Playing devil's advocate: Attn UK DUers...

What credibility does Greg Palast have in the UK?


I need to know, because I think it's important to "trust but verify." As far as I can tell there's been no independent effort to verify Greg Palast's stories, and I am just worried about him getting Dan Rathered if his story gets out. I desperately want to believe in him, but something tells me to be cautious...

Please don't flame me.... I'm a good DUer....

Thanks.

In any case, the big political story at the moment is Blair stepping down, to be succeeded by Gordon Brown.

http://mwcnews.net/content/view/14351/26

It's about emails, subpeonaed by Congress, not turned over, in the possesion of Palast... that would nail Rove..

As this is about US, not UK politics.

I'll concern myself more with Gordon Brown's coronation as Labour leader and Prime Minister if you don't mind.

he puts it along the lines of "I work for the BBC because the American media won't let me report stories."

It's a great hook but is it true?

Hopefully most here don't follow the right wing kabuki dance that believes only what they want to and either avoid discussing credibility or attacking those that do...but it does happen (TO anyone??). It's easy to see something that looks too good or says what you want it to say, but it doesn't mean it's true. The hallmark of a critical thinker is to always question...no matter the source...and be especially dubious if the news sounds too good to be true.

I'm mixed on Greg. I've read his work for years, seen him interviewed many times and have admired his work. His reports on the fraud in Florida has never been debunked. I do sometimes see him crossing the lines where his opinions become his journalism...call it self-serving PR (almost all journalists do it) and that this could get confused with what he's reporting and what he's commenting on.

Ultimately, it's up to you to read as much (pro & con) and then compare it to your own experience and your gut. That's the ultimate truth but verify.

BBC World News Reporter, Greg Palast investigating
the vicious predatory financial activities of
New York billionaire thug, Paul Singer
and his "Vulture Funds" creation.

Another Lucifugous Republican party member
who has been exposed by Greg Palast as a serious threat
to the Developing World.

BBC World News Reference:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/6362783.stm

I don't think reporters have intrinsic credibility in the UK: it's more likely to be distributed between the reporter, the outlet, the sources and the credibility of the story itself, with the reoporter maybe the lesser of the four factors. Anchors and journalists don't get quite the same star treatment, so yesterday's fearless global news star may be freezing on the A13 reporting on a gas station holdup tomorrow. Sytematic distortion's likely to be attributed to owners or editors rather than to individual hacks, so even a stint of full-time Labour-bashing doesn't preclude a future as a Tory nemesis. It kinda works, but it means everything's taken with a pinch of salt, which in itself is healthy.

but he can exaggerate the importance of things at times. It would help if someone could actually post exactly what the Griffin email says, rather than "it directs them to use the lists".

Palast isn't famous; you can't talk about a general opinion of him. He has at least once had to back down over a libel case (http://www.marketwatch.com/News/Story/Story.aspx?guid=%7BEB28FEB3-F4F6-4E47-B7CB-FAB4B1FC84F9%7D&siteID=mktw) but British libel laws have often had an accusation withdrawn that has later turned out to be true.

He has of course done stuff for the BBC, but he is seen more as an American reporter, insofar as people are aware of him at all.

I thought he was reasonable on the topic of election fraud in Florida, which is the main thing that I associate with him.