Question for the Americans - how does your media portray us Brits?

Question

..or do they not bother showing what's going on over the pond?

Answer 1

If I could add my two cents...I'm a Brit who lives much of the year in the U.S due to my business.

Generally with the exception of Fox News, which is owned by Rupert Murdoch (Sky T.V, Sun Newspaper etc), most U.S media channels have no idea that the UK has troops in Iraq or Afghanistan, and certainly don't report the contribution they make.

Just after 911, I would get stopped in bars quite regularly in New york when people heard my accent because people wanted to thank me for our support (one of the few who actually did something).

Nowadays however to watch the news channels you would think that we went home three years ago, rather than losing troops every week.

And yes...they do think we have bad teeth, drink tea all day, and bow to a picture of the queen before bed time every night (at nine oclock because electricity is rationed).

Printed media is even worse.

Answer 2

I'm in UK and a Brit. but I worked as a telegrapher for abc News at their London bureau for 23 years.

Americans must make their own minds up about us and not be fed propaganda by the media.

What America was and has become, is the result of the Brits who founded the first English Colony of Jamestown in Virginia in c1607 - 400 years ago this year.

The rest is history, and like Winston Churchill once said, "We are two nations separated by a common language". That's really all there is too it. Americans probably know more about me and London where I live, than I know about the people of Manchester, which is also in England.

Answer 3

I don't see that the "media" portrays "Brits" either negatively or positively as a rule. I think they are treated fairly, unlike how the media may treat other situations. Personally, I feel "Brits" have been and always will be our best friends and allies in the world.

Answer 4

We look at you Brits as a steady Ally and a good economic trading partner. Most Americans have a lot of respect for Brits.And on a personal note, I love the British sense of humor. I grew up watching Monty Python on Public Television.

Answer 5

I think most Americans respect Britain, although we disagree about many things (socialism = bad). American believe that Britain is and will always be our best allies in the world. We have been through thick and thin together and I hope it will always be that way. I think most American see Britains as a very resilient people that are courageous and brave. Most European countries could learn a thing or two from the English.

Answer 6

Very positively overall. But a little limited in scope -- there's still a lot of portrayal of the "stuffy old Brit" stereotype.

Answer 7

I'm a Brit but the impression I get that the US media gives of us is one of simpering tea-sipping posh tw*ts with bad teeth, who talk in a ridiculously posh accent and are very reserved and never have sex.

Think Hugh Grant for example.

Answer 8

From a Canadian, Americans, remember only like 30 percent have passports and have little first hand knowledge, see Brits as social welfare bums who live off the rich and do nothing to earn their keep....so wrong, but it is their belief...they have no idea what an amazing nation the UK is....but you know what?...I would hate to estimate the amount of Americans who could actually even locate the UK on a map.

Answer 9

Better than we portray ourselves. A little fascination with the royals though.

Answer 10

It's 'across the pond', not over the pond!

And as far as what the media might be saying about you Brits, I don't bother paying any attention to what the media says about anything anymore, since it can't be relied upon to be truthful. I form my own opinions about things in general.