We have 'sorra bita news' to-day

In the same year that this noble newspaper was founded in 1882, another newspaper, thousands of miles away, was making history also.Like the "Westmeath Examiner", the 'Hampshire Chronicle' is published weekly and prides itself on bringing all the news to its readers. But one edition in 1882 made the paper famous for carrying not an iota of news other than a banner front-page headline announcing 'NO NEWS TODAY.'Under this heading, the following appeared: 'The past week has been productive of no occurrence, either foreign or domestic, of successful public interest to claim particular notice.' That was it! The rest of that edition of the 'Hampshire Chronicle' consisted of advertisements. As far as I know, this was the only time that a newspaper was ever published without a screed of news. I don"t think our editor would get away with that lark!The strange thing is that not only did the 'Hampshire Chronicle' survive that editor"s lack of news sense, but it is still in circulation today - and is in fact the oldest newspaper in America, having been founded in 1772.Would it not be so therapeutic if we were to have the odd day without any news at all? Maybe the editor could try it during the so called 'Silly Season' when the people are fed up with the sort of 'make-up-news' churned out by news churners? I can see it now. 'Any news in 'Dexaminer' this week?' 'Ah, 'sorra' thing.' By the way, can any reader tell me where does the word 'sorra' come from - as in 'sorra bita news'? I think it is very much a Westmeath expression?But back to the news and why is there never a day when nothing happens to make news?Even as a kid I used wonder how come that just enough happened each day to fill the quarter of an hour that was then the half-one news. Another thing: how come that there are always around the same number of death notices in the daily papers? Why is there not a day when nobody dies? Can a day not pass without a major road accident, robbery, riot or another politician"s lie discovered? And do we have to hear the same news so often? I watch the six o"clock news if around the house and still have to set myself in front of the TV at a minute to nine in case I miss anything. But how much of so called news is really news at all and how much of it could wait until tomorrow - or in many cases forever? How refreshing it might be to have a 'news-free day', like the way that there is no political coverage the day before polling-day.Picture the scene: Anne Doyle sits looking at the camera, with that knowing hint of a smile: 'Good Evening and this is the nine o"clock news. There is no news today!' Or Sean O"Rourke on 'The News at One'; 'Today on the news at one we have sorra bita news!'Anyway, very often what is marketed as news is not news ay all, but merely gossip. Personally I don"t give a hoot about Jade, Katie, or any of their criminal cronies.Newspapers get filled with frivolous news stories, especially during the aforementioned 'Silly Season,' or when readership falls off. To attract attention newspapers lead with attention-grabbing headlines and articles to boost circulation - especially if they can come up with something which scares people. Gossip is often passed on as news, when it is not news at all. Gossip rarely has any basis in fact and is sometimes intended to convey a negative image of an individual. We are talking mostly of tabloids, but sometimes broadsheets stoop to splashing gossip as well. Their rationalisation is that they are simply conveying information from another source and the newspaper is not the author.It is impossible to defend yourself against a negative and sometimes the sensational headline is cleverly worded to deny something in order to get it said: 'Friends deny that Pastor Shaw beats his wife or buys gin for housekeeper' and so on!Newspaper gossip is not always negative, if rarely accurate, where so called celebrities are concerned. Rumours of romance among the rich and famous may be considered harmless good news - and to hell with facts! Gossip has its roots in speculation and conjecture about events or attributes of people rather than focusing on facts. We are all guilty of gossip in our everyday lives. Business associates share gossip about people they work with. Neighbours speculate on details of the private lives of other people in the neighbourhood. Even well-meaning friends when they get together tend to discuss what they think of a mutual friend who is not present. The opening 'any news?' really means; have you a bit of oul scandal on anyone. Gossip is not news - whether it is spread verbally, through print, television or radio. While many forms of gossip are relatively innocuous, gossip has the potential to ruin lives and reputations. The internet is now the worst offender and a very dangerous weapon in character assassination.Any group or individual has the power to destroy and falsely accuse wrongdoing from behind the cloak of anonymity.Could we have a 'no news day' once a week? I have been in places where I heard not an iota of news for days and I survived without it. In fact, in another life, I worked in the Northern Canadian bush, where real news only filtered in weeks apart. We survived in there without any news.I think the odd news free day would do us all a power of good: And on that day, everyone would have the same answer to the question, 'Any news?' The correct answer is 'Sorra bit'!Don"t ForgetThe difference between gossip and news is whether you hear it or tell it.