cruise documentary

[Lewis]

On Channel 4 now. Seems to be concentrating on pay and conditions. Looks interesting

[Lewis]

Apparently people register their ships with flags of convenience so they can have their crew work 10 hours a day 7 days a week for months. This is about the most misleading thing I have ever heard. As if on Uk flagged ships we just work Monday to Friday 9 - 5.

[Randomist]

7 days a week 10 hours a day isn't even close to exceeding ILO standards. What's not mentioned in this documentary is that they may be on ship for months but what other job gives you 2/3 months at home doing nothing? It is indeed misleading.

[Lewis]

they even made a fuss about how they had to do drills and safety training.

[Randomist]

I know! Stuff they're legally required to do. I found the whole thing typical journalist sensationalism. It honestly irritated me a little bit lol

[Lewis]

+ 1

[chris]

sounds like the normal level of journalism for c4 despatches

[gadget123]

It really annoys me how these programs are always about the cruise industry.

If they made a documentary about the mistreatment of crews on cargo ships they would have much more to talk about.

[Randomist]

It's always the same. They've done it because it makes the general public feel like they've come into contact with the issues being presented. 'Sensationalism' lol, they're trying to hype people up

[gadget123]

It's always the same. They've done it because it makes the general public feel like they've come into contact with the issues being presented. 'Sensationalism' lol, they're trying to hype people up

Yes, but in some ways the general public are more in contact with the cargo side of things due to all the imports they use everyday.

[Randomist]

Yeah, exactly. More people use products brought by sea than take a cruise. However, I suppose people find it easier to come to terms with where their products come from. That's why people pay money for and wear clothes that may have been made by a grossly underpaid work force, or drink coffee that's been harvested by people who aren't paid what they should be.

The journalists prey on peoples emotional reaction to their reports, that's what makes 'good television' people may feel they experience first hand the issues raised on cruise ships as they may have taken a cruise and come into contact directly with the people it effects. When was the last time someone met the guy who made their trainers.

Not saying there is a problem of which they were describing, many of the issues raised in that programme were grossly mis-represented.

[Clanky]

Dispatches has a history of poor journalism when it comes to the shipping industry, they did a proper hatchet job on South Coast Shipping a few years back around about the 10th anniversary of the Marchioness disaster in the Thames. Anyone who knew anything about shipping realised that they were clutching at straws and asking leading questions of people whose credibility should have been questioned before putting them on TV. To a casual observer South Coast Shipping must have looked like monsters.

[Lewis]

Yes, but in some ways the general public are more in contact with the cargo side of things due to all the imports they use everyday.

That and it's probably alot easier to get a jurno on to a cruise ship where their a lot of "unskilled" crew. Where as to get on a cargo ship undercover would need to get alot more qualifications first.