I'm going to be on News 24 at 8.50pm tonight talking about free speech on the internet. The case of baby expert Gina Ford trying to shut down Mums.net is a clear case of overkill. See HERE for the full details.
UPDATE: Spot the error in my introduction on News 24: "And we're now joined by the Conservative MP and blogger, Iain Dale". So, twenty seconds wasted explaining that, no, I'm not an MP and jauntily accusing them of libeling me! This has happened several times. I don't feel I can leave it uncorrected, but correcting it is embarrassing and makes the interviewer look like a berk. Any suggestions as to how I should handle this in future will be gratefully received!
Speaking as a dad rather than as a political blogger, I can tell you that Gina Ford's methods are indeed deeply controversial among parents and that this sort of debate is really only to be expected in her case. Apart from anything else her brand of routine feeding is disowned by most of the medical and midwifery professions.
ReplyDeleteI expect you'll already have left for the studio by now though...
There is no free speech on the Internet now the corporations have their paws on it. RyanairSucks was closed down because of the threat of legal action.
ReplyDeleteWhy are you bleating about this ? David Davies [Monmouth] is the plonker who is trying to censor Armando Iannucci's excellent new TV series, so why should we trust Tories to regulate what we see and hear ? They would be the ones who would clamp down on the BBC, and seek to exclude the Guardian from bringing balance into reporting of the Israeli situation. Freedom of speech means having to give space to the views of those you detest.
Why don't people email the Foot Anstey "solicitor" direct and let him know your concerns about this?
ReplyDeleteBetter still, could some expert people out there examine the Foot Anstey website:
http://www.foot-ansteys.co.uk/main-page.htm
and the Gina Ford website:
http://www.contentedbaby.com/
and inform us, the interested public, of anything factually inaccurate, illegal, risible or false in those sites?
I quote from the "Contented Baby" site legal disclaimer at:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.contentedbaby.com/Templates/legal-notices.htm
Gina Ford seems a little less than eager to stand by the claims on her own website!
"3.3 You acknowledge that any reliance on any such statement or information shall be at your sole risk. We reserve the right, in Our sole discretion, to correct any errors or omissions in any part of the Site and to make changes to the Site and to the materials, products, programs, services or prices described in the Site at any time without notice. "
Surley if you write books telling people how to run your life, or indeed your kids, you are going to take some stick. Most potty story of the week.
ReplyDeleteAs the owner of a medium sized host I get a number of emails from people who seek to make me resonsible for the content of other peoples websites.
ReplyDeleteMy answer is always to contact the site owner in question and that we can take no action until that has been done.
(In some cases where comments clearly over step the mark we might get involved).
From what's reported in the story Iain links too I don't think I'd agree to close the site - once the offensive remarks are removed I don't accept it's a hosts job to become involved.
In a case like this I'd suggest the site add the complainer's name to their filtered words.
It's not Mums.net, but mumsnet.com. I think they are two different sites.
ReplyDeleteAs I've noted over at my place, since yesterday there has been a quite remarkable outbreak of savage reviews of this woman's books at Amazon.
ReplyDeleteIf the remarks include that the woman in question is a controlling, think-skinned harridan, I'd say that should be easy enough to prove in court.
ReplyDeleteEasy enough to go to bat for free speech when it's a nice bunch of mums doing the baby talk thing. Quite another when the speaker is not such a sympathetic figure, when the speech is dangerous, counter to the national interest, and illegal in some countries but not others.
Richard Tomlinson's had his blog shut down (again). He'd posted a downloadable database of everyone he could remember who was an agent in Special Services. [Iain, you'll want to check the link before posting this; not everyone loves giving this asshole publicity. I, personally, think he's a jerk but that his case is a much better test of protection of speech, precisely because he's so awful]
UPDATE: Spot the error in my introduction on News 24: "And we're now joined by the Conservative MP and blogger, Iain Dale".
ReplyDelete"Any suggestions to avoid this?"
-Iain they do it deliberately to spike your guns and put you (as a right of centre commentator) on the back foot.
Avoid it by not appearing there or just ignore it.
....or just rebuff and say something like "Google "Iain Dale" for my blog and my true bio!"
ReplyDelete-just like Micheal brown from the independent who ALWAYS starts his review of the Newspapers with a plug for the Independent.
In the end you'll get more traffic here or they'll be forced to get it right!
"And we're now joined by the Conservative MP and blogger, Iain Dale".
ReplyDelete"Any suggestions to avoid this?"
There are worst things to be called than a Conservative MP... just clarify quickly and move on. Let's face it, it's not you who looks daft in such situations... and hey! who knows they mighte be getting it right in the future!
Or off-air, in advance "Those chumps on the other side keep saying I'm already an MP - you realise I'm not don't you?..."
ReplyDeleteIain...
ReplyDeleteInterject with the words "prospective MP"seems to solve the problem?
Or tell the Research dept at the BBC to update your profile!
she ate all the pies
ReplyDeleteJust tell them you're a taxi driver here to pick up a fare
ReplyDeletesimple, give them an intro card, with no MP after your name they should get the point, even the BBC are not simple all the time!!
ReplyDeleteIn your position, I think I'd try:
ReplyDeleteTechnically, I'm an MP in waiting.
This takes about three seconds to say, so you've an extra 17 seconds of valuable airtime now.
...makes the interviewer look like a berk...
ReplyDeleteAnd your point being? They are taxpayer-funded leeches who can't even hire decent researchers at our expense. Humiliate them at every opportunity and then, when you are an MP make sure you vote for privatisation. Better still, vote to close them down.
Any suggestions as to how I should handle this in future will be gratefully received!
ReplyDeleteTry wearing a badge which says something like "I'm not an MP". Or, more seriously, maybe you could put a similar message on the banner of your blog as they obviously read it. You'd think newscasters would know who is and who isn't an MP wouldn't you?
Just say. "That's right, I am a blogger".
ReplyDeleteAlternatively you could prep your interviewer. e.g "You know X(previous berk)? He made a right berk of himself by introducing me as a Conservative MP".
There you go Iain just get elected in a Tory landslide and you wont have to worry about the BBC making that type, or indead any delliberate mistakes any more. Now there is a victory of hope over expectation.
ReplyDeleteNot just because the BBC is a corrupt vile politicaly bias self interested incompetent over blown western world hateing mess, but because it is an imprisoner of the poor and disinterested. A propergander poll tax, well past its sell by date.
The Guardian news paper can write what it wants, we all nead a good laugh some times.
BTW Iain you did not really expect to go on the BBC without the corporation taking the piss in its normal incompetant stile did you?
When they say "And we're now joined by the Conservative MP and blogger, Iain Dale", that's always followed by "Welcom"
ReplyDeleteJust reply "It's good to be here in this left-of-centre show"
News 24! Since when did accuracy matter to them.
ReplyDeleteWrite out a two or three line biography and hand it to the presenter. Then they can only make themselves look foolish if they try to make a false introduction.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure there a (bad) joke to be had about the presenter realising his mistake and muttering "I would have got away with it too if it wasn't for those pesky Libs"
ReplyDelete...or not
Iain,
ReplyDeleteAny chance that you could remove the Adam Rickett line from the top of your blog (The Best View of the Political Pulse)?
It doesn't make sense. I could just about accept something about you having your finger on the political pulse, but you don't view a pulse.
I know this is nitpicking, but it annoys me everytime I see it, and it doesn't do much for Adam Rickett's reputation.
Ben
Appear wearing a T shirt emblazened with "Wannabee Tory MP"
ReplyDeleteIt's a good thing he didn't call you a Lord. You might have gotten invoiced.
ReplyDeleteIain, you're almost certainly in their contacts database on ENPS (BBC internal computer system) as Iain Dale, Conservative MP. Next time you speak to one of their producers ask them to change it. Otherwise it will keep happening forever.
ReplyDeleteIain,
ReplyDeleteI've never been interviewed for the parish magazine let alone national tv, so take this as you will.
Part of me (the tinfoil hat wearing part, admittedly) agrees with Raincoaster; by introducing you as a "Conservative MP" some interviewers may be trying to paint you as some sort of right-wing loon before you get a chance to state your case.
Surely one doesn't simply pitch up at the studio, walk in and take one's seat next to whichever talking head is supposed to be doing the interview. Why not simple have a quiet word with whatever staff minion is supposed to meet and greet you and ask him/her to make sure that the interviewer's teleprompter/notes or whatever (they are all on computer networks now) is correct.
The BBC have armies of journos and staff (paid by an iniquitous poll tax, it should be added) to get the facts right. Quite frankly if with all that and a final check by yourself before going on set they still get it wrong - let them look like berks.
Don't get embarrassed by it, think of it as performing a public service by demonstrating to the viewers that their chosen source of news is at least fallible and at worst unable to check basic facts.
"Any suggestions as to how I should handle this in future will be gratefully received!"
ReplyDeleteWhere a message emblazened T-Shirt - "I'm Not a Tory MP" and on the back "I Hug Hoodies for Fun not Policy"
Tee hee. Standard stuff - the "getting your name/job title/role/aim in life" wrong at the beginning of the interview - it's supposed to make you mad, so you say something outrageous. Journalism sneaky tricks 101. The correct riposte is "sadly, I'm not an MP yet, but if I was, I'm sure I would have time for your excellent program" - then the rest of the time, knock Sky, CNN, Fox, etc. On those other channels do the same back. That way they all love you and your career is assured. None of them ever watch the others or do the slightest research, so no worries there either. The future looks bright Iain - you will be the next ubiquitous wheel-on reaction newsface!
ReplyDeleteI gave a speech recently explaining 'free specch' on the internet via iain Dale's Blog and how he banned me to roars of approval by young Tories that dominate yesterday's Tory thinking.
ReplyDelete(Rule Britannia, Tories rule OK etc..)(some wish!).
double double standards is what I expect and received.
Keep up the good good work Iain.
Ho ho ho ho
Gary
Oh by the way..
ReplyDeleteI thought that descriptions of her tying babies to Katyusha rockets and firing them into Lebanon was over the top.
Gary