Ufo Hot Spots In The Uk

I feel there's something not quite right about the recent results of the Virgin Media Report into UK UFO Hot-Spots. It seems as if every subsequent news report relating to their findings has involved disingenuous data and it's probably to be expected considering the careful wording of the original press release/s.

I'm referring to instances like the statement that Nick Pope, "Supports the study. Not that Nick, "Carried out the study" or, "Assisted" but that he merely "supports "the study.....

This post isn't so much about UFOs but rather about the poor reporting that is peddled to us every day, this time it just happens to be in regard to UFOs. It may seem a bit banal to highlight the obviously flawed media-machine but it just pisses me off that something as simple as the details of a report could be so badly misinterpreted by virtually ever local newspaper website that subsequently latched onto it.

From the official Virgin Media webpage (virginmedia.com/ufo) that displays the details:

THE TOP 10 UFO HOTSPOTS IN THE UK

1. West Yorkshire (34)
2. Nottingham (29)
3. Lancashire (24)
4. Shropshire (22)
5. North Somerset and Avon (22)
6. Suffolk (19)
7. South Wales (18)
8. County Durham (17)
9. Lanarkshire (15)
10. Devon (15)

"Virgin Media has been tracking data which goes back to 1961, revealing an astounding 609 unexplained sightings across the UK..... 'The Virgin Media Files' detailing the counties you're most likely to see a UFO, supported by the former head of the Government's UFO project, Nick Pope. "

Seems reasonable enough, and the first report I seen online by the Halifax Courier would seem to confirm all of these facts:

Halifax - Courier (14 March 2008)

"'The Virgin Media Files' have been compiled from data which goes back to 1961."

"Nick Pope said: "While we currently have no explanation why certain places in the UK are alien hot spots, as the research reveals, there are areas where mysterious objects are repeatedly witnessed

"SO PEOPLE WHO WANT TO ALIEN-SPOT SHOULD DEFINITELY HEAD TO HALIFAX.

Then a day later the exact same online Newspaper ran the following article:

Halifax - Courier (15 March 2008)

"There is a UFO sighting every four months in the area, dubbed "West York-fear", according to Virgin Media. "The study was conducted by Nick Pope, a former government UFO advisor, and taken from data going back to 1994. "

"Mr Pope said: "While we currently have no explanation why certain places in the UK are alien hot spots, as the research reveals, there are areas where mysterious objects are repeatedly witnessed.

"SO PEOPLE WHO WANT TO ALIEN-SPOT SHOULD DEFINITELY HEAD TO YORKSHIRE.

The same newspaper is now saying Nick didn't support the report but actually conducted it. Also instead of 1961 it's now supposed to be, "Taken from data going back to 1994"."

This Is Plymouth (17 March 2008)

"People in Plymouth can expect a close encounter of the extra-terrestrial kind - Devon is ranked number 10 in a specially compiled list of Britain 's top 10 UFO hotspots. "

"'The Virgin Media Files' have been compiled from data which goes back to 1961 and highlight 15 unexplained sightings in Devon alone - including a silent, circular object which was spotted over Barnstaple in 1964. "

Bury Free Press (18 March 2008)

"Strange spheres hovering above Bury St Edmunds have helped to make Suffolk a 'hot spot' for UFOs, according to an expert on the unexplained. With 19 sightings since 1961, the county has come sixth in a list of top 10 places to spot a UFO compiled by Nick Pope, the former head of a Government project looking at UFOs "

Sunderland Echo (20 March 2008)

"Nick Pope said: "While we currently have no explanation why certain places in the UK are alien hot spots, as the research reveals, there are areas where mysterious objects are repeatedly witnessed. "

"SO PEOPLE WHO WANT TO ALIEN-SPOT SHOULD DEFINITELY HEAD TO DURHAM.

This Is Lancashire (21 March 2008)

"While we currently have no explanation why certain places in the UK are alien hot spots, as the research reveals, there are areas where mysterious objects are repeatedly witnessed"

"SO PEOPLE WHO WANT TO ALIEN-SPOT SHOULD DEFINITELY HEAD TO LANCASHIRE.

So we have a study that has collected data from either 1961, 1994 or 2000 onwards and it would appear that people who want to alien-spot should definitely head to Halifax or Yorkshire or Durham or Lancashire or.....

Well I'm sure you get the picture and remember these were exact quotes credited to Nick Pope, who in turn may have conducted the study or may have just thought it was a good idea! Depending entirely on which, "UFO Hot-Spot" locale you are situated closest to, and of course which local news report you are unfortunate enough to read.....