OK, Countess, I slept and feel less ornery myself this morning - sorry if I showed some claws (friends?). I was also guilty of thread-creep, let's get back to the topic.

I still think we are all agreeing with various degrees of violence ;-) What we get today on national media is not good enough. We vary as to who's to blame, and how to get it better.

I agree about the varying quality of different folk clubs, and also that a regular "live" show might not be the best way forward for that reason (although an occasional good snippet from a club, showing off Herga's or Sharp's "wall of sound" for example, might be in order, just by way of advertisement). The club scene has to (and will) continue its way, working on the participatory and inclusive aspects of folk, which is most important got its continuance and well-being.

So, the question is: What is a good/useful role for the media to play in the furtherance of folk? And how can we get them to fulfill that role?

For the first question, I offer the following:

a) Media can be the "glue" for the regional aspect of folk (trad and contemporary). Variety is the theme here. Let me in London hear Ciaran Dorris from Glasgow, let the Orkneys hear Mike Nicholson from Kent or Ben Campbell from Devon, etc etc

b) Media can promote the young, up and coming talent - on a regular basis, not just an annual award. (That would also help bring the yung'uns in, though that's not the reason why I suggest it here).

c) Media can advertise clubs, show occasional snippets, help get people off their backs and participate

As for how the achieve it:

Complain, write, demonstrate, let the "names" make the point when interviewed, grizzle, moan - at the media, not the poor presenter who stuck his/her head over the parapet. And then do it again.

And again.