home who are wondering where their vote will go in next year's presidential election." - assuming the only reason for Obama's visit was for the American-Irish vote

"What happened next was the most predictable event in Ireland since Jedward were picked to represent the country in the recent Eurovision Song Contest." - Bringing up those ejits so as to ridicule Ireland

""I just want you to know that the President pays his bar tab," he announced. It is just as well. Ireland needs all the money it can get." - Saying that we are desperate for money, even the price of a pint will help - very patronising in my opinion.

"Ireland is going through a four-year austerity programme, in order to start to pay back its 85bn euros international bail-out.
The visit of the American president this week - and the Queen last week - may pave the way for more inward investment. They will almost certainly lead to a tourism boost.
However, the road to recovery for the Irish economy is going to be a bumpy one.
The immediate priority for the Dublin government is to negotiate a lower interest rate for their bail-out, and ensure that they resist European efforts to force them to raise corporation tax.
It is not clear whether they will succeed"
- what is the point of mentioning this?? This is just bringing up bad news for the sake of it.

"After two years of economic meltdown, the VIP visits have got many Irish eyes smiling again." - 'Irish Eyes Smiling' - making us out to be stupidly gullible in that we now think everything will be ok.

My name is URL

OutlawPete wrote: »

Wtf!

This Tweet from him about Moneygall has a link to a topless girl for no reason

There's another in her album where she's flickin' the bean too.. Better than any golden ticket

mike65

OutlawPete wrote: »

Wtf!

This Tweet from him about Moneygall has a link to a topless girl for no reason

Looks like the OP has hacked his account! That or he is about to be sacked.

Badgermonkey

lima wrote: »

His religion shows that he is most likely a unionist and therefore his views are probably going to be skewed by hostility towards Ireland

See you've given this some thought, good man.

dj jarvis

mike65 wrote: »

wiki says



Ergo he is right, obviously he is also "wrong" as what people call Dublin includes other areas not within DCC administration.

CSO says County Dublin 1,187,176 which is broken down as

Dublin City 506,211
Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown 194,038
Fingal 239,992
South Dublin 246,935

when quoting the population of capital city for people who dont come from that city you NEVER break it down , you give the total and move on

thats just a mad answer , you may be right factually but in real world your just out of the ball park

in my opinion he is giving misleading facts and should be flogged publicly

Kevin Duffy

lima wrote: »

In his Obama Visit article (however I realise this was posted in the USA/Canada section of the BBC website:



"It also allowed him to woo the 37m Irish-Americans back home who are wondering where their vote will go in next year's presidential election." - assuming the only reason for Obama's visit was for the American-Irish vote

"What happened next was the most predictable event in Ireland since Jedward were picked to represent the country in the recent Eurovision Song Contest." - Bringing up those ejits so as to ridicule Ireland

""I just want you to know that the President pays his bar tab," he announced. It is just as well. Ireland needs all the money it can get." - Saying that we are desperate for money, even the price of a pint will help - very patronising in my opinion.

"Ireland is going through a four-year austerity programme, in order to start to pay back its 85bn euros international bail-out.
The visit of the American president this week - and the Queen last week - may pave the way for more inward investment. They will almost certainly lead to a tourism boost.
However, the road to recovery for the Irish economy is going to be a bumpy one.
The immediate priority for the Dublin government is to negotiate a lower interest rate for their bail-out, and ensure that they resist European efforts to force them to raise corporation tax.
It is not clear whether they will succeed"
- what is the point of mentioning this?? This is just bringing up bad news for the sake of it.

"After two years of economic meltdown, the VIP visits have got many Irish eyes smiling again." - 'Irish Eyes Smiling' - making us out to be stupidly gullible in that we now think everything will be ok.

That's kinda stretching to be offended and there is some element of truth in most of it. We are financially fúcked, we could do with tourism and direct investment and his comment about the Irish-American votes doesn't say he thinks that's the only reason for the visit, that's your spin it seems very, very likely it is part of the re-election bid. And why not.