Trashing Reputations

I declare an interest as I used to work for Oliver Letwin, but even so, any unbiased and reasonable person should be disgusted by the recent attempt to trash his reputation.

The media gave the impression that he was throwing away his constituency mail in a bin in St James Park. But the full story was that the Minister was working on his correspondence in the Park, in the early hours of the morning, then dropping the finished papers in nearby rubbish bins.  For this 'crime', he was filmed over a number of days by a media outlet, who then rummaged through the rubbish, in order to try and embarrass Mr Letwin.  No 'classified' documents were found.

So the media classes had a laugh at Mr Letwin's expense.  But, what is more disturbing is the intrusiveness of the whole episode.  In order to get its story, the media stalkers, had to follow and film, Mr Letwin's early morning activities in the park.  Not just creepy, but pretty insidious.  Why is it that stalking is a crime, yet the media seem to do it with impunity?  

I am sure Oliver Letwin will use a shredder in future.  But this attack on him was more mean-spirited that one of genuine concern.

On the plus side, if this the best some on the left can do to to try and undermine a Minister, rather than debating policy, it shows just how politically bankrupt they have become.

by Robert Halfon - www.roberthalfon.blogspot.com

Tabloid Newspapers: Power without Responsibility?

No one can deny that the News of the World (NoW) alleged activities in the 'phone hacking' scandal have been most disgusting and those involved deserve to face the full force of law.

Sadly, I doubt that this kind of activity is just restricted to one tabloid newspaper. This has probably been going on for years, given the ease in which mobile phones can be hacked into. It is likely that other newspapers - alongside News of the World - have been doing the same.

However, despite these disgraceful alleged actions of some employees of NoW, (one of the News Corp Companies), it is not necessarily reflective of all of the companies - such as The Times and Sky TV -which are regarded as providing quality.

On the merger of BSkyB, the decision has been made is quasi-judicial - and would be quite open to legal challenge if it had gone the other way.

Nevertheless, tomorrow there will be a debate in the Commons about this scandal. It will provide an important opportunity to look at the role of the media in our country - particularly the part that tabloids play. Has the balance of tabloid largesse swung too far against common decency?

As was once said early in the last Century, by former Conservative Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin: "newspapers exercise power without responsibility, the prerogative of the Harlot throughout the ages".

The Newspaper Revolution: We can all be Newspaper Barons now

There is a fascinating piece on the BBC Business News Website about the future of newspapers. It is often said that the Internet means the death of newspapers and magazines, but - as the article notes - the invention of Television, did not mean the extinction of Radio - in fact the opposite, as Radio stations now proliferate and we now have Digital Radio as well as Digital TV.

The main point of the BBC story, is not that newspapers are dead-trees, but that traditional macro-mechanisms for printing them might be. It no longer costs millions to set up, print and dsitribute newspapers. In the same way would-be authors can now publish their books at will and are no longer as reliant on the traditional publishers.

It is now possible, through companies like the Newspaper Club to print 5,000 newspapers of 12 pages each at 30p a copy. For small businesses and organisations - like political parties, this represents an incredibly cost effective way of getting messages across, especially if the newspaper is payed for with advertising.

In previous times, to print a quality newspaper would have cost a small fortune. Now, with the advance of technology, anyone can be a newspaper baron. The effect this will have on freedom of speech and communication, could be enormous. We live in fascinating times. I wonder what William Caxton would think.

by Robert Halfon - www.roberthalfon.blogspot.com

Jade R.I.P. - some reflections

I am glad that Jade Goody was treated in some of her last days in St Clare Hospice. St Clare is a beautiful place that gives those who are very sick, the chance to have some of their last days in tranquillity and with dignity.

I do hope that Jade's tragic death will be a lesson to all of us. The public and the media build people up, then knock them down and then build them up again. It is not a pretty sight and Jade has shown how her very life was caught up in this media maelstrom. We should try and stop our constant voyeurism into public celebrities.

If anything, let's remember Jade for her courage in the face of a terrible terrible disease. But as important, let us try not to get sucked in to the next celebrity's good and bad fortune that may befall them.