Northern UFO News - No 129

Magazine Overview

Title: NORTHERN UFO NEWS
Issue: 129
Date: January - February 1988

This issue of Northern UFO News, edited by Jenny Randles with cover art by Roy Sandbach, delves into a range of UFO-related topics, with a particular focus on media coverage of sightings and detailed case investigations. The magazine critically examines sensationalized reports and provides a platform for more grounded ufological analysis.

Contents and Key Articles

The Recent Media Fiascos

The issue opens with an editorial by Jenny Randles commenting on the media's handling of UFO sightings. Randles discusses the "media circus" surrounding two prominent cases: the Zena Sfeir sighting in London and the "UFO Hijack Terror." She criticizes the sensationalist reporting, particularly by tabloids like the Daily Star, and highlights how genuine investigations are often sidelined in favor of more dramatic narratives. Randles debunks the Sfeir case, attributing it to misidentification of Jupiter and a faulty telescope lens, and expresses frustration with UFO "experts" like "Dr" Richard Lawrence who promote dubious theories and cults. She also recounts her own experience being misrepresented by a journalist for the Sunday Express, who distorted her comments on UFOs and earth lights.

The Cheadle UFO Case

Randles details her investigation into a reported UFO sighting by police officers in Cheadle, Cheshire. She explains how she, along with other investigators, worked to uncover the facts, facing obstruction from the police who initially refused to comment. Through her contacts and by consulting airport information, Randles identifies the "UFO" as a British Airways Tristar jet landing at Manchester Airport. She criticizes the media, particularly Granada TV, for sensationalizing the case and misrepresenting the facts, even when the explanation was available.

The Great August Wave (Part 2)

This section continues the examination of numerous UFO sightings reported during August. Cases from Hull, Bangor (Northern Ireland), North Shields, Pinxton, Derby, and Batley are discussed. Potential explanations ranging from meteors and atmospheric phenomena (like temperature inversions) to misidentified aircraft are explored. A particularly detailed case from Shelton Lock, Derby, involving two pensioners and a "massive" object with bright lights and a "red glow underneath," is presented, along with the mysterious simultaneous failure of streetlights and a blown car fuse. The article suggests that unusual weather conditions may have played a role in some of these sightings.

Brief Cases: Some Current Investigations

This recurring section presents a series of shorter UFO reports from various locations across the UK, including Birmingham, Corby, Sunderland, Cogenhoe, Hull, Denton, Low Burnham, West Derby, Old Roan, Handsworth, Northallerton, and Strathaven. Each case is briefly described, with potential explanations offered, such as misidentified aircraft, planets (Jupiter), meteors, or atmospheric effects. Some cases, like the Handsworth sighting, are noted as having no obvious solution.

Media Matters

This section reviews recent media coverage of UFOs. It highlights articles by Ralph Barker in the Sunday Express, which are praised for their detail but criticized for omissions. The section also discusses coverage in the Daily Mirror and The Sun, again noting sensationalism and inaccuracies. The role of ufologists and their interactions with the media are examined, with a particular focus on how their statements are sometimes distorted or used for publicity.

Other Features

• Updates: A brief update on the mysterious MJ-12 documents and the ongoing debate about their authenticity, mentioning the opposing viewpoints of groups like CAUS and CUFOS.
• News Round-Up: A collection of short news items, including the merger of Midlands UFO and paranormal groups into "STRANGE ENCOUNTERS," and a warning about a group called UFOSI in Birmingham which is allegedly receiving widespread publicity and funding from British Aerospace.
• For Your Perusal: A review of paranormal magazines and publications, including "The Unknown," "Artifex," "Strange Magazine," "UFO BRIGANTIA," "MAGONIA," "IUR," "MUFON Journal," and "FATE."
• Books of the Moment: A mention of a report produced by the Scottish group SPI summarizing paranormal investigations.
• Operation Skywatch: An announcement about a planned 27-hour charity fundraising event involving sponsored skywatch sites across the UK.
• Calendar: A listing of upcoming BUFORA lectures and conferences.
• NUFON Regional Groups: A directory of regional UFO groups affiliated with NUFON.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the critical examination of media reporting on UFO phenomena, the importance of rigorous investigation to debunk hoaxes and misidentifications, and the ongoing efforts to document and understand UFO sightings. The editorial stance, primarily represented by Jenny Randles, is one of skepticism towards sensationalism and a commitment to presenting factual accounts and plausible explanations. The magazine aims to educate its readers and counter the often misleading narratives presented by mainstream media. There is a clear emphasis on distinguishing between genuine unexplained phenomena and cases that can be attributed to known causes or deliberate deception.