Seems that the unrest we’ve seen in Tunisia and Egypt is spreading.



http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12477275

It was always going to be the case. There's been riot police out in Algeria and protesters have been out in Yemen too.
It's the wind of change.

Mark

There's a flutter of a breeze of change here in Blighty, too. Even the Treasury is aware of the UK Uncut movement.

It’s establishment finding out that they have been found out. The interesting thing here is that is appears to be technology that’s the facilitator. Twitter, Facebook are all capable of mustering a lot of awareness and support for a cause. It‘s almost as if there are two governments - one of the people, and one trying to rule the people.

Don't forget good old TV and radio telling them what is happening elsewhere. I think that the protests here will get larger as the cuts happen. A million people in Trafalgar Square or Westminster Square will probably be ignored here.

Traditional media has played its part, but it’s easier to control. It’s more obvious that it’s being controlled in the more unstable countries - you expect it to be because of the regimes at play. Here, though, the control is more subtle. Want to gain access to press briefings at No 10? Interview the PM? How about embedding journalists with troops in Afghanistan? All of these come with a price - and that price is to report what is wanted to be reported. Step outside those lines, and you’ll find doors closing.

In some countries, media control is done with a gun. Here it’s done with commercial pressures. There was a fascinating documentary on ITV (oddly good for ITV) about this. It should be required viewing.

Yes but in the arab world satellite TV is very popular. They can get the BBC that way. Yes as you say here the control of the media is through exclusion.