David Bloch revives the "blame the media for the recession" line

[myk]

From today's Irish Times

Bad news brigade in media doing Ireland down - The Irish Times - Wed, May 06, 2009

...it seems to me that the Irish media has done its best to highlight all the bad news while ignoring the good. Statistics are constantly used, then explained in a manner that highlights how bad things are and how it is only going to get worse for Ireland.

Firstly, this isn’t true; secondly, it’s not helpful; and thirdly, we need to move forward. And who gains from such miserable and negative coverage?

The world is in a dreadful state, no doubt. Ireland’s pillars of prosperity have been eroded by many factors. The construction boom is over and will take two to five years to recover fully. The banking sector is in trouble globally, but there are certainly green shoots of recovery all around the world with Goldman Sachs, Barclays, Merrill Lynch and others announcing better than expected results, with most of them returning to profitability.

Our information technology and pharmaceutical industries, while not impervious to recession, have generally outperformed our main rivals.

Ireland was one of the first into recession but we seem to have hit the bottom and are now showing real signs of a return to growth.

rose-tinted glasses anyone?

reading Fergus Finlay appraisal of Cowen's first year in the Examiner today also reminds of us of the last time this "talking down the economy" was used by government supporters

In just one year we?ve all become shareholders in Cowen?s nightmare | Irish Examiner

Back then, it all looked so different. On the day Brian Cowen was appointed Taoiseach, our newspapers were reporting that the financial regulator was investigating the "spreading of false rumours about Anglo Irish Bank".
...
In one of the many ironies of the past year, we never did find out, did we, who was spreading those false rumours about Anglo-Irish Bank? All we discovered was that the truth was far worse than the rumours.

[oceanclub]

Who is David Bloch?

P.

[myk]

Who is David Bloch?

P.

CEO of Brightwater Recruitment according to the article.

[Bearla Gan Naire]

Bloch specifically mentioned George Lee in his email. Funny that he didn't mention him in the Irish Times piece.

You should read the email sometime. It read to me as "If we all put our fingers in our ears and go La La La we'll be fine".

[myk]

Bloch specifically mentioned George Lee in his email. Funny that he didn't mention him in the Irish Times piece.

You should read the email sometime. It read to me as "If we all put our fingers in our ears and go La La La we'll be fine".

if you have a copy of his e-mail would you care to copy and paste is here? I haven't seen it, and don't know where I can access it.

[Bearla Gan Naire]

Below is a copy of the 2nd email I sent to my address book, to massive and almost universally positive response.



Yesterday, The Media headlined an ESRI report about THEIR view on the miserable outlook for Ireland. Some people were angry about it, others like me disagree with the report and the majority shrug their shoulders, claiming it doesn't affect them. It does!



We are a recruitment company and have seen real signs of some green shoots (and no new waves of redundancy announcements), with April the best month of the year to date. Yesterday (Wednesday, 28th April) due to the negative, sensational reporting making people nervous and anxious, we had 3 jobs pulled, 5 put on hold and no offers in at all. It DOES matter! Yesterday, The Media cost thousands of people their jobs across the country.



Please read the email below.



Thank you.





The Irish media is spreading fear and panic!



I am the MD of an Irish Company. I have a job and I want to keep it. I also want to keep the jobs of my staff and my friends... and I want to live and work in an upbeat country!



The Irish Media is spreading fear and panic – it makes me think about cutting more costs, salaries, staff and saving money. If it affects me, it must affect other people.



With the positive American attitude, do we have any doubts that the US will recover?



Ireland has one of the youngest and well-educated populations in the first world (after the US) - let’s use our energy and can-do attitude and get out of this.



I sent a similar e-mail to a few people from my address book a couple of weeks ago.



Here’s a few comments from the dozens of replies I’ve had which show I’m not alone in my thinking:



From Senior Manager at Big 4 Accountancy Firm:

"...it's giving a desperate impression to investors, commentators etc. Also too much time spent pummeling those who are easy to blame - bankers, developers etc. By all means accept there have been mistakes, learn the lessons, add regulations etc. but now time to move on and have plan for the future."



From MD of major European Bank, based in Ireland:

"I know RTE would argue that in criticising them we are in danger of "shooting the messenger" but "the medium IS the message".



"Those in RTE are relatively "bullet proof" in their jobs. They are playing "Russian roulette" with private sector jobs as visiting business people and others latch on to our depressive outlook. Other development agencies will also use this to argue against Ireland as a location to invest in, in favour of their own place."



From Partner at medium-sized Law Firm:

"What irks Me about say RTE is that the doom laden voices of George Lee, Ann Doyle and others announcing yet more job cuts etc as the lead item. It is literally depressing. It is usually preceded by a really sad ad from one of the NGO's with pictures of starving emaciated Africans. I know their plight is tragic but the continuous subliminal effect of all of this is to drag one down in terms of "mood". The best piece of news is in fact "Nationwide" at 7pm with Mary Kennedy and Michael Ryan. They are cheery and upbeat."



From Irish person recently moved to New York (don't know her details):

"Hear Hear I say!! I live in New York and although things are tough here, people are getting on with the new reality and figuring out creative ways of dealing with the downturn."



From Owner of private Irish company:

"Frankly, I'm enraged about what RTE specifically are doing. They're destroying hope and thereby destroying Ireland. "



From Director of Big 4 Accountancy Firm:

"I have come across a lot of clients who I am dealing with on other issues, non recruitment related and they are definitely looking at costs and savings because they feel they have to because everyone else is!!"



Anon - PLC Board Director:

"I am having to respond privately as Company Policy does not allow for me to endorse anything!



I have voiced the same concerns privately in conversation with many people and whilst many agree with the view that the Media is spreading doom and gloom, there is no action being taken to reverse this".





I’ve also started a campaign on LinkedIn: David Bloch - LinkedIn and Facebook David Bloch's Notes | Facebook (you will need to be a member, and then become a 'fan' to comment / reply). Please feel free to add me to your network.



Most business people seem to feel this is an important message... Ireland is a special country, but this constant negativity (glass half empty) is very bad for the country - nationally and internationally.



If you agree with this email, please be brave and send it on. It might make a difference!



Thank you.



David Bloch

Managing Director



PS. In my company we have created a little enclave of positivity and energy, but it is hard to battle the daily media barrage of misery - please help!



PPS. If you want to read the hidden Good News, we have been running a "Good News Corner" on our website since October last year Brightwater Recruitment Ireland, Banking Jobs Ireland, Legal Jobs Ireland, HR jobs Ireland Nick, Executive Jobs in Dublin, Ireland. (including yesterday's ESRI report that actually said "While on average 1,000 jobs were being slashed every day in January and February, that figure dropped to about 500 a day in March and dipped slightly again in April")

[oceanclub]

Is this a joke?

The bit about "Oh don't show me black babies on TV, they depress me" sounds like an Alan Partridge line.

P.

[benjib]

Last week The Irish Times posted misleading Headlines about the economy "The economy will shring 11% over the next 18 months". Reading the article, it actually says it'll shrink 8% in 2009 and 3% in 2010. As the economy's already shrunk 5% (it's July 2009) the Headline is misleading and bad for business!

Last week I read in The Indo Headline about how Israel's CT rate will be below ours in "a couple of years". On reading the article, the 3rd paragraph had the actual quote from the Israeli minister about Israel's CT rate matching Ireland's "in 5 or 6 years".

There are plenty of cynics, begrudgers and losers out there who are revelling in the misery of it all. Frankly, I'd like you all to emigrate so the rest of us can work hard, grow and make some money again!

BB.

[robert151410]

Last week The Irish Times posted misleading Headlines about the economy "The economy will shring 11% over the next 18 months". Reading the article, it actually says it'll shrink 8% in 2009 and 3% in 2010. As the economy's already shrunk 5% (it's July 2009) the Headline is misleading and bad for business!

Last week I read in The Indo Headline about how Israel's CT rate will be below ours in "a couple of years". On reading the article, the 3rd paragraph had the actual quote from the Israeli minister about Israel's CT rate matching Ireland's "in 5 or 6 years".

There are plenty of cynics, begrudgers and losers out there who are revelling in the misery of it all. Frankly, I'd like you all to emigrate so the rest of us can work hard, grow and make some money again!

BB.

[Libero]

There are plenty of cynics, begrudgers and losers out there who are revelling in the misery of it all.

Name one.

Not a poster on this site but someone in the real world, in Ireland.