We are currently in what’s known in the media as ‘silly season’.
Parliament is not currently sitting. The school holidays are upon us. Though there is always something going on that’s newsworthy, for a lot of outlets, there’s not enough news to adequately fill the headlines.
This leads to an increase in fluff pieces, nothing stories and more light-hearted fair to pad out the news – those minutes and pages won’t fill themselves. It’s just the way the news works, unfortunately.
However, earlier today a BBC News presenter made the mistake of treating a major news story with the kind of contempt that one might treat a fluff story with. Simon McCoy was reading the news earlier on Monday afternoon when it came time to report on one of the biggest stories of the day: a dog surfing competition.
.@BBCSimonMcCoy providing all the enthusiasm this story about surfing dogs deserves. pic.twitter.com/FsG8TOj5iF
— Chris Gray (@ChrisGSGray) August 7, 2017
“Dog owners and their pets in California have hit the waves in the second annual World Dog Surfing Championships,” McCoy announces, before sighing all over the brave dogs doing their best.
Throughout the report, McCoy speaks in an exasperated tone, as if reporting on the prestigious event was not a great honour, and that these clever and good dogs were not worthy of their slot on the news.
Mr McCoy, we understand that it’s probably been a long day and that there are more important issues in the world, but please, these are good dogs doing really well at surfing – may we remind you that they made it to do the WDSCs, not something every dog can say.
Please, sir, a little respect. One dog even surfs backwards. These dogs are worth your time.
