The Kentish Express has ‘broken’ the news that national papers are reporting that a teacher has been suspended for appearing naked on a gay porn website (http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kentish_express/news/2009/september/25/teacher_suspended.aspx). Strangely the Herald have yet to put this up, although they have past form of ripping news from the nationals (see Howard posts below) so it can’t be long.
No names are mentioned, but a quick interweb search shows the Telegraph is carrying the story, and at least credits the Sun with the scoop. The Sun doesn’t appear to have a problem giving the teacher’s name, hometown and even a smattering of the pics in question (with modesty covering black boxes, probably not present on page 3) (http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kentish_express/news/2009/september/25/teacher_suspended.aspx). If you want the name follow the link.
The school have given a bland comment to the Express. There is a plea “Do you know any more? Give our newsroom a call on 01233 623232” at the end of the article, which is no great surprise as these ‘Give us a story’ messages have been appearing more frequently as the KM Group guts its editorial teams. One might wonder if the Sun hack made it down to speak to pupils and get the quotes for his article, and in doing so whether he broke parts of section 6 of the PCC Code of Conduct:
6. Children:
i) Young people should be free to complete their time at school without unnecessary intrusion.
iii) Pupils must not be approached or photographed at school without the permission of the school authorities.
The Sun headline screams “Gay Pics”, yet apparently the profile on the website gives the name as ‘Mike’ and the sexual orientation as ‘straight’. Later the article refers to “the site - which also features hardcore gay porn”. Does this mean in addition to softcore gay porn, or in addition to a straight porn section? If it is the latter, might the headline be more than a touch sensationalist? Regardless of the orientation of the teacher or the site, is it not possible that the guy is a just bit of an exhibitionist and a few snaps have been put up on his behalf?
The teacher has been sent home and suspended. While his position may now be untenable I am waiting for the calls for him to be sacked, which is a step too far. If someone can convince me what he has done is wrong, harmful or morally objectionable then I will change my mind. The sack would represent a meddling in private lives. Although posting pics on the internet is never the most private of things to do, it is not in school hours and is not connected with his work in the school in any way. This follows recent reports similarly questioning what teachers are allowed to do out of work hours, and whether teachers should be allowed to get drunk (http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2009/sep/02/teachers-slam-code-of-conduct).
Of course there must be limits, laws and the means to police and enforce these limits. In some criminal cases the loss of job and position is to be expected for some professions, teachers included. However, posting a few nude pics on the web hardly warrants the loss of a job and the wrecking of reputations siezed upon by the press. Social norms will usually make living bad enough.
Showing posts with label Kentish Express. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kentish Express. Show all posts
Friday, 25 September 2009
Wednesday, 26 August 2009
A Common Column?
Those who take a keen interest in local politics will have noticed that Mr. Howard has not penned a column in the local rags since July 27 and is probably enjoying a well earned break. Or perhaps attending Entrée Gold board meetings in Vancouver. Or maybe visiting Entrée’s site in Mongolia. Or possibly on a cruise courtesy of Saga. Or attending meetings for Helphire (continue yourselves. look at http://www.parliament.uk/about_commons/register_of_members__interests.cfm).
Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for the Conservative Party, Mr. Damian Collins, has taken up the mantle and given us his thoughts on Dungeness power station, a national day of remembrance and how to save the economy. While it is reasonable to assume that the elected representative should have a regular space to inform constituents of his or her thoughts and actions, the idea of giving the space to a PPC from only one party seems distinctly unfair.
This matter is raising some eyebrows. Neil Matthews, PPC for the Lib Dems, tells me I am not the only person to notice this and that he will approach the papers about a column for himself. PPC for the Labour Party, Mr. Donald Worsley, has not answered my request for his thoughts on this issue.
A column for each candidate seems excessive (last election there were 9 PPCs, including Lord Toby Jug), but surely if the incumbent is away then it seems the column should either be windmilled between those who are vying for the seat or the space given over to local letters?
Although Mr. Collins has had a fair amount of column inches in both papers over recent weeks (more on this soon) letters and stories from almost all parties are carried regularly so there is no case for bias. The possibility of an oversight is more likely than something more cynical. Even if there were allegations of bias, so what? Restrictions on broadcasters do not seem to apply to papers, and the nationals are well known for political leanings.
"In non-broadcast media, political advertising, in both the party political sense and the wider sense, is allowed but the ads must comply with the CAP Code" (in essence no lies, etc) http://www.asa.org.uk/cap/news_events/news/2006/Its+political+but+is+it+correct.htm
It will be interesting to see if Mr. Howard returns, or if other PPCs start to contribute.
Update August 27 - the KM now have a Neil Matthews column. Perhaps this will galvanise Donald Worsley into action. The Herald still have only Damian Collins...maybe next week?
Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for the Conservative Party, Mr. Damian Collins, has taken up the mantle and given us his thoughts on Dungeness power station, a national day of remembrance and how to save the economy. While it is reasonable to assume that the elected representative should have a regular space to inform constituents of his or her thoughts and actions, the idea of giving the space to a PPC from only one party seems distinctly unfair.
This matter is raising some eyebrows. Neil Matthews, PPC for the Lib Dems, tells me I am not the only person to notice this and that he will approach the papers about a column for himself. PPC for the Labour Party, Mr. Donald Worsley, has not answered my request for his thoughts on this issue.
A column for each candidate seems excessive (last election there were 9 PPCs, including Lord Toby Jug), but surely if the incumbent is away then it seems the column should either be windmilled between those who are vying for the seat or the space given over to local letters?
Although Mr. Collins has had a fair amount of column inches in both papers over recent weeks (more on this soon) letters and stories from almost all parties are carried regularly so there is no case for bias. The possibility of an oversight is more likely than something more cynical. Even if there were allegations of bias, so what? Restrictions on broadcasters do not seem to apply to papers, and the nationals are well known for political leanings.
"In non-broadcast media, political advertising, in both the party political sense and the wider sense, is allowed but the ads must comply with the CAP Code" (in essence no lies, etc) http://www.asa.org.uk/cap/news_events/news/2006/Its+political+but+is+it+correct.htm
It will be interesting to see if Mr. Howard returns, or if other PPCs start to contribute.
Update August 27 - the KM now have a Neil Matthews column. Perhaps this will galvanise Donald Worsley into action. The Herald still have only Damian Collins...maybe next week?
Tuesday, 31 March 2009
BNP Follow Up, Bad Week for KM Group
Following on from the last post, I indeed sent my (excellent) letter to the Herald on Monday evening. So far no response, but it will be interesting to see if it gets any further than the Lib Dem effort of previous weeks. This week's Herald out in two days! When cutting the image, I noticed a minor typo! The shame!
In other news, I happened to whizz past an accident on the roundabout where Churchill Avenue meets Canterbury Road. I am NOT apportioning any blame, the bright yellow rectangle showed one of the cars involved was a KM vehicle. Another KM vehicle, presumably there to help (or possibly to get a report for some filler) had parked on the grass verge where Churchill Avenue rises up to the roundabout. I'm sure that Thursday's Kentish Express will have the full details...
Thankfully there appeared to be no injuries. The possible rise in insurance premiums will not be welcome at such a difficult time, although with or without cars if the KM group continues to operate at the end of next year they will have defied some predictions. An ex-KMer gave his old employers a good shoeing this week http://www.countervalue.com/2009/03/30/the-bbc-wont-save-local-papers-nobody-can/#more-462. If you need any more try http://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/news/090227morekmgcuts.shtml.
Wednesday, 11 March 2009
Folkestone Earthquake Reaction
I’m pleased to report Folkestone raced up the news agenda last week, although blink and you’d have missed it. An earthquake measuring a near news-worthy 2.8 ‘rocked’ the town on Tuesday March 3 and showed that papers love a good story regardless of the content.
Having survived the quake myself I can confirm it was hardly life or death stuff, so I’d like to know which earthquake in Folkestone The Sun was covering http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article2289825.ece. Getting the adjective 'rocked' in the first few lines was followed with an interview conjuring up the delightful image of a builder desperately clinging to his scaffolding, life flashing before his eyes. I’d be keen to find out if he really exists. Perhaps he mixed up ‘Folkestone’ with ‘Tokyo’. Most of the other nationals barely touched it.
The local papers (Express and Herald) both led with the quake and were generally more restrained than the nation’s finest, even if the Herald’s assertion that ‘tens of thousands of residents were shocked and confused’ was maybe over-egging it. Both allowed space for the locals to say how scary/boring they had found the experience. The Express kicked off 2 pages of non-news coverage with the front page headline of ‘Did The Earth Move For You!’ resting awkwardly between a badly punctuated question and something Del Boy might say post-coital.
While in 2007 choppers and news crews came to town (and went as soon as it became apparent a few smashed chimney pots was as exciting as it was going to get), there was even less of photographic worth this time. Both local rags carried a map showing significant quakes occurring in 2009, 2007, 1950 and, err…1580 and 1382. Given the lack of news this time round, perhaps some local history would interest and inform the readers?
Sadly not. At least the Express gave the pre-1900 quakes four lines. Here is a more interesting graph you can annotate yourself.
Having survived the quake myself I can confirm it was hardly life or death stuff, so I’d like to know which earthquake in Folkestone The Sun was covering http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article2289825.ece. Getting the adjective 'rocked' in the first few lines was followed with an interview conjuring up the delightful image of a builder desperately clinging to his scaffolding, life flashing before his eyes. I’d be keen to find out if he really exists. Perhaps he mixed up ‘Folkestone’ with ‘Tokyo’. Most of the other nationals barely touched it.
The local papers (Express and Herald) both led with the quake and were generally more restrained than the nation’s finest, even if the Herald’s assertion that ‘tens of thousands of residents were shocked and confused’ was maybe over-egging it. Both allowed space for the locals to say how scary/boring they had found the experience. The Express kicked off 2 pages of non-news coverage with the front page headline of ‘Did The Earth Move For You!’ resting awkwardly between a badly punctuated question and something Del Boy might say post-coital.
While in 2007 choppers and news crews came to town (and went as soon as it became apparent a few smashed chimney pots was as exciting as it was going to get), there was even less of photographic worth this time. Both local rags carried a map showing significant quakes occurring in 2009, 2007, 1950 and, err…1580 and 1382. Given the lack of news this time round, perhaps some local history would interest and inform the readers?
Sadly not. At least the Express gave the pre-1900 quakes four lines. Here is a more interesting graph you can annotate yourself.The seismic graph which featured in both papers gave The Herald captioning team a bit of a headache, as it looked like one of several irrelevant pics from 2007 pressed into action. Perhaps just putting a picture of a real 
earthquake from some other place and some other time would have conveyed as much real information and been more interesting to look at? Later in the paper The Herald’s 'irreverent' Martello column gleefully mocked mere mortals who proposed stories to the newsdesk in less than perfect English. Keen readers would have already noted that on page 2 (opposite the caption cock up) an interview with Sainsbury’s staff who have recorded a song for Comic Relief revealed they had ‘worked in [sic] Christopher Biggins’. Perhaps Martello should spend more time checking the pages before they go to print. Pip pip!
earthquake from some other place and some other time would have conveyed as much real information and been more interesting to look at? Later in the paper The Herald’s 'irreverent' Martello column gleefully mocked mere mortals who proposed stories to the newsdesk in less than perfect English. Keen readers would have already noted that on page 2 (opposite the caption cock up) an interview with Sainsbury’s staff who have recorded a song for Comic Relief revealed they had ‘worked in [sic] Christopher Biggins’. Perhaps Martello should spend more time checking the pages before they go to print. Pip pip!
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