Analysis: Part (3/3) - Welcome to "Wey'Back Machine: 'No To The Barge' Debunked"

ANALYSIS: Untangling a Web of Fear-Mongering, Hatred, and Misinformation Orchestrating Division in the Community (3/3)

Investigative Reporter – 13:00, 08.03.24

In this concluding part of our ongoing series, as detailed in an article dated 11th August 2023, entitled ‘Fear, Grievance and Hate: How A Community Became Radicalised’ by Dorset Eye, we examine the final four rather dubious assertions made by the individual or individuals behind “Liz Bladon.” Throughout this series, it has become increasingly apparent that Jason Richard Cridland, the publisher and “co-facilitator” of a self-described independent non-profit news website, who claims complete independence from any advertisers yet appears to be sponsored by them, has neglected his responsibility to ensure accuracy, a concern we have consistently highlighted throughout our analysis.

In our previous article, we delved into the controversy surrounding the mysterious Liz Bladon’s piece published via the Dorset Eye, which contained unverified allegations against locals. “Liz” purported that Alex Bailey accused ‘Stand Up To Racism Dorset’ protesters of being “bussed in,” but Mr Bailey clarified with evidence of a trade union advertisement for a national coach service to a local ‘Portland Unity Demonstration’ in September 2023. Additionally, we explored offensive remarks by Simon Avery towards SUTRD members, as raised by Liz Bladon. Evidence indicates Mr Avery was removed by Mr Bailey from the ‘No To The Barge’ Facebook group after a video surfaced showing them. Regrettably, Kallum Gethins later went against basic journalistic ethics by revealing their private conversation about it without consent. Upon closer inspection, Mr Gethins’ history reveals further questionable journalistic practices, including allegations of source fabrication and misrepresentation of media connections.

Moving on to the final four rather dubious assertions, it’s imperative to reiterate that publishers, like Dorset Eye and Dorset News, must take reasonable steps to ensure that journalists do not fabricate sources. However, there’s a lingering uncertainty as to whether Liz Bladon actually exists. In their article, Liz asserts that “Sue Bailey,” whom they claims to be Mr Bailey’s mother, purportedly made an online statement, “the government will go down in history as the murderers of the GB race.” However, there’s no corresponding screenshot of a post or comment, nor any evidence of any familial connection. Yet, if this assertion were proven true, it would be reasonable to argue that publishers must respect people’s reasonable expectation of privacy and abstain from deceptively fabricating evidence with the sole intent of generating clicks in a bid to defame them.

“Liz” contends that Mr Bailey’s association with the purported “Far Right” is now apparent, citing his involvement in two interviews with the ‘Voice of Wales’ and his engagement in activities such as leafleting, organising community-focused events, and attending residence meetings. Jokingly, these actions must have only recently been considered criminal, a charge that could equally apply to ‘Stand Up To Racism’ or anyone involved in community initiatives. The crux of the matter is that this presents a clear case of guilt by association. This occurs when someone links an opponent to a demonised group or individual to discredit their argument. The implication is that the person is “guilty” simply by association with this “bad” group and, therefore, should not be taken seriously on any matter or worse.

In a recent FAQ published on Alex Bailey’s website, he commented on interviews that he conducted with the ‘Voice of Wales’. He stated, “I arranged and took part in numerous interviews involving a diverse range of individuals and media outlets, each offering a unique perspective and set of opinions. This approach was crucial in avoiding the pitfalls of echo chambers and the polarisation often seen in today’s discourse. Regardless of the audience, my message remained consistent. However, I must acknowledge an error in counting the number of general practitioners on Portland, which appeared to disproportionately upset certain individuals with extreme views. This reaction highlights the danger of isolating oneself within an echo chamber, closed off to the diverse perspectives offered by the broader media landscape.” We noted the absence of links to the interviews. Unfortunately, as readers, we wouldn’t have the opportunity to view the “Far Right” content, which seems deliberate to shape a narrative. Therefore, we have included the links to the original videos in the ‘Sources’ section below, enabling you to form your own conclusions after reviewing them.

They continue to intertwine fiction with fact by claiming that Mr Bailey had a falling out with Julie Croley, who publicly labelled him as “Far Right” and allegedly intended to manipulate the campaign to garner support for his future electoral candidacy. “Liz” further alleged that Mr Bailey subsequently expelled her from the Facebook group, citing her inability to continue due to illness. None of these claims are substantiated by any supporting evidence, a recurring theme throughout the article. Therefore, we contacted Mr Bailey for clarification. He confirmed that Mrs Croley was the one who encouraged him to run for political office, with no intention of exploiting the campaign for anything other than the swift removal of the barge. Additionally, he confirmed that he removed Mrs Croley and her husband, Mike Croley, due to threats of physical violence against himself and others, which he reported to Dorset Police. This action was also prompted by their public sharing of his home address and the dissemination of increasingly disturbing extreme political content both online and offline before and since.

The individual behind “Liz,” who claims to reside on Portland, melodramatically asserts that there is dissent within the ranks, citing criticism from “NTTB candidate organiser Antony Nailer.” They allege that Mr Nailer reportedly rebuked Mr Bailey for his absence from their initial meeting, attributing it to his interview with the ‘Voice of Wales’ and a deliberate suppression of their post, hinting – they allege – his ‘self-aggrandisement.’ Therefore, we asked Mr Bailey for further comment, and he refuted the claims, stating that nothing could be further from the truth. He suggested that “Liz” do research as they confused two separate groups, and asked them to look up another group called ‘Portland Independent Councillors,’ which is independently run by Stephen Cobb and Antony Nailer. He went on to share that Mr Nailer was never part of the “circle of trust” or so words to affect Kate Robson uses, and Mr Bailey states rather confusedly that never ‘pushed down their page’ as claimed by Mr Nailer.

The responsibility now rests with you to determine whether our efforts to unravel the complex network of fear-mongering, hatred, and misinformation, which have contributed to community division, have been successful. Throughout our examination, we have scrupulously scrutinised the portrayal of events by Dorset Eye (dorseteye.com) and evaluated the roles of its “co-facilitators” and publishers, Deborah Anne Cridland and Jason Richard Cridland, among others. At the outset of this analysis, we were confronted with “Liz,” a “citizen journalist” hiding behind a pseudonym, supposedly based in Portland, Dorset. This individual neglected to reveal their identity while covertly gathering hundreds of out-of-context screenshots and even manufacturing evidence, with the aid of Deborah and Jason Cridland through their platform. Dorset Eye, as a publisher, professes a dedication to high standards and ethical principles guiding its writers and editors, which they have clearly flouted with this and numerous other defamatory articles.

Secondly, it is worth noting the troubling issue of authorship, which raises a plethora of legal and ethical concerns in itself. We observed the exclusive use of screenshots devoid of accompanying context or evidential links to the original posts or comments. Additionally, the inclusion of profiles with peculiar names like Ladette M Squiggleton, Britishoscar JJ, and Holty Bfc introduces further complexities that should raise alarms regarding the dissemination of misinformation. Of significant concern is the failure to identify and credit the originator of any third-party content in this instance.

Thirdly, professional journalists typically refrain from using social media posts/comments without thorough verification and approval from the source. Adhering to this practice not only shields journalists from accusations of fear-mongering for clicks but also prevents deceitful practices. Moreover, numerous unsubstantiated claims lack support, even from the poor-quality and often edited screenshots. We are also aware that during the now defunct ‘No To The Barge’ campaign, there was widespread instances of profile and page cloning, and anonymous accounts further muddying the digital waters.

Fourth, DorsetEye.com has drawn significant criticism for featuring content deemed hateful and antisemitic, a concern initially raised by the Campaign Against Antisemitism in 2017. This content appeared to defend Jackie Walker, who was expelled from the Labour Party for remarks regarding the Holocaust. Recent reports suggest a resurgence of such problematic articles, prompting questions about whether the publishers, Debbie and Jason, who present themselves as a community-friendly website, have adequately addressed the issue. A recent article titled ‘Israeli government propagandist Mark Regev’s Joseph Goebbels impression on CNN’ likened Mark Regev to Joseph Goebbels, while just last month, they republished an article titled ‘Gaza and the Nazification of Israel,’ which raised concerns previously flagged by the CAA.

And thus concludes our comprehensive analysis series.

NEXT ARTICLE: Our upcoming article will delve into the intricate dynamics between pseudo-activism via Community Interest Companies and harassment within the realm of “citizen journalism.” Doctored videos on YouTube featuring local CIC social media logos have surfaced on…

FUTURE ARTICLE IN PROCESS – CLICK HERE TO READ OTHERS

Sources