In the all but one hundred years since, and particularly in these most recent years, the speed and ease of communication have increased enormously. In the developed countries most people have mobile phones, internet ready computers, digital television and radio. They have become standard. We enjoy using them and playing with the many new functions they offer. Many in the older generation even go on college courses in an attempt to keep up with their own grandchildren!

At the same time as we explore and enjoy these new technologies, it is vital that we recognise the need to be objective about their possible effects. The various digital news channels compete constantly to be first with 'breaking news', and this competition, allied with these improving technologies, creates enormous pressures on the reporters. We are in danger of too quickly jumping to judgements and conclusions. Time needs to be allowed for events to coalesce so as to provide a complete picture. We also need to guard against those - frequently those in politics - who would manipulate news reports for their own purposes, rather than for the public good.

Perhaps we need something like a popular catchphrase such as, 'Think before you click' to repeatedly remind folk to "caw canny", as the Scots would say. It is essential that we bear this requirement in mind, or we leave ourselves open to being led down dangerous and bigoted paths.