Warning: this article has a hidden agenda


by Sunny Hundal    
August 14, 2010 at 6:19 pm

Blogger and programmer Tom Scott wants articles to be more forthcoming about their agenda. So he developed a warning label system.

He says:

It seems a bit strange to me that the media carefully warn about and label any content that involves sex, violence or strong language — but there’s no similar labelling system for, say, sloppy journalism and other questionable content.

I figured it was time to fix that, so I made some stickers. I’ve been putting them on copies of the free papers that I find on the London Underground. You might want to as well.

Some of the labels:

.

.

.

Our our favourite one…

.

See more labels here

You can make your own labels from this PDF!


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About the author
Sunny Hundal is editor of LC. Also: on Twitter, at Pickled Politics and Guardian CIF.
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64 Comments || Add yours below

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Reader comments


1. Jess Freeman

Warning: Rod Liddle agrees with this.

2. Sunny Hundal

Warning – Jan Moir has written this.

3. CS Clark

Warning – this headline has no real connection with the story below.

4. Paul Bassett Davies

WARNING:
This article was written by spouse/lover/relative/toady of the person it’s about.

5. Mr S. Pill

Warning – this newspaper is funded by a megalomaniac who doesn’t pay tax in Britain.

6. Clifford Singer

Warning: Includes quote from TaxPayers’ Alliance.

7. Yurrzem!

Warning: You’d be better off getting a life than reading this.

8. Yurrzem!

(Obviously I mean the papers, not LC. Or not. Perhaps).

9. Carl

WARNING – this article makes unsubstantiated claims that the editor somehow agrees with, but skirts round this “minor” issue by quoting nice people out of context

10. Tim Worstall

Could someone prepare an html/digital* version of this please?

Extremely useful as a short hand blog post. Link plus label, all that’s needed sometimes.

* Yes, I am a technological ignoramus, sorry.

11. Anne Onymous

Warning: too many people trying to be cheeky. Including this one.

12. jordan

Warning
This may send you into a deep paranoia that could be the result of reading it while high. Please check with your doctor before reading it.


Reactions: Twitter, blogs
  1. Liberal Conspiracy

    Warning: this journalism comes with hidden agenda http://bit.ly/cQl8qj

  2. manishta sunnia

    RT @libcon: Warning: this journalism comes with hidden agenda http://bit.ly/cQl8qj

  3. Jenni Jackson

    RT @libcon: Warning: this journalism comes with hidden agenda http://bit.ly/cQl8qj

  4. sunny hundal

    This is a great idea… RT @libcon: Warning: this journalism comes with hidden agenda http://bit.ly/cQl8qj

  5. smileandsubvert

    RT @sunny_hundal: This is a great idea… RT @libcon: Warning: this journalism comes with hidden agenda http://bit.ly/cQl8qj

  6. Chris McCray

    RT @sunny_hundal: This is a great idea… RT @libcon: Warning: this journalism comes with hidden agenda http://bit.ly/cQl8qj

  7. Amir Rashid

    RT @sunny_hundal: This is a great idea… RT @libcon: Warning: this journalism comes with hidden agenda http://bit.ly/cQl8qj

  8. earwicga

    Warning: this article has a hidden agenda | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/mpoP8Rr via @libcon

  9. overhere

    @kattebel If you go here you can download the stickers : http://bit.ly/cQl8qj

  10. Liberal Conspiracy

    Warning: these articles come with a hidden agenda: http://bit.ly/cQl8qj

  11. Nadia

    Love it! RT @libcon Warning: these articles come with a hidden agenda: http://bit.ly/cQl8qj

  12. Dicky Moore

    RT @libcon: Warning: these articles come with a hidden agenda: http://bit.ly/cQl8qj

  13. catherine buca

    RT @sunny_hundal: This is a great idea… RT @libcon: Warning: this journalism comes with hidden agenda http://bit.ly/cQl8qj

  14. sunny hundal

    RT @libcon: Warning: these articles come with a hidden agenda: http://bit.ly/cQl8qj (link sorted)

  15. Will Cameron

    RT @sunny_hundal ths is a gr8 idea… RT @libcon: Warning: ths journalism comes w/ hidden agenda http://bit.ly/cQl8qj >> Marvellous

  16. Sam Hogarth

    Brilliant much: http://bit.ly/cweLKG

  17. Sam Hogarth

    Brilliant much: http://bit.ly/cweLKG (via @tomscott)

  18. Will Cameron

    RT @sunny_hundal: RT @libcon: Warning: these articles come with a hidden agenda: http://bit.ly/cQl8qj (link sorted)

  19. Malcolm Evison

    RT @sunny_hundal: RT @libcon: Warning: these articles come with a hidden agenda: http://bit.ly/cQl8qj (link sorted)

  20. Robert Dale

    an interesting idea –> RT @libcon: Warning: this #journalism comes with hidden agenda #futureofnews http://icio.us/una5oy

  21. paul bassett davies

    Most excellent. RT @libcon: Warning: this journalism comes with hidden agenda http://bit.ly/cQl8qj

  22. janetvaneeden

    RT @thewritertype: Most excellent. RT @libcon: Warning: this journalism comes with hidden agenda http://bit.ly/cQl8qj

  23. Melissa Harrison

    RT @thewritertype: Most excellent. RT @libcon: Warning: this journalism comes with hidden agenda http://bit.ly/cQl8qj

  24. Elly M

    RT @libcon: Warning: these articles come with a hidden agenda: http://bit.ly/cQl8qj

  25. Charley Stone

    RT @libcon: Warning: these articles come with a hidden agenda: http://bit.ly/cQl8qj

  26. Dave Howard

    RT @libcon Warning: these articles come with a hidden agenda: http://bit.ly/cQl8qj

  27. Dave Howard

    RT @libcon Warning: these articles come with a hidden agenda: http://bit.ly/cQl8qj

  28. Jim McGinty

    RT @libcon: Warning: these articles come with a hidden agenda: http://bit.ly/cQl8qj

  29. Other TaxPayers Alli

    I love this RT @libcon: Warning: this journalism comes with hidden agenda http://bit.ly/cQl8qj

  30. Christopher Gurr

    RT @OtherTPA: I love this RT @libcon: Warning: this journalism comes with hidden agenda http://bit.ly/cQl8qj

  31. Chris Paul

    RT @OtherTPA: I love this RT @libcon: Warning: this journalism comes with hidden agenda http://bit.ly/cQl8qj

  32. Rosanna

    RT @OtherTPA: I love this RT @libcon: Warning: this journalism comes with hidden agenda http://bit.ly/cQl8qj

  33. Philip Hunt

    RT @libcon: Warning: this journalism comes with hidden agenda http://bit.ly/cQl8qj

  34. Luke Bosman

    RT @OtherTPA: I love this RT @libcon: Warning: this journalism comes with hidden agenda http://bit.ly/cQl8qj

  35. Malcolm Parker

    Warning: this article has a hidden agenda | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/UltWHEF via @libcon

  36. Kate Mungo

    I also love this RT @libcon: Warning: this journalism comes with hidden agenda http://bit.ly/cQl8qj

  37. kiersty sinclair

    RT @StMungo: I also love this RT @libcon: Warning: this journalism comes with hidden agenda http://bit.ly/cQl8qj

  38. Manley

    RT @StMungo: I also love this RT @libcon: Warning: this journalism comes with hidden agenda http://bit.ly/cQl8qj

  39. Jonathan May

    RT @StMungo: I also love this RT @libcon: Warning: this journalism comes with hidden agenda http://bit.ly/cQl8qj

  40. Ian Renfree

    RT @StMungo: I also love this RT @libcon: Warning: this journalism comes with hidden agenda http://bit.ly/cQl8qj

  41. Richard Jones

    Print your own warning labels for newspapers! http://j.mp/arYQP7

  42. A howl for humanity « Though Cowards Flinch

    [...]  ‘We all know that’.  No need for evidence, no need for facts, just rightwing dogma peddled as incontrovertible truth, that all aid is a waste of taxpayer money. [...]

  43. Craig Troup

    Warning: this article has a hidden agenda | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/HmzmK8Z via @libcon

  44. Zach Pepper

    Always fun to come across something on the web you've already seen: http://tiny.cc/9kd4p some titterful web noise from @tomscott

  45. Nicholas Ripley

    RT @sunny_hundal: This is a great idea… RT @libcon: Warning: this journalism comes with hidden agenda http://bit.ly/cQl8qj

  46. Convenient Lies

    Some wonderful stickers you can use to more accurately label the contents of your daily newspaper http://is.gd/eiMCL

  47. RupertRead

    This is genius: http://liberalconspiracy.org/2010/08/14/warning-this-journalism-comes-with-hidden-agenda/

  48. Adrian Hollister

    RT @GreenRupertRead: This is genius: http://liberalconspiracy.org/2010/08/14/warning-this-journalism-comes-with-hidden-agenda/

  49. Liza Harding

    RT @sunny_hundal: RT @libcon: Warning: these articles come with a hidden agenda: http://bit.ly/cQl8qj (link sorted)

  50. Pickled Politics » Another smear attempt fails

    [...] if your aim is to smear someone as an atnti-semite, who cares about facts? Someone should create a journalism label for that blog – ‘Warning: This is an attempt to smear someone as an anti-semite’ [...]

  51. linda schmidt

    Warning: this article has a hidden agenda | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/LAP4Ifw via @libcon -truth in journalism; I like it

  52. devolute

    Love to get webservice together that allows users to apply/view these on newspaper articles/blogs http://bit.ly/bbNeGP /via @libcon





  • We have a tight comments policy aimed at fostering constructive debate.
  • We believe in free speech but not your right to abuse our space.
  • Abusive, sarcastic or silly comments may be deleted.
  • Misogynist, racist, homophobic and xenophobic comments will be deleted.
  • Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy.

 
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