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Regional daily takes on major US title over ‘patronising’ Brexit article

A regional daily has attacked America’s second biggest newspaper for printing a “biased, patronising and grossly distorted picture” of its patch.

The Sunderland Echo has hit out at the New York Times, which ran an article on voters in the city following the EU referendum.

In Sunderland 61pc of voters backed leaving the EU, although the Times suggested they had “voted against their own interests” given the amount of EU funding received by the city.

The article added the referendum result had “exposed deep regional divisions and a rift between classes” which had been felt in working class cities like Sunderland.

Sunderland Times

The Echo has now called on readers to set the Times straight about the reality of life in Sunderland with an appeal launched on yesterday’s front page, pictured above.

The newspaper claims the Times even brought a photographer who’s best known for covering warzones to shoot images of Wearside.

Echo managing editor Gavin Foster said: “We don’t recognise this image of Sunderland.

“Yes, we have our problems, but this article doesn’t reflect the Sunderland of the 21st Century and the astonishing progress we have made as a city over the past 30 years.

“We want to use our front page to set them straight and show them what the people of Sunderland think about their article. So we need your help.”

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  • July 1, 2016 at 2:18 pm
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    From what some of us know in the North East about Johnston Press, the Echo, and its sister papers – Shields Gazette and Hartlepool Mail – this is probably the first time that a reporter has been out into parts of deepest Washington for many years!!!

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  • July 4, 2016 at 2:21 pm
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    Makems usually do have balanced opinions – they have chips on both shoulders. The NYT piece seemed to be fair and objective comment but I suppose the Echo is merely reacting in the way it thinks it should, although it’s drawn even more attention to the original story.

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  • July 4, 2016 at 6:06 pm
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    Sunderland is a God forsaken hole. To say it’s a poor relation of Newcastle is an insult to second cousins twice removed.

    I’ve lived in the North East for 60 years. I know Sunderland well. It’s a dump. I’d love to know what “astonishing progress” that Foster alludes to.

    The Nissan car plant (and all the ancillary jobs) is only there because of Europe and yet the numpy Mackems are happy to bite the hand that feeds.

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