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On balance, no, the British press is not xenophobic. Some tabloids are sensational about a number of issues but papers abroad can be critical of foreign countries also. Accusations of so called xenophobia are being used as an excuse in some quarters not to debate the way the British public are being manipulated into a federal Europe.
Matthew Wright, UK

Of course they are - and homophobic, jingoistic, bigoted, and hypocritically sanctimonious. The British press often make me ashamed of my country.
John Sheldon, UK

Rational, intelligent, sensible. These are not words commonly used to describe reporters. Look at all this Euro Tax harmonisation rubbish they're writing. We have a veto system in the European Council (originally thought up by the French) so we can veto this before it's even mentioned. Nobody can remove our veto because any vote to remove vetoes can in it's self be vetoed. So why aren't the press reporting this? Because xenophobic reporting sells papers. That's probably why I don't read print papers anymore. Electronic media (TV and the Net, usually news.bbc) seems to be far more intelligent and doesn't appear to need to editorialise things.
Raf, UK

Unfortunately, the English (as I think this is an English problem) tabloids' attitude towards foreigners resembles that of a bully who has to act very aggressively in order to prove a point and show some "superiority", but who in reality, is weak and can't cope if anyone stands up to him. This is a sad indictment on English society.
Simon Porch, United Kingdom

UK TABLOIDS - Written by MORONS for other MORONS. Check out the crosswords in these 'comics' and you'll get the general idea.
Michelle Clarke, United Kingdom

The British, and the British press are, to a certain extent xenophobic. Rarely can I read good things which happen in other countries, as a nation we seem to revel in other countries' problems. This says something about more than just the newspapers but about the vast number of people who buy them.
Fiona Finch, Scotland

As you have pointed out it is the tabloids that are guilty in this case. The stoking up of national fervor is always dangerous but as in the example you mentioned during Euro96 it was rampant. Let's not forget that a Russian man was killed after the match between England and Germany, having been mistaken for a German. Should the tabloids shoulder some of the responsibility? It is certainly part of the equation.
Owen Matthews, Australia

As a British person living in Japan, I am shamed and disgusted that certain businessmen are allowed to profit from peddling xenophobic (and sometimes pornographic) crap to people in Britain by means of the tabloid press. This shows contempt for the public, as well as for the health and prosperity of Britain, that is only surpassed by professional drug dealers. I do not see why such publications should not be prosecuted under the British laws against incitement to racial hatred. However, this is no doubt unlikely to happen while politicians seek to attach themselves to the tabloids' propaganda machine.
J. Burgess, UK citizen in Japan

Yes, British press/media is xenophobic. But What about others in Europe. Most of media in Europe are almost the same. I would like to remind you a Turkish Proverb "Keep your home clean first before you complain about the dirt of others".
Edip HASIRCI, Turkey

There are two major issues that the press seems to have a problem coping with. Firstly the UK is in Europe and the 'them and us' attitude simply colours our judgement and makes understanding Monetary Union, and other similar topics, nearly impossible.
Secondly Muslims are misrepresented. The fact that an atrocity has been committed by a Muslim leads to the two being linked together. You do not read about those 'damn Christians' in Northern Ireland or one of the Former Yugoslav Republics.
Andrew McIntosh, UK

If the press could put forward valid points in their arguments, instead of the sensationalist headlines they use just to sell newspapers, then maybe they could be taken a bit more seriously. Being patriotic isn't about being negative about others. It is about being positive about our country and the benefits that could come from a more integrated Europe.
Rob Edgerton, U.K

No, they are not. I guess their comments are part of the so called "British humour" which is perhaps only found amusing by the Brits themselves.
Ali Sarper, Switzerland

Not only is the British press xenophobic but the people are too. All foreigners are regarded as stupid, especially those with a foreign accent.
Mikko Kuronen, UK

Being a journalist myself, I find it hard sometimes to go with the editor's decision. I am in a fortunate position to be able to write for a features page, where the expression of individual ideas is encouraged. As with everything, there is a heavy case of censorship and ultimately the section editors and editors are wholly responsible as a collective unit for what appears in the paper. As journalists we have lost our way a little and sometimes do not report on the news but make the news. The point I am trying to make is that we read what we are meant to read. People decide whether an article will win elections, stir up national pride and be beneficial for the country. As a press we are not xenophobic, as a nation we are.
Ronny Dyson, Wales, UK

Today's British Press is sadly behind the times - they should start taking a more proactive and positive line on an issue which daily grows more important. Part of the 'British Problem' with Europe has been the role of the press in stirring up negative and misleading feelings. The next few years, with the introduction of the euro and enlargement, presents a golden opportunity to make a new and constructive start.
Simon Usherwood, Belgium

I believe that the British press do exercise and unhealthy contempt for all things "foreign". It's something that seems to have stemmed from the Falklands conflict. The reporting from the tabloids, and in particular the Sun was xenophobic in the extreme. It appears to me as though it has carried forward, headlines like "Up Yours Delors!" and such like a glaring examples of this. It's something that I have always found curious, as a Scotsman who has spent several years working in England over the past decade, I can never reconcile the attitudes of the papers when I have always found the English themselves to be the most tolerant nation in Europe.
Most of Britain and in particular England is multi-cultural/multi-racial and the views expressed by these papers seems strangely out of step with the views of the populous at large. A good example of this was the safe Tory seat of Edgebaston which fell to labour at the last election to a German national. I think the wider business interests of the newspaper proprietors may have more to do with the style of "Johnny Foreigner" reporting than anything in the make-up of the British people.
Mark Mair, UK

The British press are still living back in the 1930's with their attitudes They seem to want everyone to think that the whole world wants to take our country over!! It's about time they started reporting the facts, without prejudice and opinions, leaving people to make up their own minds unfortunately its a sad indication of our own self worth as a country if resort to the sort of childish attacks made by the press In Europe, instead of disagreeing with everything, we should be trying to use more influence!!!
Alex Strathern, UK

Rarely have I agreed with so many of the sentiments as those expressed on this subject. However, virtually every observation neglected to comment on the reason why the UK press is by and large polluted with Royal obsessed, racist and xenophobic rubbish (not forgetting the biggest media baron is an 'American' Aussie and another is Canadian). The reason is that the COPY SELLS. And while it does in this format it will continue. So the prescription is simple - be discerning consumers - if you've had enough of royals and racism - DO NOT BUY NEWSPAPERS.
Mario Dunn, UK

I wouldn't call our country xenophobic just proud and patriotic.
Matt, UK

Oh yes, the tabloids certainly are xenophobic. But why is this? Surely those newspaper editors are only giving the people what they want to read? Or are they out of touch with most of the population??
Mike Hoenig, UK

I find that even the quality press has a parochial quality; the way things are done in Britain is, of course, usually subjacent to any report on a foreign country. It's patronising. Latins are unapologetically described as inefficient and dishonest as a matter of course.
Miguel Gomes, Portuguese living in Belgium

Not the British press - the ENGLISH press! In Scotland, our most popular paper is very fair and even-handed which reflects our easy going - love thy neighbour attitude found in all Celtic countries. BUT, the Argie/German/European/ anything other than English bashing English press are phobic against every culture other than English. Moreover, despite the fact that we Scots had a Tory Government forced upon us - which we didn't vote for - some English rags who I won't advertise seem to fear that we are soon to have our own Parliament.
David, Scotland, Great Britain

An interesting balance of talking points together. One berates Britains press and general xenophobia ala European debate, most comments agreeing with the general point. Yet on "should Europe set UK taxes" question, comments are aggressively flying the flag against Europe. For those on this page, you should see what Europe is up against with some of the UK comments on Europe taxes.
Despite a century of bloody, horrific conflict on this continent, we have a chance to unite together with common goals and STILL those old prejudices are still present, almost ingrained. Poor Mr Blair has an uphill task.
Eliot Bamford, UK citizen resident in USA

It's not that the British are actually xenophobic. It's more that they (I should say we) are insular. People don't understand that things look totally different even from the near continent, and that things that in Britain seem strange, new and sinister, for instance EMU & tax harmonisation, simply look like common sense to their neighbours.
It's also true that for the same reason Brits tend not to realise just how marginalised Britain is becoming. Increasingly she is seen as eccentric and unimportant.
Nick Jones, Netherlands

Besides being xenophobic the British Press is just bad. After spending a year reading the "quality" newspapers in order to teach British Politics I felt like I had been battered by a storm of insult and innuendo. The assumed cultural superiority of the English in regards to the U.S and the rest of the world is laughable, especially in a nation that serves lasagna with chips and peas. The reporting of the BBC, especially on this website is marvelous, and is in distinct contrast to the slanted, scandal mongering of the newspapers. This is why instead of spending $8.00 for an outdated Sunday Times of London, I read this website every day.
P. Stopka, U.S.A.

With comments like Gotcha! after a fighting ship goes down with all hands and the disgraceful behaviour of the press before the Euro Semi between England and Germany I think you're survey will find that most British people are ashamed of our gutter press. For that is what it really is. Gutter press.
Phil Cox, Switzerland

It is true that there is an astonishing amount of primitive and unintelligent xenophobia in the British press, but I must say that the rest of the national press all over the world is not much better. A natural non-racist approach to other human beings and cultures is still a minority characteristic in most parts of the world.
Ramesh Biswas, Austria

Whilst the UK press is wide ranging and copious, they (the tabloids at least) assume that their public is totally brainless.
Alastair Dumbell, France

I think that, as with so many other issues, this topic of xenophobia is being taken over the top. Of course we should embrace our European brethren, and under no circumstances is racism acceptable, but I feel that there is a limit to this embrace. The comments made in the Sun and other newspapers are simply jibes and jokes, nothing more. I feel that we must always keep something in reserve from Europe and the rest of the world to remind us we're British, and I think that these jibes give us a small piece of unity and pride at being a part of Britain.
Marcus Ward, England

Xenophobic! The tabloids are just about every phobic. Is it harmless fun? I don't think so. Branding a nation with crude name calling must be the height of journalistic ignorance. After all, the English got very upset when they discovered that the European press branded us cultureless drunken yobs. It's about time the editors of these so called news papers grew up.
Geoff Halsey, UK

Firstly, tabloids are not "the press", they're comics. We had a mock-up of Colonel Gaddafi in drag on the front page of one of our tabloids a few years ago, purely to boost sales in the then hostile West-vs-Arabs atmosphere. But this can lead to implicitly state-approved propoganda. Who will forget the Sun's "gotcha" headline (600 Argentine sailors dead). The answer is education, to consign this drivel to the cesspit whence it comes.
Rod Butcher, Australia

The British press is not only xenophobic, but short-sighted and ignorant about the way the European Union works. It is curious, that it is only European press which is hysterically obsessed with "tax harmonisation" and "European federalism". It is not that the rest of Europe doesn't care about these issues, we're simply aware that these claims are not very serious. The British press expresses the British view of Europe: Europe is constituted by France, Germany, and occasionally Italy. If the British press was not short-sighted and propagandistic, they would be looking at other EU member states (Fifteen Member - States - Fifteen) and see what they think about tax harmonisation, European super-states and so forth.
Eunice Goes, Portuguese

The UK tabloids are a disgrace, in the way they behave with intrusive journalism and the distortions they report.
Jason Butteroworth, Anguilla

Having worked in the UK for now 20 months, I had the opportunity to read quite often the press here. Generally speaking, the press is not xenophobic. Nevertheless, most of the tabloids are. They just do so in order to sell paper. Having on the front page a critic of Lafontaine one day, on gay another day, just help selling the paper. And it works... Britain has a far bigger press than in France. The problem is that by writing such stupid things, it may influence people thinking that being nationalist is COOL, or even funny... The idea of market is too present in UK, tabloids know that people wish to read sensationalist things, and do so in order to sell... there aim is not to make people think... Too bad... because the other side of UK press is very educative, and good, but reserved for another class of people.
Jerome BOURREAU, FRANCE

Comments have changed of late in relation to Ireland in the light of TV programmes and Irish economic success, but the underlying view permeating from the media is that Paddy is still thick!
Joe Lynam, Ireland

Watching the BBC, and reading the British press while living in Brussels, I notice that the stance of the British press is often aggressive and uncomplimentary towards the rest of Europe. It is surely not possible that every debate and agreement made in Europe can be seen as an infringement into the 'British way of life', as is so often made out in the press. This xenophobia is filling the British publics heads with unfounded fear and mistrust killing very important debate at time when Britain could really be at the centre of creating a new Europe. Surely the British press would be wiser to encouraging debate by contributing opinions without the xenophobic and extremely negative undertones that are presently displayed.
David Packer, Brussels

The xenophobic attitudes in my opinion have always been present in tabloid newspapers. This prejudice should stop if only to improve our relationships with other countries. We as a nation have thought for far too long that we are a superior race, we should learn to respect and understand other people's cultures as this is the only way that we can move forward into a better society.
Katharine Ball, Britain

Many English people and the gutter press are intrinsically xenophobic. In which other country in the world is "alien" a synonym for "foreigner"? But to discriminate even between their own people such as Scots, Irish, Welsh, that really takes the biscuit. Granted, there are enough British people who do not use such cliches as "don't mention the war", "greasy dago", "a bunch of krauts" and "froggies" to make their point.
Otto Makris, Germany

Xenophobic - absolutely! And add to that hypocrisy! Here is a supposedly civilised nation producing some of the most "simplistic", "tacky" and nationalistic newspapers in the western world. And people buy them. Then they (British) will criticize the "tackiness" of Hollywood and American culture. But wait for it - there is one final twist. By vilifying the Germans they are in fact vilifying one of their own dearest institutions - the Royal Family who are part-German by descent.
Peter Martin, Australia

No, Europe is a wonderful place but I wouldn't want to live there. PC has gone too far, they get things wrong in Europe too you know so why shouldn't the press be allowed to point this out. And as for the US press not being the same - Louise Woodward, I'll say no more.
Mark Vent, UK

The tabloids are outrightly racist- the broadsheets are only "euro-sceptic". Apparently, by and large, there is some difference, but it all seems to arise from the same feelings - stupidity, fear, and history.
Paul Rushworth, UK

Well, well, well, this started as a forum for discussing the British press and has become a forum for British bashing. We are perfectly accepting of different cultures and lifestyles, however if you then seek to impose parts of your lifestyle on us then I will react. If we were not accepting of different cultures why are there so many Mosques, synagogues, temples in this country?
Mark Vent, UK

Is it xenophobia or just bad press in general we're talking about? It would appear that the British news-media have their favorite "bad" topics to cover like the USA news media. If it's negative, report it till the public become nauseous. If it's positive ignore it. You British have xenophobia, we Americans have Starr-Monica-Clinton-phobia.
Jerry Hughes, USA

Certainly, the quality of the British press has lessened over the years, but that probably just reflects the marginalisation of Britain as a nation. British tabloids are just plain awful and probably pander to the mentality of their readership. The broadsheets appear to lean the other way depicting Britain more warts than all.
I believe many of your newspapers are foreign owned, so any sensational headlines would probably be printed with an eye to increasing circulation. I have seen a lot of one-eyed reporting in newspapers from all over the world, certainly the USA, Australia cannot adopt a superior pose in regard to this. All I do know is that if you want to research an issue no newspaper is a reliable source - and that is wicked.
Tom Bowshall, Australia

Yes the British Press is xenophobic, but is this because Britons are percieved by the press as xenophobic?
Duncan Drury, UK

Whilst I appreciate that you class the tabloids as 'press' I feel that you should be specifically asking about tabloids and not including the broadsheets. The mentality of the average tabloid reader is the issue, not the tabloids themselves since they carefully tailor their headlines to their readers' attitudes.
Roger Chaplim, UK

The tabloids are an embarrassment and shame us all. I doubt if there can be any reasoned debate in Britain about our place in Europe while every pro-European statement is met by a barrage of hysteria in the tabloid press.
Alasdair Duncan, UK

As a German who normally enjoys reading British publications such as the Economist or the BBC web site I sense a hostility to France and Germany these days. I wonder whether such stories reflect the problematic relationship of Britain to continental Europe in general or a specific hostility to these two nations. Hopefully, the British press and the British may develop a more relaxed relationship to its European partner nations and France and Germany in particular.
Katharina Dallmann, Germany

Of course the British press/media is xenophobic, but that's hardly news. Nor does the British public have the right to condemn its media for xenophobia - the press is a reflection of society. On the good side, though, the British government is often able to resist the nativist tendencies of the press and not allow important policies to be affected by ugly prejudice and ignorance. As far as the xenophobia of the British press affecting relations with other countries, I don't think that's a danger in most cases. In the United States, at least, the attitude of the British press toward foreigners is a source of amusement rather than anger or outrage. Every so often, we know some Brit will get him or herself in trouble abroad because of an unwillingness to abide by the laws of other countries. When that happens, the British press will spring into action, inventing all sorts of reasons for why this British person is either absolutely innocent or should not be punished in any case. Though the circumstances of these cases are often tragic, such as with the death of the Eappen infant in Massachussetts, the reaction of the British press is always good for a laugh. Don't worry about us in the USA. We're used to the comical attitude of the British press toward foreigners and we'd probably miss it if it disappeared. Thankfully, there's no chance of that.
Thomas Threlkeld, USA

I dunno about the British tabloids but I cannot imagine this BBC site doing such a thing. It is certainly top drawer.
Jerry Eberhardt, USA

Always has been; always will be. Remember the headline: STORM IN THE CHANNEL; CONTINENT ISOLATED.
Geoff Spencer, Canada

Absolutely. The Sun's attitude towards foreigners, especially Europeans and Germans in particular, is both insulting and embarrassing. 'Up market' tabloids like the Daily Mail are little better, although they try to cloak their xenophobia in the 'respectability' of Middle England. A sad point to recognise, however, is that although The Sun's circulation may be slowly falling, it is still Britain's biggest selling daily newspaper. How does this relect on the population of the UK?
Gary Clemo, UK

Unfortunately, I'd have to say most definitely "yes." I lived in Europe for two years and relied on British media for two years. After reporting on a murderous shooting spree in the U.S, a British commentator stated, rather smugly as he shuffled his papers, "it could never happen here." A few years ago, a British paper referred to Bob Dole as the "American Prime Ministerial Candidate." Also, reporters from the BBC seem to be able to pronounce extremely difficult African and Indian city names, but routinely butcher common U.S. place names, such as Los Angeles, Oregon, Michigan, and Illinois. Those are minor complaints, I suppose, and I have to add that I'm a great fan of the BBC.
SM, USA

The British press is just reflecting the xenophobia that exists, not causing it. You can see how xenophobic the country is by the internal dislike of England by the celtic countries.
Stephen Hewitt, Wales

Yes British press is xenophobic even BBC. BBC is manupulating many news especialy relating to Baku-Ceyhan pipeline.
Oguz Tolga, Turkey

Not just the press but the public as well or else why do the press do it - to sell and have higher ratings. In ordinary drama on TV and in the news, wherever there is a bad happenings (e.g drug, prison, trauncy, social security dependency etc) the face of foreigner will be notably black. It makes people (British) feel better to think that they are better than others. When was the last time BBC reported any good developments from Africa? It always report wars, ethnic clashes in emotional and dramatised form. Since people are gullible enough to trust the press then foreigners have to continue to endure bad press in Britain.
Adeniyi Kolawole Oke, UK

There is free press in democratic countries and the carefully controlled press of communist and militant governments. The havoc wrecked by the propoganda of such media where the people have no choice but to accept total hypocrisy makes the British press just a heartening symbol of one's freedom of speech and expression that the free world loves and would die for.
Roopali Roy, USA

Two words: Louise Woodward.
Dan Kaattari, USA

Xenophobic, homophobic, sexist - you name it. The tabloids are execrable (though luckily balanced by excellent British TV, radio and broadsheet news) and what's more, a lot of people believe what they say. Which means it's not just harmless fun, it's spreading hatred. And as much as they dish out, they can't take it - their offence taken at the recent Australian "Rabbit Stew" article that poked fun at British cricketers is pretty rich!
Tricia UK (an American ex-pat)

The British press per se is not xenophobic, but most of its tabloid elements. But mostly, I feel sorry for it: if you have to resort to clichées and foul language, that is normally proof that your other arguments lack quality.
Andreas Busch, Germany

Not according to my 'Britannica World Language' they're not! It really seems as if they've been given too much leeway at plying their malicious pranks on the public. Of course the reader has a choice, read it or no, realizing full well that if the tabloids had anything really pertinent to the world's nations and their leaders, such as "dangerous", ad infinitum, then the first place to go would be to their own nation's leaders. The seven, only, showing at Trafalgar Square is a good indication that most readers dismiss the Sun and other tabloids as legitimate, just tasteless and very bad mannered. To those who are offended: write to the editors, or to your representative. There can be a change.
Joan Lisa, USA

Yes, the British press is definitely xenophobic. However, it is not just the press - it seems to be an integral part of the British psyche and culture. I have heard it said that it is due to some British people not wanting to face up to the idea that the British Empire is no more and they still have to show "Johnny Foreigner" who is REALLY in charge. The press just do this more ostentatiously, with the result that all Germans are portrayed as Nazis, all Irish are either evil terrorists or simple fools, all Americans are fat tourists, and all French people eat garlic, wear berets and are called Pierre. And so on with almost every country in the world - even the other parts of the UK!
Donal Rogers, Ireland

Leaving aside the Sun's preoccupation with offending the French, I think the accusation of xenophobia could be applied further afield with the British Press to include some of the "quality" papers such as the Telegraph. Compared to the US press, however, this is nothing. At least the UK press recognize that civilisation, in some form or other, exists outside of the American continent. A well-respected quality "The Boston Globe" regularly appears in its mammoth, rainforest-depleting Sunday edition with less than 3 pages of international news (mostly adverts at best).
David Masters, USA

The dictionary tells us that 'xenophobia' means "a hatred or fear of foreigners or strangers." If that is the case then the British press is very much xenophobic. However, I would go further and say that it is the ordinary British person who is xenophobic so the press is only serving the people. I'm not trying to say that all British people are racist but people in general are usually racist, even if they don't like to admit it. Each and every one of us has some sort of prejudice - we just have to learn to control it - and the British media and indeed the media around the world has to learn to deal with it also.
Shane Quinn, Northern Ireland

I hate the way the press treat Europe. When will people realise that we are all human? I for one would abolish the idea of countries. It is a dangerous and pathetic way for people to shield their racist and xenophobic ideals. The Germans are NOT going to invade. When will the press realise this and stop dragging up the pas?. The Germans and our other friends in Europe are no longer hell bent on destroying this little island. We need a single European and eventually world government to solve our problems.
Paul Mc Connell, Scotland

Only the tabloids portray a low-brow xenophobic attitude, the rest of the British press and the media in general are the best in the world. Nowhere else in the world can you get unbiased reporting in issues from any and all the countries in the world, our press is the envy of the world. Who cares what the tabloids print?
Daniel Elmes, British (working in Canada)

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