speedwayondisc Posted October 16, 2008 Report Share Posted October 16, 2008 (edited) I want to start by saying that this is NOT meant to be a general rant against Speedway Star. It may be a vain hope but I would not like this thread to degenerate into a generalised gripe about 'The Star'. Instead I would appreciate it if the debate could be restricted to their coverage of this week's Gelsenkirchen debacle in particular and perhaps a little wider at the reporting of the GPs overall. My particular disgust is aimed at the hideously poor journalistic integrity of those writers covering the German GP. On page two and three of this week's edition we have the 'News Report' by a writer who, rightly prefers to remain nameless. This features unchallenged quotes from all the major players but with not one single probing question of any journalistic merit. On page twenty-four and twenty five we are presented with two pages of "What Happened", an hour by hour report of the week of disaster. This is described as a "Report by Philip Rising". But as the aforementioned Managing Editor is also the Assistant Race Director of the GP perhaps it would have been more accurate to describe it as "Ole's unchallenged version of events by Ole's best friend". I find it amazing that he decides not mention, at any point, his own position within the meeting management. Any man with a shred of decency would have openly declared his vested interest, at the very least. Most reputable men would have absented themselves from being in the 'storyteller' position, altogether, if they had such an intimate position within the organisation. His position COULD have enabled him to get the right questions put to the right people on the spot; but having done that it would have been so difficult to take an impartial view that it would still have been more professional to have handed over to an independent journalist. But my anger at this week's Star coverage is much broader. On page 24 a minor headline mentions the word 'disaster', yet at no point in the text anywhere in the magazine is any appreciation, discussion, debate, investigation or comment on a 'disaster'. You would be forgiven for thinking that all that had happened was a slight and minor inconvenience, a small cuffuffle, perhaps ... Not a gold plated, copper bottomed monumental cock up, at all! And I have left my worse criticism till last .... Not one single, solitary, mention of the fans who had travelled to Germany and wasted all their money. This really is the worst indictment of all for those men from Pinegen. Disgusting! I know that "journalistic integrity" may be a laughable concept today in the press; but I would have thought it only right and proper that any writer working on 'The Star' who carries his 'National Union of JOURNALISTS' card proudly in his wallett will now be returning it in shame. Edited October 16, 2008 by speedwayondisc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Humphrey Appleby Posted October 16, 2008 Report Share Posted October 16, 2008 And I have left my worse criticism till last .... Not one single, solitary, mention of the fans who had travelled to Germany and wasted all their money. This really is the worst indictment of all for those men from Pinegen. Disgusting! I know you don't want this to descend into a general rant against the Spar, and to be fair I haven't seen this week's copy yet. Nevertheless, why are you surprised? The Spar lost any journalistic credibility years ago, merely parroting what the BSPA and BSI want the great unwashed to hear. It's nothing more than a trade magazine these days, which is hardly surprising as it's largely owned by the establishment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colincooke Posted October 16, 2008 Report Share Posted October 16, 2008 I did say didn't i that Mr Rising wouldn't challenge Olsen, Bellamy or anyone else for that matter. Subscription to the rag now being cancelled. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spanner47 Posted October 16, 2008 Report Share Posted October 16, 2008 (edited) I did say didn't i that Mr Rising wouldn't challenge Olsen, Bellamy or anyone else for that matter. Subscription to the rag now being cancelled. My subscription ran out 2 weeks ago and i keep receiving it, but i wont bother to renew next season. As well as no intregity, they dont appear to want to make a profit either, but if they want to keep giving me freebies i dont mind. P.S. Great post speedwayondisc. Edited October 16, 2008 by spanner47 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salty Posted October 16, 2008 Report Share Posted October 16, 2008 I let my sub run out about a month ago (after subscribing for about 9 years). I just found I wasn't bothering to read most issues anymore. The club news was tired, glorified press releases, the feature articles were too few and seemed to have an unhealthy obsession with Leigh Adams, I don't want to know what a great time Bert Harkins has at the Gp's and there was never a critical word spoken about the many ills of the sport. The fact that Rising can write an overview of the Gelsenkirchen fiasco, without mentioning his position in the GP organisation, confirms to me that I have made the right decision to give up on the Star Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blazeaway Posted October 16, 2008 Report Share Posted October 16, 2008 I let my sub run out about a month ago (after subscribing for about 9 years). I just found I wasn't bothering to read most issues anymore. The club news was tired, glorified press releases, the feature articles were too few and seemed to have an unhealthy obsession with Leigh Adams, I don't want to know what a great time Bert Harkins has at the Gp's and there was never a critical word spoken about the many ills of the sport. The fact that Rising can write an overview of the Gelsenkirchen fiasco, without mentioning his position in the GP organisation, confirms to me that I have made the right decision to give up on the Star I only buy it on GP weeks for the programme bit, so I have something to do while Heuwen and the Gimps waffle on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salty Posted October 16, 2008 Report Share Posted October 16, 2008 I only buy it on GP weeks for the programme bit, so I have something to do while Heuwen and the Gimps waffle on. Save yourself some money, there is a guy on here who usually does a downloadable racecard for each GP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trees Posted October 16, 2008 Report Share Posted October 16, 2008 It doesn't surprise me in the least that the Star have brushed the German debacle under the carpet. But as long as Phil Rising is involved I guess we can expect nothing else. I, too, haven't bought the rag for ages now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oleoleole Posted October 17, 2008 Report Share Posted October 17, 2008 Unless I missed it when leafing through, there was no "Letter's" page this week. I realise the cut off point was probably a bit tight for those of us returning from Germany so I'd expect a bumper crop next week. This seems to be the only way you get the opposing point of view. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longlivefrankie Posted October 18, 2008 Report Share Posted October 18, 2008 (edited) i won't be renewing my subscription, would be great if somebody come up with an alternative independent mag Edited October 18, 2008 by longlivefrankie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
f-s-p Posted October 18, 2008 Report Share Posted October 18, 2008 i won't be renewing my subscription, would be great if somebody come up with an alternative independent mag I can see people lining up for the job just looking at Google maps from here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadiemae Posted October 19, 2008 Report Share Posted October 19, 2008 This weeks says that: * Bydgoszcz management just happened to be in Gelsenkirchen!!!!!, how convenient! * Riders are waiting for their compensation! Rightly so but where is the compensation for those who travelled! Told in letters from BSI that fans are not eligible for refund from BSI, The FIM or Veltins Arena!!! Wouldn't try to claim off Veltins, not their fault at the end of the day! Certainly think that Speedway Star have a vested interest in licking Mr Olsen's and Mr Bellamy's boots!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted October 19, 2008 Report Share Posted October 19, 2008 There might be lots of things that sound dodgy,but the top guy from Bydgoszcz being at a GP in a neighbouring country shouldn't really sound so strange.I mean Middlo said he was there.I reckon lots of people from tracks around Europe were there.People from Danish tracks like Holsted.And i did get the impression the guy had to consult with others from the club(i.e ring Poland) on certain details like getting the ok that Smolinski would still be the Wildcard. Of all the things that went on this part doesn't sound strange at all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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