About this publication ...
Introduction
As a result of a five years review by Agence Presse Européenne (APE) of the leading British newspapers it was noted that the typical week is characterised by a significant concentration of a small number of stories which come from government-controlled news releases or from political parties. Such topics are quite often pushed off the front pages by yet additional "news" from the same sources. The general perception that the day to day perspectives of most of the British news media are very short term and analysis meagre resulting in some important topics being replaced by a new set of issues within a day. Part of the problem is that there is a notion that headlines sell media. As a result there is a definite trade off between a dynamic "news feed" activity and providing an intelligent readership with useful information.
For some time now APE has tried to promote a more reflective approach by selecting what its writers consider to be important topics and then quite often publishing articles after others but with the support of more analytical detail. The result is that the durability of the article is extended because APE tries to draw out general lessons and the likely solutions. Accordingly such content is no longer a short-term reference to a then current issue but is rather a reference on a review of a type of problem. This helps make such articles more durable and useful for readership. As a result 50% of accesses to APE media articles are to articles written years ago and available in our archives. We therefore consider this approach to be successful.
However, such an approach needs to be balanced in terms of the range of "important" issues covered otherwise the approach will build in a form of news bias where some topics have a significantly better and more useful coverage than others. During the last five years APE has noted a significant decline in the effectiveness with which news media cover foreign affairs, globalization, democracy, law and constitution. These tend to be split up into separate issues creating an image of a range of unrelated processes and a somewhat chaotic and insecure view of society and the world in general. In order for an intelligent readership, as members of the national electorate, to mould their own preferences on social issues and related to their personal and family interests and economic circumstances within the context of local, national and international affairs, there is a need to provide more relevant and therefore useful news coverage of how social and economic issues are influenced by markets, globalization, treaties and law. In addition, the unfortunate polarization of different social and world views as represented by political parties, religions and factions only complicate attempts at coherent and useful analysis. One of the organizations to have developed analyses and approaches to economics which integrate these issues into an easier to manage and to understand approach is SEEL, the Systems Engineering Economics Lab. Their overall theoretical and practical developments can be described as constitutional economics. This integrates social and political issues but the economic analytical approach is a real incomes approach which adds particular clarity to the role of technology and evolution in human technique to social and economic development.
In October 2007 the APE Board decided to initiate a new medium, Real Incomes, as an Internet posting designed to present the current affairs of the United Kingdom from the standpoint of constitutional economics. This has the objective of explaining the ways and means the expression of the freely determined social and economic preferences of the people of the country can be met through improved democratic principles. In order to satisfy this objective Real Incomes will post notes geared to practical actions, such as private initiatives, local and national policies necessary to satisfy such preferences.
This posting will take the form of a regular bulletin on the website domain name realincomes.org.uk. This site will also carry a tutorial on the Real Incomes approach to economics.
Real Incomes is an initiative organized by: APE-Agence Presse Européenne, E-Mancipation and Real News Online. Economic analysis, models and simulations used are provided and maintained by SEEL-Systems Engineering Economics Lab.
This Internet posting is independent of all political parties, factions and associated organizations and a policy of a right to reply is maintained for anyone wishing to comment on the veracity of data used, analytical methods or conclusions reached. For this purpose the most convenient form of communication is by email using info@realincomes.org.uk
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