Enemies of Reason Poundshop potshots at the media moral maze.

Spot the Difference

Thanks to Iain for the tipoff. Let's compare and contrast these two stories about the atheist bus stuff I mentioned yesterday; you be the judge. Remember how Fox News railed at the Mail for suspiciously similar chunks of stories? Have a look:

BBC:

Bendy-buses with the slogan "There's probably no God" could soon be running on the streets of London.

Mail:

Buses with the slogan 'There's probably no God' could soon be running on the streets of Britain.

Differences: 2. 'Bendy-buses' and 'Buses'; 'London' and 'Britain'.

Beeb:

The atheist posters are the idea of the British Humanist Association (BHA) and have been supported by prominent atheist Professor Richard Dawkins.

Hate:

The atheist posters are the idea of the British Humanist Association (BHA) and have been supported by prominent atheist Professor Richard Dawkins.

Differences: 0.

BBC:

The BHA planned only to raise £5,500, which was to be matched by Professor Dawkins, but it has now raised more than £36,000 of its own accord.

Mail:

The BHA planned only to raise £5,500 which was to be matched by Professor Dawkins, but it has now raised more than £20,300 of its own accord.

Differences: 1 comma; BBC being more up-to-date with the figures. This despite the timecode on the BBC story being 2.34pm on Tuesday 21 October and the timecode on the Mail's being 12.58pm on October 22.

BBC:

It aims to have two sets of 30 buses carrying the signs for four weeks.

Mail:

It aims to have two sets of 30 bendy-buses carrying the signs for four weeks in London.

Differences: 1 - 'bendy-buses' for 'buses' in the Mail's version.

BBC:

As the campaign has raised more than anticipated, it will also have posters on the inside of buses as well.

Mail:

As the campaign has raised more than anticipated, it will also have posters on the inside of buses as well.

Differences: 0.

BBC:

The BHA is also considering extending the campaign to cities including Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh.

Mail:

The BHA is also considering extending the campaign to cities including Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh.

Differences: 0.

So is the Mail copying the BBC? Or are they both cribbing off the same press release? It's impossible to know from here, except the press release wouldn't have exactly the same quotes from opposing viewpoints, would it?

BBC:

Professor Dawkins said: "Religion is accustomed to getting a free ride - automatic tax breaks, unearned respect and the right not to be offended, the right to brainwash children.

Mail:

Professor Dawkins said: 'Religion is accustomed to getting a free ride - automatic tax breaks, unearned respect and the right not to be offended, the right to brainwash children.

Differences: 0, except there are single quotes in the Mail as opposed to double quotes at the BBC.

Oh dear. Well as the primary school teacher said: Who's been copying whom?

*edit* There may be another explanation - that both of the naughty children were copying a wire story. The 'Daily Mail reporter' byline is an indication that this story was brought to you by the power of ctrl+C and ctrl+V, and the Beeb may have done the same. In which case it's simply lazy shite journalism rather than passing off per se. I will have a look to see if I can find an original source for both...

Be Sociable, Share!

• 

Related posts:

1. A quick ‘spot the difference’
2. Spot the difference time
3. A quick spot the difference
4. Can you spot what’s missing?
5. See if you can spot the agenda