It's Snow Joke

You know it's going to be a long day when you see the Sky News tag: "Live Marlborough" and the otherwise-excellent Colin Brazier intone: "Look. A man walking his dog." The only saving grace is that "Angel of Death Burley" hasn't been helicoptered into downtown Devizes - yet.

Similar overreaction is splashed across most newspapers today with a particularly notable contribution from the Metro which adds to the snowballing crisis with: "Panic-buying as heavy snow hits." The story contains a memorable quote from Carol Cooper, 54, who told how her local Sainsbury's in Woking had been left bare. "It was absolutely horrendous", she added. No Carol. Not having a regular supply of clean water or living off the scrubland of sub-Saharan Afica is probably a bit more of a problem. (And why don't you try your local Tesco or Asda instead?)

The media meltdown is symptomatic of the long-term trend of hyping every glitch, imperfection or oddity into a full-blown scandal, sensation or drama as under-budgeted and under-threat news organisations desperately try to cling onto collapsing audiences.

Yes, people dying as a result of the inclement conditions is a story. You can also make a case for mentioning the closure of schools or motorists stuck in their cars. But does snow in winter really necessitate the blanket coverage it is currently receiving?

Comments

[Jameswest]

It's a tricky one. The weather was certainly the only topic of conversation at the school gate this morning, and journalists should reflect what their audience is concerned about, shouldn't they?

I also think it's a much bigger story for local and regional media than the nationals. These outlets are better connected to their audience and play a role in getting out local, relevant and timely information, as well as what you might call actual news.

[charlie beckett]

What's a bigger story in people's live today?
And the pictures are great - it is telly after all.

[Paul Wolfenden]

Personally, I am sick to the back teeth of media coverage about "snow". I am someone who avoids weather forecastes on tv or radio like the plague at the best of times, so this really is overkill.
I also agree with the line the writer takes in the blog about the reaction of the lady refering as "absolutely horrendous" the state of her local Sainsbury. Had they temporarily run out of her favourite brand of Creme Fraiche?
The Blogger is right to introduce a sense of realism into the proceedings. I run a Fair Trade business, called THE FAIR TRADE STORE http://www.thefairtradestore.co.uk/ and the conditions that some of the producers in the developing world live in could genuinely be described as "absolutely horrendous". But not a few inches of snow in January.

[David Brown]

Sorry to sound like a grumpy old man on this.
We all know Brits bore for, er, Britain, about the weather but do we really need round-the-clock coverage of this? I know what snow looks like and what can happen when it falls. I never thought I would quote Oxfordshire county council leader Keith Mitchell as part of my argument but I can’t help but agree with him: “What has happened to the British spirit that defeated Hitler and yet quails at a little bit of snow?”

[Andy P.]

Rolling news needs filler and fodder for lazy editors and I guess there's not much else going on in the UK right now.

If Brown calls the election, rest assured, I reckon they'll stop banging on about snow... at least for 30 mins.

[Paul Wolfenden]

Further to my earlier post I have just endured BBC1`s lunchtime news bulletin.
Of the 30-minute broadcast, 20 minutes were devoted to "snow". Do I really need to know, on national tv, that the A112 near Guidford (or was it the A3?)was covered in snow?
This, is on a day when The UDA has formally confirmed that they have decommissioned all of their weapons (3 minute coverage) and two former Cabinet Ministers have published a letter calling for support for a secret vote on who should be leading The Government into the forethcoming General Election.
OK, OK, BBC, I get the message, it`s snowing in January.

[Richardallen42]

I just don't get it how other countries manage to get by in this sort of weather & 2 flakes of snow fall on the south east and it is chaos.

I am also amazed at the UK obsession with salt and grit & the fact that it will solve all ills. Salt will depress the freezing point of water by a little, but it all depends on the amount of snow to Salt ratio, if there is too much snow, then the water will still freeze. Instead of relying on salt we should all just learn to drive better!