I'm getting increasingly perplexed with our local official news source, the Scunthorpe Telegraph. Over the last few weeks they've been printing articles saying what's been spent where by the council (see phones article last week for a good example) and I think they're being a bit biased. OK, so the local council is an easy target, granted, and I suppose poking a bit of fun or satire at them from time to time can lift a gloomy day, but the very tone of this article smacks (in my humble opinion) of political manipulation of the readership. Todays article does in my mind demonstrate a clear bias, and is also factually inaccurate. As far as I am aware, the money for Denis Taylor was paid by Yorkshire Forward as part of one of their initiatives. I have in the past done some work for the people who were organising some of these events, and know for a fact that over the last five years a large amount of money had been allocated by YF to fund guest speakers for business networking, sporting and charity events all over the region. The very tone of the article is negative, and targeted at making the current incumbent labour council look as if they have done something wrong. They have not. The real irony of this is that the very same news paper has splashed these celebrities all over their pages and made money from it them selves! Talk about two faced, but that just takes the biscuit by profiteering on the visit its self and then pulling it to pieces later. I can only conclude that the editor of the ST is looking to support the Tory's in next May's election and that this story is one of many that we can expect which is low on fact and high on shock. Anyway, I left the following comments on the article, will be interesting to see how long they last for before they are removed, so I've posted them here for posterity: "Am I being a bit sensitive today or is this reporting a bit negative? "Dennis Taylor, who pocketed �2,500 for attending a Sportsman's Dinner" I mean "Pocketed" come on, its the turn of phrase I'd expect to hear if you were reporting MP expenses claims, not reporting on a job done by a professional providing a service. Surely Mr Taylor's visit to the region was not only of benefit to local charities here, but also helped improve the profile on the region. Forging our futures eh? Bet I can tell which party the editor of the ST is going to be punting for come next May with stories like this ;)" I've also just been made aware that Mick Grant has posted further details on this matter on his blogg, so it seems I'm not the only one a bit fed up with the local paper this morning.