The PCC and a Strange, Lonely and Troubling Decision

February 18, 2010

The Press Complaints Commission – what is it good for?

We’re not sure. If ever there was a time for the PCC to show that it was not a toothless apparatchik of the press, ultimately interested only in acting for the good of its members, it was surely in connection with Jan Moir’s appalling article about Stephen Gately. Moir, you will recall, alleged that the singer’s death was a “strange, lonely and troubling one” which had happened in circumstances “that were more than a little sleazy”. How she knew this was a matter for debate; how she came to sidestep the following clause in the PCC’s Code led to a complaint from Gately’s partner: “In cases involving personal grief or shock, enquiries and approaches must be made with sympathy and discretion and publication handled sensitively.”

In the face of this, the PCC says that while it was “uncomfortable with the tenor of the columnist’s remarks” censuring Moir, and her paper (anyone for the Daily Mail?), would represent “a slide towards censorship”. It added: “Argument and debate are working parts of an active society and should not be constrained unnecessarily.”

Who could disagree with that? Well, perhaps those who feel that alleging that someone’s death was “sleazy” when you know nothing of the facts, and appear to have a wider agenda, does not comply with the PCC’s mantra about sympathy, discretion and sensitivity.

 

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Supreme Court on Twitter

February 6, 2012

Something remarkable happened today. Yes, the Supreme Court launched its Twitter feed. It even has a Twitter policy, one of caveats, disclaimers and little by way of illumination but regardless: who would have thought that the successor body to the House of Lords would stoop to engage with the world of tweets, hashtags and retweets?

We look forward to the day when court business will be conducted via Twitter. Meantime, check out this link for an excellent blog on the Supreme Court.

Not so right said Fred

February 2, 2012
fred hat

So Farewell, then, Sir Fred Goodwin.

Now you are just Fred.

Not Right Said Fred, but plain Fred.

The Forfeiture Committee did for you.

No one had heard of it before,

But Dave said it had to act, and it did.

Trouble is that no one knows what to think.

Is it ‘Alas, poor Fred‘,

Or ‘Hurray! Sir Fred is dead!’?

We don’t know.

Do you?

By A. Mob, aged 1,378 and a half.

London Goes AWOL

January 31, 2012
CNN

STOP PRESS:

Fed up with being stuck on the Thames in south-east England, London yesterday decided to move. In a dramatic gesture which augurs ill for the Olympics, the city upped sticks and relocated to East Anglia.

Lawyers were not consulted about the move, and the city’s precise motivation remains unclear. However, financiers fear that London’s decision is a sign that it wishes to downsize. Moreover, a source from London said: “We no longer want to be Britain’s seat of power. If the Scots can deregulate, why can’t we? East Anglia is a nice place where nothing happens. It’s time for a quiet life. Please respect our right to privacy.”

Elsewhere, Birmingham did not do anything, but Manchester was seen to be packing its bags. “There’s an opportunity for us,” said Manchester. “We can become London.”

East Anglia said: “We don’t mind. It’ll be refreshing to be associated with something other than fens and flatness.”

A cartologist at CNN, which broke the extraordinary news, was later fired.