Author: Sal and Simon
Background On Council Press Office Fun
Monday, 16th June, 2008 at 4:14 pm, Isle of Wight
We didn’t want to flood you on Saturday with all of the details behind the council press office posting, but here’s a bit of background if you happen to be interested.
Let’s be clear, we’re not having a go at the whole council — we are very much aware that a great deal of dedicated work goes on there in its many different departments - the latest news of the Blue Flag in Ventnor and the involvement of the Parks and Beaches division is testament to that.
VB school coverage disliked
It was clear that the council press office didn’t like some of the coverage that VB did on the schools reorganisation — unnecessarily rude phone calls late into the night pointed to that — but is an alternative view enough for a publication to be marked?
Isn’t expressing views — even, shock horror, if they differ with the people in power — a central part of healthy democracy?
Press (non)releases
Along with effectively cutting off our access to the council, they’ve also stopped sending us their press releases.
In the seven months that VB has been freely distributing the unedited press releases from the council, you’ve seen them on VB within minutes of us receiving them.
Not one of them was filtered out - whether we agreed with the content or not.
After Claire Robertson decided to turn off our press releases (without telling us, we might add), the first two that they decided not to send us were a plea for more foster families and the fire service reminding people to check their smoke alarm batteries. Nice.
Seems like a strange decision for a communications department to make - choosing not to distribute their self-penned material through a widely-read news site.
Could it be that they didn’t like the idea of the Island residents being able to directly comment on the wisdom of the things the council announced? You might think that hearing what the public felt about council news might have been of interest to the comms department. Who knows?
The Non-communications department
It’s not infrequently that we’ve found the Press Office at the council tricky to deal with. On occasions, the number of questions we have had to ask and re-ask to get to the bottom of things hasn’t been funny.
Having dealt with many PR departments over the last seven years while producing publications, we find it hard to recall one that has dipped quite so low on the co-operativeness scale.
Shouldn’t it be important that people have a choice of where they get their news from? … and that expression is made without fear or retribution?
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June 16th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
That’s scandalous - press releases should go to the press,and the press are free to comment as they see fit otherwise censorship exists and it is a step on the road to a totalitarian state.
If you send the address of the press office to me I will write re freedom of the press - or do you think it is amatter for our MP?
June 16th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
Our Council is the bureaucratic equivalent of a millipede, except rather than using its many feet to move quickly and efficiently the only function said feet seem to serve is for target practice.
I’m afraid to say that I’m not astonished by anything this Council does anymore although this may well be a new low - they’re not just strangling Ventnorblog of Council information they’re strangling the tens of thousands of people who read it. For an elected democratic body that is unacceptable - I agree with Geoff…. perhaps the best way to draw attention to this is to go above Claire Robertson’s head and take it as far as possible. Dictatorial measures have no place in local government (or indeed any government) - well done VB for fighting our corner.
June 16th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
Hiya, I will gladly support anything that makes the Council backtrack on this ridiculous ruling. I will add my name to any type of petition in support of VB.
Some of us depend on the VB for news and information, and to have this taken away is totally wrong.
June 16th, 2008 at 7:52 pm
Sorry Leeroy T, but I have to disagree with your statement “For an elected democratic body that is unacceptable”.
It is a common misconception that “The Council” is run by elected Councillors. It is NOT.
It is run by an bunch of UNELECTED officers.
Your advice to go above Claire Robertson and take it as far possible would be great if it were possible.
Unfortunately her decision is a judgement call and is not anything remotely sanctionable.
It’s just the usual throwing the toys out of the pram because, as usual, they (officers) are under criticism from their employers (us).
June 16th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
Surely Council Officers are employed by the Council, not by us? The problem is that so many Councillors seem unable, or unwilling, to ensure that their employees are doing their jobs properly.
June 16th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
“Could it be that they didn’t like the idea of the Island residents being able to directly comment on the wisdom of the things the council announced?”
That’s about it, I imagine. That and the fact that those comments are not under their control. The only other significant news organ on the Island, the CP, has given them such an easy ride that they just expect everyone to believe everything they say.
Would Ms Robertson prefer that you present her stories (which you faithfully reproduce) or that you obtain them by other, possibly less reliable means? She can hardly complain if you seek the information elsewhere, and you can bet we will comment on it whether she provides it or not!
June 17th, 2008 at 7:53 am
No great surprises here. As one ex-employee described the Communications Office - ‘its like Pravda’. I am happy to forward the Council’s press releases as I receive them, if that helps. As I would for all media outlets if they will just occasionally stand up to this bullying Council.
June 17th, 2008 at 9:19 am
Way to go, councillor. Oh, that there were a few more like you!
June 17th, 2008 at 9:24 am
Of course, one of the many great things about the internet is that it doesn’t actually matter if the council press office doesn’t want to play ball with you. The information will get out there, we can all pass our opinions whether they like it or not. Expect a circulation boost Simon and Sal, this should be a fun, if bumpy, ride!
June 17th, 2008 at 9:42 am
@ steve s there ARE a few more, some of whom rebelled against the Education Diktat.
@ Geoff that is very gracious of you, but would you do the same if it was the press office of a Labour council behaving in a similar way.
@ Arthur
“Surely Council Officers are employed by the Council, not by us?”
Their fat salaries and pensions(muso et al excepted) are paid by….? Oh Yes! ME! (and you Arthur)
June 17th, 2008 at 9:52 am
@ Bertie. Sadly, TOO few more!
June 17th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
It’s all about value for money…I represent value for money! lol
June 18th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
Absolutely sickening and completely predictable.
I haver heard of people being threatened in person by councillors for kicking up a stink about temporary council workers rights.
iow council stink.