John Stonborough F.C.I.P.R.

So it WAS you!

Don’t go ‘off the record’. But if you are prepared to put your career or reputation at risk, take precautions.

Misjudgements can have dire - even terrible - consequences. There’s probably no more tragic example than the off-the record briefing that the weapons scientist, Dr David Kelly, gave to the BBC journalist Andrew Gilligan. Gilligan did his best to keep Kelly’s name secret but, as we know, he failed, and Kelly died. The chairman and chief executive of the BBC also lost their jobs.

But even at a much more humdrum level ask yourself:

1 Is this journalist known to you.
2 Does this journalist need you in future and do you need them.
3 Have you discussed and agreed in advance what is to be off the record. AND …
4 Have you discussed how you are going to be described (attribution).

You will have seen phrases like ‘ a close family friend’  in the papers every day. A ‘family friend’ is either the person themselves or someone with access. A ‘friend’ is often no such thing. A ‘source close to … (the Prince, the White House, the Chairman) is the person themselves or their official spokesman. A Whitehall Insider might be a very senior civil servant etc. How’s this one from the FT this week: “   ….an unamed Permanent Secretary, who is a knight and runs a major depatment” said ….

If you don’t agree the attribution in advance it may only be minutes before you are outed. Have a look at the latest ruling by the PCC (Press Complaints Commission) and you will see what I mean. It made no difference to the unfortunate mortuary worker that he was not quoted or identified, There were only 2 people working there, the other was his boss! Whoops. Having the PCC tick the offending paper off will make not a jot of difference. His ignorance of the way the media work will haunt him for a long time.

Not a Good Morning for Heather

If I was American or some other feisty nationality I would have just asked Sir Paul McCartney’s divorce lawyer Fiona Shackleton what she thought of Heather Mills’ outburst on GMTV. But no, I’m so sort of British, that when I bumped into her and her husband at the Caprice that night, I just mumbled a few inanities.
Pathetic!
So what did you think of Heather’s outburst? I bet you didn’t see it all and what’s more I bet you have an opinion! Just like everybody else. But I’ll tell you something, even if they don’t much like her, I suspect there is more sympathy out there for the way she’s been treated by the press, than people let on.
I hear that Phil Hall, her PR man (he and I started out as reporters on the Dagenham Post together) resigned. What a pity, she needs all the PR advice she can get now. Its not a job for the faint hearted. Colleagues say its PR mission impossible.
Heather needs to belt up for a bit. Paul needs to settle this divorce fast – please God lets have no custody battle with pictures of their daughter being dragged out of her mother’s home. And that certain section of the media might want to reconsider baiting Heather – because once she’s got a few million in the bank, she will go to the European Court.  Hell hath no fury etc…. and they don’t come much more scorned than Heather Mills McCartney.

Thank you Nanny.

I wonder if this will make you chuckle as it did me. The nanny state ‘alive and coughing’, as a mate of mate of mine put it. Bonfire Night Smog Warning. If it does not click through to the Defra website and you get an error message, try pressing F5.