Is the JEP the biggest player?

[kaspar]

So we've had a terrible turn out for the open door event at the weekend, a terrible turn-out at the schools hustings, and from what I see in any photos a pretty poor turn-out at most of the regular hustings events...

Let's still assume/hope that the turn-out for the vote itself is, at least proportionally to Jersey's population, a fair bit higher. Where are everybody informing themselves? (apart from here of course )

1. How much influence rests in the hands of the JEP? (though I hold the JEP in high regard and would expect them to provide a pretty fair and thorough coverage, this still bodes questions)

2. Or is it really just a matter or who knows or is related to who?

[Nobody]

An interesting question. There's no doubt that the JEP are doing a fine job in reporting the hustings, but they've done virtually nothing whatsoever to actually encourage people to attend. Infact, given the style of their coverage, many people probably don't even feel the need to get off their backsides when they can engage in armchair politics via the JEP each night.

This is the most important election of the past 50 years or so, and the JEP, "at the heart of island life", really had a duty to get that message across, and get islanders motivated.....which quite simply they haven't done.

And now the hustings have begun, why aren't they making a noise about the low turn out? Why aren't they telling people why it's in their benefit to turn out? Etc. etc. etc.

This year we have seen on numerous occasions the JEP going out of its way to protect, defend and support the establishment, doing their level best to keep things comfortable for the old guard. Logic decrees one can't avoid bearing that in mind when considering whether or not the paper have an agenda regarding the style of their election coverage.

[crappogre]

We used to get Gordon Young reminding us of how lucky we are to be able to vote, and how it's our duty, etc.
That always used to get my back up. The freedom our forebears fought and died for surely includes the freedom not to vote?
And did those people fight for the right to vote for a minority of independent representatives who follow their own agenda and ignore the voters once elected? No...... I believe they were trying to defeat the nazis, primarily.

( Does that count as a Godwin? en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin%27s_law - )