Here's a transcription of Andrew Marr's introduction to his paper review this morning.
It's so precise that it even includes his pauses, his repeated words and his linguistic slips (where people would usually insert a 'sic').
I think that might help to convey some of the thought processes going on inside the BBC presenter's mind as he went along, perhaps betraying his views in the process.
If this were a blog for students studying English Language comprehension (if such a subject is still studied), I might now ask if you would please read it for yourselves and give me your opinion as to whether it betrays any bias on Andrew Marr's part, and, if so, where?:
So to the front pages. And if there's one theme it's editors desperately trying to persuade their apathetic, sleepy readers the EU referendum is jolly exciting! Thus, the Sunday Times warns cheap flights to Europe are at threat if we leave the EU. The Sunday Express: the "EU declares war on drivers". People who drive in cars are going to be arrested. Or something like that. Erm.. the Dail...the Mail on Sunday has a fun story here: Angela Merkel's No.2 says that Britain cannot survive outside the EU. That's a story designed to drive all patriotic British people into insane rage. Then there's the Observer...erm...talking about the health crisis, still there, and, again, Jeremy Corbyn is going to make a bold speech very shortly in which he's going to be pro-immigration against the...er...the..the theme of the...the mood of the..country. The time finally, "Public faith in Cameron drops". That the Independent on Sunday's poll. People don't believe any longer that he's going to get the deal that we need for the EU...(5 marks)
Hmmm...will this do?
ReplyDelete1. OK, make sure you start with a pro-stay headline and do so without snidey adverse comment. Well done Andy!
2. Adopt a jocular tone as though the referendum is
an annoyance, though broadly a comic one. Don't suggest for one minute it's a fateful consitutional decision we're faced with on a par with whether to execute a king, exclude Catholics from the monarchy, assert the supremacy of the Commons or decide to fight for freedom in 1940. No, it's all just a bit of fun, so you can have a laugh and then vote to stay in. Excellent the way you played that!
3. Repeat a pro-stay headline, respectfully without adverse comment. Good idea!
4. When you get to a pro-leave headline, make sure to satirise it. Once again you excelled Andy!
5. Hmmm...when you reach a more serious pro-leave headline indicating the Germans are showing us the thumbscrews, then suggest anyone worried by that development is some sort of nationalistic nutjob who can't govern their emotions. I think you pulled that off - though it was tricky. The audience might have spotted that one.
6. You are going to find it difficult describing the opposition of the great majority of people in the UK towards uncontrolled migration...don't use "theme"...don't use "mood"...did you mean "meme"? - you probably did and that would have been good...sort of sociological downgrading of public opinion - the type of thing Mark Easton excels in. However, you have to introduce that more subtly than your delivery allowed. Obviously you've got to work on that Andy. Personally I would have settled for "sentiment" suggestive as it is of misguided, irrational ideas.
7. Of course you want to suggest that the PM's deal is going to be a good one when finally won. I think you set it up nicely, Andy, as it was a pro-stay kernel ("the deal that we need") inside the casing of a pseudo pro-leave observation ("people don't believe any longer"). As all good film script writers know, in order to mesmerise your audience with the narrative, you need a strong element of jeopardy. So you did your bit in reinforcing the narrative. Well done.
eepy readers the EU referendum is jolly exciting! Thus, the Sunday Times warns cheap flights to Europe are at threat if we leave the EU. The Sunday Express: the "EU declares war on drivers". People who drive in cars are going to be arrested. Or something like that. Erm.. the Dail...the Mail on Sunday has a fun story here: Angela Merkel's No.2 says that Britain cannot survive outside the EU. That's a story designed to drive all patriotic British people into insane rage. Then there's the Observer...erm...talking about the health crisis, still there, and, again, Jeremy Corbyn is going to make a bold speech very shortly in which he's going to be pro-immigration against the...er...the..the theme of the...the mood of the..country. The time finally, "Public faith in Cameron drops". That the Independent on Sunday's poll. People don't believe any longer that he's going to get the deal that we need for the EU...
Ignore the final para - an extract!
DeleteYou've passed!...which is a relief as I picked up on just the things you picked up on too, so that means I passed as well.
DeleteYes, that about sums it up. Nos. 2, 5, and 7 are especially spot on.
DeleteI passed. Whoopee! I can now display by Certificate in Advanced Marrology.
ReplyDelete