1/ I'm inclined to agree with this, but more because of how I think narratives and media work than anything else.
The last month has revealed not only that a god can bleed, but exactly where his unhealed wounds may lie if one but pokes hard enough.
Some thoughts.
The last month has revealed not only that a god can bleed, but exactly where his unhealed wounds may lie if one but pokes hard enough.
Some thoughts.
https://twitter.com/Samfr/status/1487017959566544900
2/ A narrative can be extremely powerful in determining what makes it into the media we consume and how it's framed.
There's a reason news stories around a particular theme seem to happen in clusters. Nothing for a year, then relentlessly one after another.
There's a reason news stories around a particular theme seem to happen in clusters. Nothing for a year, then relentlessly one after another.
3/ As a general rule media organizations like stories that align with established narratives and those that are directly and shockingly in contrast to it.
What they don't like is a story that runs contrary to narrative, but only mildly. No one reads those.
What they don't like is a story that runs contrary to narrative, but only mildly. No one reads those.
4/ While the narrative was "Invincible God-Emperor Boris Has Lock on Hearts and Minds of Formerly Labour Voting Red Wall" you got 50 stories a week about changing sentiments there, Labour dysfunction and how everyone is a Brexit voter now.
Editors were sending folks to get them.
Editors were sending folks to get them.
5/ The narrative has now firmly shifted to "Boris Johnson scrambling amid endless sea of scandal."
Editors are sending reporters to go and get more scandal stories.
Sources and leakers are coming out of the woodwork because the appetite is there.
Editors are sending reporters to go and get more scandal stories.
Sources and leakers are coming out of the woodwork because the appetite is there.
6/ Now obviously it's possible for the narrative to shift again. I can't imagine it will maintain this intensity forever.
However, the foundational premise that Johnson is an untouchable political deity whose connection with the voters can survive literally anything is gone.
However, the foundational premise that Johnson is an untouchable political deity whose connection with the voters can survive literally anything is gone.
7/ There was a common Twitter joke of like, "Boris Kills Puppy - Con: +3."
It reflected a narrative that he and his party were just inherently untouchable.
That any scandal would slide off him within a news cycle or two. He'll bluster and joke. Voters won't care.
It reflected a narrative that he and his party were just inherently untouchable.
That any scandal would slide off him within a news cycle or two. He'll bluster and joke. Voters won't care.
8/ Well, Con ain't +3 anymore and the aura of invincibility is gone.
Every news organization in the country, even many of the previously friendly ones, are looking to get a piece of the action.
The narrative has changed, and so I think has the game. /end
Every news organization in the country, even many of the previously friendly ones, are looking to get a piece of the action.
The narrative has changed, and so I think has the game. /end
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