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Owen Jones Enrages Jeremy Corbyn Fans For #WeAreHisMedia Reminder

Man who wrote 'The Establishment - and how they get away with it' accused of 'being swallowed by the establishment'.
Aubrey Allegretti
By 

Politics Reporter, HuffPost UK

Jonathan Brady/PA Wire

Owen Jones has sparked fury from Jeremy Corbyn supporters for reminding them of the limited influence of a Twitter campaign.

The columnist was responding to ‘#WeAreHisMedia’ - a Twitter mass-posting attempt by fans of the Labour leader to articulate positive news about him.

The trending hashtag was filled with posts hailing Corbyn, many hitting out at the Islington MP’s treatment by online and broadcast news organisations, which a report recently found showed a “clear and consistent bias” against him.

The idea Corbyn can reach people via media controlled by billionaires is a pipedream.
We have to make our media.#WeAreHisMedia #Corbyn4All

— Chris Lowe (@chrislowe1405) July 30, 2016

It's going to be a big one in Leeds tonight. Arena starting to fill. Wonder if media will report? #WeAreHisMedia pic.twitter.com/G2UDMgHCsG

— Éoin (@LabourEoin) July 30, 2016

The power of social media. Our hashtag #WeAreHisMedia has hit home and is still trending! #LabourLeadership pic.twitter.com/RintpmfyhL

— Scott Nelson ☭ (@SocialistVoice) July 30, 2016

Woah.

The hashtag shows there's the potential to challenge MSM narrative. If collectively organised.#WeAreHisMedia pic.twitter.com/fSqCrRdvYo

— Steve Topple (@MrTopple) July 30, 2016

But despite the hashtag’s popularity among Corbyn fans, Jones decided to remind them that the influence of social media on winning elections was limited.

He posted:

If Twitter was as effective as we'd like, Labour would have won a majority of 200 last time. Can we bear that in mind? #WeAreHisMedia

— Owen Jones (@OwenJones84) July 30, 2016

Many other journalists offered a similar analysis,

I admire the optimism of #WeAreHisMedia - but Twitter is a platform with limited reach. It doesn't feel it when you're on here, but it is

— (((Greg Jenner))) (@greg_jenner) July 31, 2016

What in the name of hell is this #WeAreHisMedia ?!!! Don't be so silly, and grow up

— Giles Dilnot (@reporterboy) July 30, 2016

A twitterstorm maybe isn't the best way to counter the idea your candidate's support is a Twitter bubble. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ #WeAreHisMedia

— James Ball (@jamesrbuk) July 30, 2016

But the Guardian columnist’s post in particular prompted swift scorn from hundreds of incensed social media users.

@OwenJones84 you're slowly being swallowed by the establishment.

— David Powell (@Kropotkin_alias) July 31, 2016

@OwenJones84 so your saying we should all shut up on Twitter and not build a movement. What asinine, pessimistic,desperate nonsense.

— Lenin (@TheLeninOfLove) July 31, 2016

This isn't about twitter's "effectiveness". It's about a media that's no longer fit for purpose. You know this @OwenJones84

— Congolesa Rice (@judeinlondon) July 30, 2016

@OwenJones84 what do you suggest Owen? We change our manifesto to please Murdoch? Maybe we should just let him choose the leader instead?

— Patricia (@PatriciaNPino) July 30, 2016

Jones hit back, explaining the limits of social media in influencing politics by pointing to far-right group Britain First.

Britain First have 1.5 million Facebook likes. Thankfully they're marginal in political life. What does it say about limits of social media?

— Owen Jones (@OwenJones84) July 31, 2016

Which only made people more angry with him.

@OwenJones84 why don't you put forward positive proposals instead of criticising current state?

— Jo (@BIGTUMMUM) July 31, 2016

@BIGTUMMUM i have https://t.co/IKpl5TxRT4

— Owen Jones (@OwenJones84) July 31, 2016

@OwenJones84 not sure they're marginal.leave won.

— Michael Bateman (@welloldstem) July 31, 2016

@welloldstem not because of Britain First

— Owen Jones (@OwenJones84) July 31, 2016

Being denounced as a Tory, Blairite and Establishment for pointing out Twitter has limited reach is a novel experience

— Owen Jones (@OwenJones84) July 31, 2016

@OwenJones84 It's not that though is it. You have a column in a national newspaper & you're belittling people whose only platform is Twitter

— Mountain Boy (@sharpeleven) July 31, 2016

.@sharpeleven I'm not "belittling" them. I'm saying social media has limits and isn't a substitute for reaching people in their communities

— Owen Jones (@OwenJones84) July 31, 2016

Having to block @OwenJones84 followers. Please address my point on bias Owen.

— Joanna (@ScoutSleepe) July 31, 2016

@ScoutSleepe For Christ's sake, Joanna. I've written two books on media bias.

— Owen Jones (@OwenJones84) July 31, 2016

Leaving the columnist despairing.

@hazmatt72 Hi Alan I'm off to bang my head repeatedly against a large brick wall, but you have a really fun day now.

— Owen Jones (@OwenJones84) July 31, 2016

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