The latest person to join the near-constant criticism of GCSEs is, it seems, Dara O'Briain. I have to admit, as someone who often finds myself in defence of GCSEs, and someone who likes and admires the Irish comedian in question, I found myself a little disheartened by the sensationalist headlines I found about him 'getting an A* in 10 minutes' and subsequently claiming that GCSEs were too easy.

But, as seems to be the case too often, what was actually being said was not quite what the headline and paragraph would have you believe.

Perhaps it was the gruelling 17 hour flight and one hour wait in the baggage claim, but I have to admit that my first impressions of China were not particularly charitable.

Call me a cynic, but if you were an online news editor looking for page clicks on stories that people were unlikely to see, wouldn't it just be the easiest thing in the world to publish something that you knew would be the centre of a massive amount of offence and debate?

As a journalist interested in the successes of the industry, I really do try to work my head around concepts and modes of expression that I don't necessarily agree with. Though I automatically find myself shying from tabloid, sport, and celebrity journalism - areas that carry no interest for me - I understand that they are not only markets, but profitable markets. I may be a proud supporter of fourth estate, but I am not quite idealistic enough to think that news does not come at a price, nor am I arrogant enough to consider my tastes the only tastes.