When I see huge publicity about a fire at a nuclear reactor in Ukraine and massive condemnation for Russia followed by the fire being extinguished by brave Ukrainians I cannot help but think that, if anyone with media experience was in charge in Ukraine, this was just another clever manipulation of media who will fall for anything if it's a good story.

"Verification" has disappeared in virtually every media story.
News readers now add a slant to every story. Check out the amount of adjectives that now accompany all facts.

AGENDAS never used to dominate. Now they do. No wonder everyone fell for the Covid hype.

Or is this a Ukranian "false flag" operation designed to mobilise us all? Who the hell knows anymore...

That was exactly my point Wyot. Yes we have no idea - we can only go by media coverage. In days gone by no reputable news outlet would have carried anything until the truth was verified. I have no idea what the truth is but I do know that media globally far prefers the great story of poor little Ukraine and nasty, Red Riding Hood eating wolf Putin. And I suspect the reality is, as usual, a mixture of both sides. I'm sure there are thousands, possibly millions, of Ukrainians who want independence (like many Scots) or to be Russian. I'm equally sure Russia should NOT be using violence and probably not invasion.

Yes and the problem is that the media catastrophise for a good story (Covid) and so actually cause a real catastrophe (global lockdowns and thousands of unnecessary deaths).

Let's hope they stop being so excited about global thermo-nuclear warfare...

Some hope! It beats Covid, Brexit and Prince Andrew to the coveted No1 spot on the media chart.

Just announced - the fire was (conveniently) extinguished by the local Fire Brigade before the Russians arrived. Hmm.

The problem is with humanity - media only feeds humanity (as far as I'm aware other species don't watch TV, listen to radio, go online or read newspapers except, possibly, trees and whales). We have become so superficial that we have no time or inclination for any depth of thought. So our instincts are only involved if nice simple slogans and east headlines tell us. War dreadful. Easy. Express horror. Contribute a tiny amount to a charity (I remember criticising Live Aid and Band Aid back then, watching donations to Oxfam and others simply get diverted into the pockets of corrupt customs workers). Media hypes the one populist agenda. Exaggerates the facts that fit it. Suffocate those that don't.

And ordinary punters can feel "empathy", donate a quid, go home and discuss work, what's for dinner and what's on TV (not more of that horrid war, please).