Well, my suspicions about the response from the Mansfield Chad were right – you have probably heard the phrase ” Never trust a journalist”….well there you go, I did, and now I will face the consequences.
I think that before we get down to the bones of things I need to make you aware of the Mansfield Chads Charter – I need to make you aware of this before I can begin my argument.
Anyhow – The Mansfield Chads Charter –
Our newspapers are built on a tradition of accuracy and fairness giving you the education you need to understand our world holding powers to account and expose injustice.
We are committed to those who struggle to be heard as those whose profession is crafting an argument.
We will engage with you, ask your opinions, and give you the platform on which your views can be expressed.
We are committed to reporting, informing, and reflecting the values of our communities
We therefore promise –
1. To report accurately and fairly, stories in the public interest
2. To treat our readers with respect and to report news that they can trust
3. To campaign on behalf of the communities that we serve and be their voice
4. To hold decision makers to account
5. To listen to our readers and answer their queries and complaints within a clearly published time frame
6. To offer investigative and opinion rich local journalism contributing to the quality of debate in our communities.
7. To support no political party, but to encourage all those who seek the best for our community
8. To accept that sometimes we make mistakes and seek to correct them at the first opportunity
9. To be the eyes and ears of readers by covering the activities of public bodies
10. To ensure that our coverage does not discriminate against anyone, especially on the grounds of religious belief, ethnicity or sexual orientation
11. To present content in a manner that is suitable for entire families
12. To uphold the Editors Code of Conduct t
One day there was a little old man who lived in a shoe……Sorry, I am getting my fairy tales mixed up with reality.
So these are the “promises” and “values” that the Chad stands for in all its glory – a knight in shining armour, championing the cause of righteousness, fighting for the poor ( sorry, I am getting mixed up with Robin Hood)honour – and all that crap ( my opinion)
The truth of the matter is this Newspaper doesn’t report accurately and fairly in the public interest.
It most certainly didn’t treat my family with respect
To listen to our readers complaints and answer their queries and complaints within a clearly published time frame ……..hmmmmmmm
To offer investigative and opinion rich local journalism contributing to the quality of debate in our communities – does that include the investigation, publishing partial and damaging crime stories that create a hostile and volatile situation in our village???
To support no political party but to encourage all those who seek the best for our community – you most certainly did that when you were the instrument that fuelled malicious gossip
You say you correct mistakes at the first opportunity – this filth has been on public records and on public viewing for NINE years – I wouldn’t call that being ” at the first opportunity” – but lets carry on with this charade.
To be the eyes and ears of readers by covering the activities of public bodies THIS, has got to be the biggest joke of the lot – Please explain to me just WHAT activities you were covering because it certainly wasn’t the case in what I was unwittingly dragged into. – That statement is pure c**p”
To ensure that our coverage does not discriminate against anyone, especially on the grounds of religious belief ethnicity or sexual orientation – unless we forget to investigate (as you boast), print damaging partial news, but it doesn’t matter if you are black or mixed race.
I ask you to understand my position, and why I am so stressed – 4500 people in the village, 3200 viewing the Neighbourhood Watch Publications about the case (the Chad being the providers for at least ONE of these publications), ostracised by the locals and hounded out fro the village that had been our home for twelve years – And contrary to what the Chad asks you to believe (in their Charter) – THOSE statements, or promises are, in my humble opinion, a bag of sh**e.
The Chad has let me down, it has let the honest people of Blidworth down, and in a strange way, it has let itself down.
In The Mansfield Chad issue 3, I will disclose the initial response that I received from the Group Editor PHIL BRAMLEY.