Mike well recalls a paparazzo trying to sell an image of an apparently pregnant Kim Basinger shopping in California. He says: “We thought: ‘Great, there’s money in this.’ But when we looked at the rest of the film, she didn’t have a bump.”The photographer’s explanation was that doctoring techniques had become common in America.According to John, the increased opportunity for altering images has coincided with a fall in standards among those who edit pictures for Britain’s print media “The digital revolution has meant a dive in quality. Touching up with a brush for publication has been in the business for 150 years.”But as his brother John points out, “if you did any cleaning up it would be stated.”Rex has been subjected to attempts to “pass off” images. Sunny Hundal, editor of Asians in Media, the online magazine, watched with horror as events unfolded.”This was an example of good intentions that went horribly wrong. It shows why many Muslims and Asians in general have an uneasy relationship with the British media, which rightly demonises Abu Hamza, but lets Nick Griffin off lightly,” Hundal told me. “Having viewed the new version Five has reached the conclusion that, though largely incomprehensible, it does not breach the Programme Code.”What had begun as an attempt at responsible broadcasting had delivered a propaganda coup for the BNP, to which myself and other well-meaning journalists had inadvertently contributed.The biggest loser in all this was the Asian population.
It then submitted to Five an election broadcast that the channel deemed “likely to stir up racial hatred”.When the film was rejected, the BNP gleefully edited it to a ridiculous degree, littering it with what Five described as “bleeps and ‘wind’ sound effects” in an attempt to suggest more censorship.In a statement, Five said it was obliged to show the film. The response – “The party political broadcast for the British National Party” – was not quite what I had been expecting.
Terrific. “Really, what programme?” I inquired, trying to sound as if this might be one of a number of appearances my agent had arranged for me this month. “Tell your parents to set the video, you’re on television,” said a friend at Five. Worries about the parliamentary select committee investigation into sector take their toll.. Investors continue to price in the massively dilutive effects of last week’s refinancing package which saved the company from administration.Enterprise Inns 569p (down 19.5p, 3.3 per cent).
Management buyout team claims to have acceptances for its offer from shareholders controlling 59 per cent of the company.EasyJet 163.5p (down 37.25p, 18.6 per cent). Issues its second profit warning in less than fives weeks, blaming intense competition in the European market.Wigmore 0.35p (down 0.12p, 25.5 per cent). Latest data on the group’s Tariquidar lung cancer treatment excites.Gaming International 52.5p (up 8.5p, 19.3 per cent). Says it is in merger talks with Millfield Group.Diagonal 46p (up 2.5p, 5.6 per cent). Rejects a merger offer from its rival Microgen, which declares a 7.5 per cent stake in the company.Xenova 9p (up 0.75p, 9.1 per cent). Full-year pre-tax profits rise to £40m from £34m, inline with City expectations.First Choice 127p (up 4.75p, 3.4 per cent). Investors quietly move into the stock before today’s first-half figures.Matalan 199.5p (up 6.25p, 3.2 per cent).
