Away from the never-ending disasters of recent years, this summer saw the return of silly season for the British press, with some truly ludicrous stories that carry more than a hint of political malice.
More Raymond Snoddy articles
Conservative-friendly press harp on about Labour non-scandals to their own detriment.
Filming locations for popular shows such as Death in Paradise, Emily in Paris and Game of Thrones attract tourists who pump millions into the local economy. TV tourism is not to be sniffed at.
Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s ‘conversation’ this week highlights that the turning of the political tide could defeat the former’s presidential ambitions while damaging the other’s business interests.
Social platforms have clearly played a huge role, but many newspapers should take some responsibility for creating the attitudes that have culminated in this violence.
The battle for succession in the Murdoch family is turning out to be even more dramatic than fiction, and just as emotionally charged, with the outcome in Reno potentially affecting everyone in the media.
Arguably, British journalism damaged the future of its own audiences thanks to its insistence on false equivalence. With the US presidential race hotting up, will we see the same problem in media?
An OECD survey found that the UK has the lowest level of trust in news media. Let that be a warning to Sir Keir Starmer, who needs to encourage and strengthen a plural and independent media sector.
As Labour kicks off a new era, some major media developments are also under way: the sale of the Telegraph, the future of the BBC under a new culture secretary and the departure of two heavyweight political commentators.
Beyond vague promises of widening access, working constructively with broadcasters and cracking down on online harm, Labour must show us what it will do to support this important sector.