Inspect Your Gadget

Donny-J, August 09, 2008

Yep, sure does.

Clifford, August 10, 2008

Not directly on the point but looking through the news items in the widget I was struck by how few of them really relate to Birmingham. I think that there is an interesting discussion to be had around why the BP coverage of Birmingham Politics is so poor. For example - is every significant committee meeting covered? Is there regular use of the FOIA? Paul Dale can't do everything.

Jonathan Walker, August 10, 2008

That’s a fair question but I just don’t know what to say in answer. I think we do a fair job and Paul does an excellent job (and I appreciate you’re not criticising Paul).

I’m going to take the liberty of highlighting your comment in a new post and seeing if there is anyone else who wants to add their thoughts. Perhaps asking other people what they think would be more useful than me launching into an impassioned defence right now anyway.

But I will offer my own opinions once I have thought about it a bit more.

I’m also going to change the name of the heading on the widget to West Midlands politics, as that does at least reflect the content more accurately.

Many thanks.

Clifford, August 10, 2008

More thoughts - and I acknowledge that some of this is conjecture.

Is there a lobby system in Birmingham? I'm not necessarily defending such a system but it has its uses. If not, then I think the fact that the BP has a dedicated Westminster correspondent but not a dedicated Victoria Square correspondent is telling.

I suspect that journalists and politicians in Birmingham are too close to each other. How much is passed over 'in confidence' in the Joint Stock? I am sure that David Bell knew much more than he ever told readers.

A lot of local government journalism is hard work. Boring committees, boring reports with no spin doctors al la Westminster to help you write your copy. Needs a dedicated individual - does the BP have one?

The success of the Stirrer website in ferreting out stories should embarrass the BP. Does it?

Clifford, August 11, 2008

Looks like the message here (and on the Stirrer) is clear - nobody cares!

Jonathan Walker, August 11, 2008

Mm, I suspect it is more that nobody reads my blog

I'm not aware of any formal lobby system in Birmingham, but the lobby system in Westminster is pretty informal anyway. It's a case of getting to know people and, yes, sometimes asking them to tell you what is going on on a non-attributable basis. When you read that "some Labour MPs think . . ." with no names, it's not made up by the journalist. It's stuff that people just won't tell you with their name next to it, so you're best bet, if you want to know what's really happening, is to say "ok let's talk privately."

I imagine it's pretty much the same for Paul Dale, and that it was for David Bell and for Neil Elkes today. But Paul is pretty fearless in his Iron Angle column. I'm not just sucking up to him, I do think he's good.

Yes, we have a dedicated individual on the Post - Paul. He sees his job as involving much more than reading reports and going to committees, and good for him.

As for Goldie, I like having competition. Yes, I do feel embarrassed when he beats me to a story, as I should. But the Post and Mail break political stories day after day.

Clifford, August 12, 2008

Let me put the point directly. Would the BP be a better paper if if concentrated more on local news and less on national news? More local correspondents and less national correspondents?

I think it would - and it might sell more copies. Why - because people who buy a national every day won't feel short changed as they do now when they see lots of stuff already (and better, if truth be told) covered in another paper.

As to the points you have made PD may be dedicated but is he 'dedicated'? And does he actually go to committees? Does he put in FOIA requests? I enjoy reading his column but is is often little more than political knockabout. Whitby on Rover, 'Dr' Mirza - not exactly in-depth is it?

Take Voyager. Plenty of leads on the Stirrer but has anyone from the BP been down to the Erdington office, interviewed staff, sought out suppliers who have been disadvantaged, done some investigating? You print the council's statement and that's it.

Jonathan Walker, August 12, 2008

Well I think you've been pretty clear already, and your main point seems to be that the Post should let me go Although I do actually work for the Mail too.

I'm the only "national" correspondent or anything like it, although I'm usually reporting on what West Midlands MPs are doing at Westminster or how Government and opposition policies affect our region. (Other names which appear on national stories are PA writers - we are unusual in that we give them bylines rather than adding the names of our own reporters). I don't just write the same stories which appear in the national papers.

Let me say that I appreciate you are talking about how to improve the paper and not having a go at me personally, but I hope you'll understand if I take a very personal interest in it!

I do think the Post should report on events at Westminster. Would it be better to have more staff to go out to speak to people and so on, as you suggest? Yes. But the Post and the Mail do do a good job of reporting local government news, and usually set the agenda.

Clifford, August 13, 2008

Hi John - not fired ( I appear on Twitter as 'Ornette' - going to change it, too many personas is confusing) - but redeployed! Change has got to come at the Post. Are you making any money on 12,000 or so copies?

Regarding your comments I always think that 'setting the agenda' is a media conceit. It suggests you are leading whereas you are only following. As you concede - you haven't enough staff to do a proper job. For example nobody even bothered to place a message on the Voyager thread asking to be contacted. Do a search on Stirrer for Paul Dale - there is very little.

Clifford, August 13, 2008

Further to this I note the post (…1097) about commercial reference charges on the Stirrer. There is a story here. Will anyone follow it up?

Note that the poster didn't contact BP. I think we all know why.

Conscious that I am addressing these comments to the wrong person.

Jonathan Walker, August 13, 2008

Indeed, but I will mention it to the newsdesk tomorrow so not totally wasted - thanks for pointing it out and I hoped I don't seem ungrateful for your other comments.

Clifford, August 28, 2008

Re the above, I've been on holiday. The discussion on The Stirrer is still live. Anyone on the BP following it up?

Clifford, August 30, 2008

No? Thought not.