Globe and Mail bends over for Bono
p2pnet view P2P:- If you ever had any doubts about where The Globe and Mail, Canada’s self-styled ‘national’ newspaper, is coming from, they’ve now been quelled.
It’s infamous for running endless corporate entertainment industry ‘news’ stories based wholly on mis- and disinformation releases from Hollywood and the Big 4 record labels, and statements from cartel lobbyists.
Now it’s pulled its pants down for Irish ‘rockers’ Bono (U2) and Bob Geldof (Boomtown Rats).
“Guest-edited edition is meant to challenge Canadians and bring Africa to the spotlight”, says Golbe and Nail editor-in-chief John Stackhouse (behind Bono).
The only thing it challenges is Stackhouse’s intelligence and his respect for readers.
He goes on >>>
This edition of The Globe and Mail should surprise, delight, startle, illuminate. It should not leave you unfazed, just as Africa should not leave Canada unchanged.
The idea was born last fall, when Bono was in Toronto with his band, U2. Between concerts, he met privately with a small group of Canadians who have worked in Africa, to understand why our country seems to be losing interest in the continent.
He suggested speaking to Canadians through The Globe, to try to put Africa back in our minds at the very moment the world is looking to Canada for leadership at the G8/G20 summits.
“Why hand over the newspaper to two European musicians who have never lived in Africa?” – Stackhouse asks.
Because “Mr. Geldof and Bono recognize their star power, and its ability to cast light on the shadows of public debate”, although, “They also don’t presume to speak for Africans, or Canadians. They were here as global citizens, confronting a global issue.”
Earlier, “The paper itself was edited over the weekend by Bono and Mr. Geldof. They picked the best material, directed our editorial board, argued passionately (with each other) over the front page design, took video questions from our online readers and sat for an interview with our foreign correspondent extraordinaire Stephanie Nolen. While Bono had to return to New York for his 50th birthday party (it was a surprise), Mr. Geldof persevered into Sunday night, reworking headlines and arguing with our staff about placement.”
My God …
Jon Newton – p2pnet
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First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win ~ Mahatma Gandhi
Golbe and Nail – The Globe’s long effort pays off for Africa’s moment, May 10, 2010
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May 10th, 2010 at 11:06 am
Jon – the crown of thorns… brilliant!
We are loosing interest because, to put it bluntly, we’ve been trying to help for decades and it doesn’t seem to getting us anywhere. Looking at the news from Africa and as often as not, aid is being diverted to the coffers of corrupt officials or warlords. There is only so much of that sort of news we can take before we take our ball and go home.
Also, it certainly doesn’t help that two of their most visible spokespeople are pretentious assholes. if Africa were to politely ask that Bono and Geldof stop campaigning on their behalf, things would probably get better.
Bitter? Yes.
May 10th, 2010 at 11:30 am
@ Joe: The crown isn’t my work. It was emailed to me a long time ago (I don’t know who made the pic).
But I do have a pic of His Holyness here – http://www.p2pnet.net/story/34611
Cheers!
May 10th, 2010 at 2:46 pm
Haha, another nice one, Jon!
May 10th, 2010 at 2:59 pm
^^ Yes !!! I missed that one. You should run it again Jon. It’s great!