Poly Toynbee’s Guardian column today says that Tony Blair’s speech about the ‘feral’ media missed the real problem with the British media: ownership rules favouring Rupert Murdoch that Blair did nothing to tackle.

Toynbee argues that the the media’s obsession with complaining – often against all the evidence – how awful things are and that danger is everywhere poisons national confidence. How else to explain how we are gloomier than ever despite enjoying healthier lives and greater freedom?

She might have added that consumers enjoy greater power than ever – yet the media continually work themselves into a fury about how consumers are being conned left, right and centre.

Toynbee certainly has a point. When I read about failing schools and hospitals, I have no way of assessing the accuracy of what is being said. I haven’t been into a hospital for years (lucky me) and have no children, so cannot test media accusation against personal experience. Mind, my GP friends say talk about dramatic pay increases is way off the mark. Who is telling the truth? Well, I’d far sooner believe a friend than the Daily Mail!