Magazine of the Chartered Institute of Journalists Winter 2011/12 TheJServingournal professional journalism since 1912 Institute stands up for the local press CIoJ gives evidence at House of Lords inquiry By Amanda Brodie, Chairman, Lord Clement-Jones Professional Practices Board asked: “Are there any HE cause of local newspapers new funding models or was strongly defended by the ownership structures TChartered Institute of Journalists which might help at a public inquiry in the House of secure the future of Lords. newspapers?” The Institute’s general secretary, Cooper replied: Dominic Cooper, was one of three “When we started panelists giving evidence to the House asking our members of Lords Communications Committee about other funding inquiry into the future of investigative models that they journalism. could work with, The inquiry, broadcast live on the web, they were very keen was chaired by Lord Inglewood and to point out that their attended by several other peers including independence is seen © Parliamentary copyright House of Lords 2012. Photography by Chris Moyse Baroness Deech, Baroness Fookes and among their local Lord Bragg. community, because story is somehow lost because of political Cooper spoke out strongly against the they are completely apolitical. influence. We do not find that necessarily problem of local authorities ignoring “They are not tied to any funding model the case. It is largely manpower these Government guidelines on publishing from any particular political influence. days, where stories get lost, rather than their own propaganda-style newspapers. It comes back to something that was that.” The guidelines were introduced to touched upon earlier: the notion that the Continued on page 3 try to prevent local newspapers being damaged by such publications, but there is evidence that some councils are ignoring the advice. Exposed – the “fake take” He told the inquiry: “The impact has been dramatic – the publications that they produce are simply passed off as on press cards independent newspapers, unless you read the very small print. And they accept By Robin Morgan Privy Council which zealously protects advertising as well, which possibly took n attempt to create a fake take on the use of the Royal Coat of Arms and away significant strands of advertising Athe British press card has been to the anti-terrorist squad at Scotland from local media in that area. uncovered by the Chartered Institute Yard – although we have no evidence “The Government’s changed Publicity of Journalists. We believe the crude to suggest that the fake cards would be Code has had an impact, but there forgeries, which featured the treasured used in the United Kingdom. is still evidence of local government Royal Coat of Arms in our official logo, The fake take came to light after we newspapers flouting the Code, which we emanated in the United States. had received an untraceable g-mail, are campaigning on still.” We have reported the discoveries to the Continued on page 9 Andy Smith Editor Editor’s Comment n the wake of the phone hacking scandal, This is a nightmare scenario if ever there and with the Leveson inquiry in full was one! Iswing, the clamour for press regulation Journalists, and all those who value the is a seemingly unstoppable force. freedom of the British press, must stand Enemies of press freedom have the scent together on this, and resist the witch-hunt. of blood in their nostrils. Celebrities who But simply defending the status quo is no feel they have been unfairly hounded by longer tenable. We must present a new and the tabloids, and MPs still smarting from more viable alternative to State regulation. Assistant Editors: Stuart Millson the Daily Telegraph’s exposure of their There is already a growing consensus Amanda Brodie parliamentary expense claims, see their on this among responsible journalists and Production Editor: Dominic Cooper chance for revenge. editors. Let’s be clear. This witch-hunt has been Most agree that what our industry needs brought on us by a tiny minority of our is a voluntary independent regulator – but fellow journalists. one with real teeth. The Press Complaints In this issue: These people have behaved unethically Commission has never had the powers of and, indeed, criminally – but it is not just investigation or enforcement that it really How to kill a report P4 the wrong-doers who are being punished. needed from the start. It is the entire journalistic profession. If we had had a strong PCC from the “Write for Rights” campaign P5 In this heated climate, the danger that outset, it would, for instance, have been CIoJ Press Card opens doors P6 Britain’s long tradition of press freedom able to interrogate News International over Rory Peck Awards P11 will be swept away and State regulation of phone hacking, and then deal effectively the British media introduced is a very real with any wrongdoing, and as a result we Journalists face threats P12 one. would not be facing the threats that we do CIoJ AGM Report P16 now. EU control? Let us have a strong press-wide campaign Worse still, it is highly likely that the for a new and more robust form of self- decisions on this will ultimately be made regulation – one in which all can have Regular items: not here in the UK but at the European confidence. From the President’s Desk P10 level. Andy Smith Turning back the clock P8-9 Travel P14 For he’s a jolly good Fellow! lasgow-based freelance journalist Jim GFilbin has been elected to Fellowship of the Chartered Institute of Journalists. As his Fellowship citation said, “He has The views contained in The Journal are those of worked hard for the Institute and has Photo: Marie Bartlett the Editor and contributors and do not necessarily brought the finest traditions of journalism reflect the views or policy of the Chartered Institute into our fold… He entered journalism as of Journalists. All rights reserved. © CIoJ 2011 a freelance in the early 1960s and gained his diploma by distance learning from the London School of Journalism. He went on to work as an agency reporter and independent freelance, writing news and features for publications as diverse as The Norman Bartlett presents Jim Filbin Universe, Glasgow Guardian, Western Mail, with his Fellowship certificate. TheJournal Irish Weekly, Aberdeen Press and Journal, ISSN 1361-7656 Sunderland Echo, the BBC, Milngavie secretary Dominic Cooper travelled to Herald, Sunday Times, Scotsman, Sunday Glasgow to make the presentation and News or views intended for publication Post and the late lamented Scottish Daily to meet other Scottish CIoJ members and should be sent to: News and Sunday Standard. He has guests. The Chartered Institute of Journalists also contributed to The Institute’s own The Fellowship ceremony and reception 2 Dock Offices, Surrey Quays Road, Journal. Jim also has a historical political took place at Òran Mór, a cultural centre in London SE16 2XU publication to his name, ‘The Covenant: Glasgow’s West End. This is an interesting E-mail: [email protected] Lessons From Scotland’s Past, 1945-79’ as building constructed in the late 19th century Tel: +44 (0)20 7252 1187 well as ‘The Nordic Roadmap’… In today’s as Kelvinside Parish Church, deconsecrated Fax: +44 (0)20 7232 2302 spin and PR culture, it is good to know we in 1978, then used by BBC Scotland as a www.cioj.co.uk have a member proudly linked to radical storage facility before being converted into journalism.” a centre for the arts. The main auditorium Jim Filbin, 79, was presented with his has a ceiling mural by Alasdair Gray, poet Printed by Coolgrey Ltd Fellowship certificate in November. and painter, claimed to be one of the largest Tel: +44 (0) 1342 321056 President Norman Bartlett and general works of art in Scotland. The Journal - Winter 2011/12 edition news Continued from page 1 The effect on local newspapers and on investigative journalism of the Media Society debates across-the-board loss of journalists’ jobs in recent years, was another area of concern expressed to the inquiry by press regulation the CIoJ. Lord Razzall asked: “Do you think By Norman Bartlett local newspapers are particularly he Media Society staged a lively purpose of the Leveson Inquiry. important for investigative journalism? panel discussion in the historic “Now the cancer has been cut out they “Yes,” said Cooper. “Very often, Tsurroundings of Britain’s first are looking everywhere for tumours,” he stories are broken on a local level before cinema. It was much better known latterly declared. they hit national anyway. Of course, as the Regent Street Poly but is now the He was equally dismissive of the TV-style local journalists will have a very close main auditorium of the University of regulation through Ofcom. The BBC could connection to the communities they Westminster. never have done the exposure of the MPS serve, and so they are honour-bound to Chaired by Professor Julia Hobsbawm, expenses that the Telegraph did nor could make sure that accuracy is key.” the panel featured three opinionated it have run a long campaign as the Times journalists: did on the thalidomide calamity. BBC News Cutbacks Roy Greenslade, Guardian blogger, follows the newspapers, he claimed, quoting Cooper added: “The recent cutbacks former Daily Mirror editor and professor the Today programme’s typical output. we have seen in local newspapers have of journalism at City University; Gilligan, while not dwelling on his fall diminished staff to a desperate level. Andrew Gilligan, Daily Telegraph’s from grace over the Iraq business, believed The journalists on the papers are still London editor, and reporter for Channel that humiliation would not have been keen to get out there and forage for 4’s Dispatches, formerly reporter for possible without sanction from Ofcom.