What's that smell?

Another hole for pigeons

BBC headline: Explaining the 'how' - the launch of BBC Verify
As low-energy as it gets. If a logo is supposed to aid identity and recognition, what does the BBC Verify logo tell you?

We live in an ever-changing and challenging world, one in which deep fakes; manipulated photos and video; and AI-weaponised disinformation become indistinguishable from reality. Nefarious entities abuse information technologies, wilfully manipulating the news and social media in furtherance of their own agendas.

In order to meet this challenge to the sources that inform our opinions, the world's most trusted international news broadcaster™ has established BBC Verify, the purpose of which is to separate fact from fiction, as the BBC reports on stories from around the world fairly, impartially and without fear or favour. [cough]

Around sixty of the BBC's crack urinalists, including its very own disinformation and social media correspondent, will gather together to form a highly specialised operation with a range of forensic investigative skills and open source intelligence (Osint) capabilities at their fingertips. This special ops group will be fact-checking, verifying video, countering disinformation, analysing data and - crucially - explaining complex stories in the pursuit of truth. Splendid!

But I'd assumed fact-checking and verification were standard practice in investigative journalism anyway. And I guess they'll look the other way, or put their findings into perspective with the appropriate filters—i.e. pinkwashing—should any of these lofty ideals become inconvenient and challenge the People's Republic of Portland Place's own world-view. (wink) (whistling)

We've built a physical space in the London newsroom, with a studio that BBC Verify correspondents and experts will report from, transparently sharing their evidence-gathering with our audiences.

Deborah Turness, CEO, BBC News

Whether they'll also be transparently sharing their report updating, or falling back on the BBC's tried-and-tested stealth editing strategy, is currently unclear.

Lest you feel that I'm unduly cynical about the BBC's impartiality, dear reader, my own countering disinformation procedures have led me to conclude that the BBC is not wholly balanced when it comes to some of its reportage.

For example, in reporting the spat between TWDC and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, there's no mention of Disney having obtained special dispensation for the Reedy Creek Improvement District essentially under false pretences, then having abused the privilege for the purposes of tax efficiency and cutting costs on safety; and that DeSantis' proposal for the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District effectively levels the playing field with other attraction operators. All of which runs counter to the virtuous Disney vs evil autocrat narrative.

Even before that, it was only in later reporting of Disney's political interference with Florida House Bill 1557, that menton was made of the bill's true, and less sensationalist, nature. I guess the groomers' allies at Most­Trusted­International­FlapFlapFlap Towers couldn't keep a lid on it forever.