Beware of town hall spin says top judge - Harringay online2024-03-28T13:42:25Zhttps://harringayonline.com/forum/topics/beware-of-town-hall-spin-says?feed=yes&xn_auth=noFrom the LGC
There are gaps…tag:harringayonline.com,2009-11-25:844301:Comment:1304062009-11-25T13:47:16.593ZLizhttps://harringayonline.com/profile/Liz
From the <a href="http://www.lgcplus.com/policy-and-politics/latest-policy-and-politics-news/mps-probe-council-newspaper-controls/5008955.article" target="_blank">LGC</a><br />
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<i>There are gaps in controls over councils setting up their own newspapers, industry executives have admitted.<br />
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Regulators currently have no power to step in when authorities spread political messages in their local publications, MPs were told.</i><br />
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Although by law, councils may not use the Town Hall Bugle for propaganda…
From the <a href="http://www.lgcplus.com/policy-and-politics/latest-policy-and-politics-news/mps-probe-council-newspaper-controls/5008955.article" target="_blank">LGC</a><br />
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<i>There are gaps in controls over councils setting up their own newspapers, industry executives have admitted.<br />
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Regulators currently have no power to step in when authorities spread political messages in their local publications, MPs were told.</i><br />
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Although by law, councils may not use the Town Hall Bugle for propaganda according to the 1986 Local Government Act.<br />
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“This Act prohibits councils from publishing any material which ‘whole or in part, appears to be designed to affect support for a political party’, but permits local authority publications to keep residents informed about what the council does for them,”<br />
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there is actually no one body to regulate them if they do. Matt, lots of things in Lord…tag:harringayonline.com,2009-11-18:844301:Comment:1293142009-11-18T13:09:49.183ZAlan Stantonhttps://harringayonline.com/profile/AlanStanton
Matt, lots of things in Lord Judge's speech "really matter". Though I doubt whether his concern for an "independent press" means he would disapprove of local authorities having <i>any</i> publications or leaflets which give their residents <i>information</i>. Or whether he'd criticise local councils for spending money on persuading people, for example, of the benefits of recycling? Or to use local facilities?<br />
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He does though "underline" the stark commercial pressures on newspapers. And - like…
Matt, lots of things in Lord Judge's speech "really matter". Though I doubt whether his concern for an "independent press" means he would disapprove of local authorities having <i>any</i> publications or leaflets which give their residents <i>information</i>. Or whether he'd criticise local councils for spending money on persuading people, for example, of the benefits of recycling? Or to use local facilities?<br />
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He does though "underline" the stark commercial pressures on newspapers. And - like Clay Shirky - he sees digital technology having "as dramatic an impact on society as a whole as the invention of the printing press".<br />
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But isn't one of the most significant aspects that we don't need intermediaries - me, you, the Daily Mail - to <i>tell us</i> what Lord Judge said? Two mouseclicks and we can watch him make the speech, or read it for ourselves.<br />
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Journalistic skills and experience are no less important in gathering, digging out, and presenting information. But in a new context and with new tools. The DM mentions 'councils spy…tag:harringayonline.com,2009-11-18:844301:Comment:1293042009-11-18T12:07:58.317Zmatthttps://harringayonline.com/profile/mburge
The DM mentions 'councils spying on residents'. Lord Judge does not. DM spin.<br />
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But lets keep to what really matters. Lord Judge says;<br />
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<i>But notice, if you will, that I have spoken about an independent press. I do not mean a handout by the government of the day, or the local authority, or any other institutional organisation which affects the lives of the citizens of the country, producing its own broadsheet. I do not want the proceedings of the local council to be reported by an employee of…</i>
The DM mentions 'councils spying on residents'. Lord Judge does not. DM spin.<br />
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But lets keep to what really matters. Lord Judge says;<br />
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<i>But notice, if you will, that I have spoken about an independent press. I do not mean a handout by the government of the day, or the local authority, or any other institutional organisation which affects the lives of the citizens of the country, producing its own broadsheet. I do not want the proceedings of the local council to be reported by an employee of the local council. I do not want the press to be the broadsheet of the local authority or the Government. I do not want proceedings in court to be reported by a member of the judicial communications office. Spin is neither a cornerstone nor a bulwark of a free society. We need independent, objective reporting.</i><br />
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There's not doubt the Haringey People is a propaganda sheet. Will the Lib Dems dump it if they get into power in Haringey? Will Labour? They should. In fact, the Chief Judge cove…tag:harringayonline.com,2009-11-18:844301:Comment:1292972009-11-18T11:45:54.899ZAlan Stantonhttps://harringayonline.com/profile/AlanStanton
In fact, the Chief Judge covered a great deal more than the Daily Mail chose to report. For example, his topics included the economic decline of newspapers. While a major issue which the Mail included in its report was not actually in Lord Judge's speech.<br />
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Read the speech for yourself on the Society of Editors' website. It's quite short and to the point.<br />
<b>●</b> <a href="http://www.societyofeditors.co.uk/userfiles/file/LordJudgeKeynoteAddress.doc" target="_blank">Click here for the full text…</a>
In fact, the Chief Judge covered a great deal more than the Daily Mail chose to report. For example, his topics included the economic decline of newspapers. While a major issue which the Mail included in its report was not actually in Lord Judge's speech.<br />
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Read the speech for yourself on the Society of Editors' website. It's quite short and to the point.<br />
<b>●</b> <a href="http://www.societyofeditors.co.uk/userfiles/file/LordJudgeKeynoteAddress.doc" target="_blank">Click here for the full text version</a> (MsWord).<br />
<b>●</b> Or <a href="http://www.societyofeditors.co.uk/page-view.php?pagename=KeynoteAddress2009" target="_blank">click here</a> to watch part of his speech on video.<br />
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Then consider who exactly is spinning.