The Scotsman really has banned mention of Wings Over Scotland in their comments
by Martin Belam, September 8, 2014 UPDATE It’s been pointed out to me in the comments here, and I’ve tested it, and the ban on mentions of “Wings Over Scotland” has now been removed
Original article from September 8th:
In all my years of commenting about newspapers, and commenting about “comments on newspaper websites”, I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like this.
The Scotsman kindly lets you know what is wrong with your post if it is going to fail their banned words list, and they have explicitly banned mention of one of the leading pro-Independence blogs, Wings Over Scotland.
Grumpy trollish people very quickly reach for the “censorship” word when they find their comments being modded off from news sites, but I’m not entirely sure what other word you would use for this example.
I tried a few other things – BNP, fine. EDF EDL, fine. The word “coon”? Absolutely A-OK.
Sorry, hang on. WTF? You can freely post the word “coon” on The Scotsman’s website but not the phrase “Wings Over Scotland”?
In the interests of science, obviously, I’ve run a couple of tests. L33t speak gets you past the ban.
And The Scotsman website appears to accept any bit.ly link – regardless of where it ends up.
But honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a British newspaper website explicitly ban in advance any reference by name to a political campaigning website. Can anyone think of any similar examples?
Full disclosure: I’m an editor at the Mirror, and we are firmly “No”. Personally, I’m slightly pro-Yes, but I don’t have a vote, and all I can do is wish that Scotland has a happy and prosperous future whatever her people decide this month.
UPDATE Yes, yes, the original text of this article had me confusing energy group EDF for hate group EDL because I’m an idiot.
by Martin Belam, September 8, 2014 I do live blogging, news stories and quizzes at the Guardian, and help cover Eurovision and Doctor Who for them too. As a journalist and designer I’ve spent over twenty years building digital products for the likes of Sony, the Guardian, the BBC, the Natural History Museum, Arts Council England and Reach (formerly Trinity Mirror). You can contact me at martin.belam@theguardian.com. Sign up to get my blog posts sent to you via email.
I just tried it and it worked. Are you just trying to make us look silly?
Fair play to you Sir.
Wings Over Scotland
Just Checking.
Ridiculous propaganda. Wings Over Scotland doesn’t need your rag of a paper. I hope you go into liquidation in our Independent Scotland. Hang your heads in shame!
I am tired of the blatant bias of the UK media They have no integrity and I have lost all faith that they ever report the truth
The government propaganda machine.
If I was a journalist I would be ashamed of my profession
I will never buy another news paper again
The only Scottish paper or edition whose circulation here in Scotland went up last quarter was the Sunday Herald. Others are down by percentages that betoken imminent extinction in this market. Your rag is not excluded.
One of the things that turns people off is ‘news’ about what is happening on a rival title. It is easy puffery like this which has helped to kill print titles as increasingly they do not contain any actual news.
When your circulation reaches a significant fraction of Wings’ pageviews, come back and we can talk about your future. Can you monetise this blog to fill the hole when you are made redundant?
I think I’ll a create website called ” Wings over England ”
Sub titled ” souring above English politics “.
It’s about time the “Magna Carta” was rewrote !!
Is this what is meant by freedom of the press. It has been an eye opener for many during the Independence debate of the lack of balanced reporting on the issues that matter. A great many will not be using so called news papers to find the truth in the future.
How many of these comments are spoofs? If any of them are real, then the question is what is Scotland going to do with all the unspent rage of Yes and No online activists after next week? Is there a way to turn it into energy?