Hebden Bridge Times comes under fire
Helen Gavaghan reports from Calderdale NUJ's recent public meeting on Journalism in the Age of Blogging and New Media. Views expressed are not those of Calderdale NUJ or any of its members, except where specified:
Local newspaper, The Hebden Bridge Times, came in for swinging criticism last week (28th October, 2009) from local new media Hebweb developer, Chris Ratcliffe.
Mr Ratcliffe was one of two speakers at a meeting about journalism in the age of blogging organised by the Calderdale Branch of the NUJ.
A former teacher, Mr Ratcliffe began development of the Hebweb with his partner some 14 years ago.
“The Hebweb is often at the front of issues the local press has covered badly, and sometimes the local press don’t cover issues at all,” said Ratcliffe.
Inserting a note of realism into the meeting fellow speaker, Gary Herman, chair of the NUJ’s new media industrial council, said: “It is interesting that most of the people discussing the issue here are over 50.”
In a measured delivery Mr Herman reprised the emergence of the internet.
But several at the meeting were more angered by their inability to get their news, for example the local arts festival, into the paper than in the internet protocols and methods of distribution on Mr Herman’s mind.
The Hebden Bridge demography is changing but The Hebden Bridge Times is still writing for an audience from 30 years ago, said Ratcliffe. No longer does the local press have a monopoly, he told me later.
In a departure from usual practice for the chair of such a meeting Susan Press, who chairs the local branch of the NUJ, said that she agreed with the criticisms being made of The Hebden Bridge Times. Calderdale Branch secretary, Maggie Woods, spoke up in defence of the newspaper and its low staffing levels.
The meeting was held at The White Lion and attended by 15 to 20 people, many of them current or former journalists.
Declaration of interest: I am a member of the Calderdale Branch of the NUJ, a freelance journalist and editor of the bimonthly online magazine, Science, People & Politics (ISSN 1751-598X)
For another view of the meeting, see Chris Ratcliffe's report on Hebden Bridge Web. Chris has also put the text of his presentation online. Further views and comments should be submitted via the comments facility.
posted by Tim Chapman @ 3:40 PM
4 Comments:
I have checked the Hebweb report and I disagree with what they have reported and published about Johnston Press. The only person, as I recall, to mention Johnston Press by name at the public meeting was me. I did so in the context of saying to Mr Ratcliffe that I applauded his efforts, and asked him if he could afford to go into print. I said that perhaps JP would take him over. I said this with two thoughts in mind: one that he had raised the issue of how websites as news outlets can make money. I was thinking their might be complementarity between his efforts and those of Johnston Press; and, secondly, because I am aware as an editor and website manager of the issue of electronic deposit for websites. I do not wish to see draconian regulations demanding electronic deposit because that could lead to censorship. Equally I am aware of the need for electronic deposit.
I am also aware of the need for a deeper understanding of website statistics.
Helen has touched upon a major issue with Hebweb and Chris Ratcliffe's more general claims.
Looking at the court 'report' about Steph Booth he recently published and the way the article is presented, I think that perhaps the only way he could have made it any more nauseatingly biased and crass would be to have illusatrated it with a photoshopped picture of Steph Booth drop-kicking babies over Stoodley Pike whilst wearing an SS officers uniform.
Does Calderdale NUJ really believe Hebweb is the more ethical and responsive alternative to The Hebden Bridge Times?
Kevin - Calderdale NUJ has no view of the relative merits of Hebweb and the Hebden Bridge Times, or any other local news services, and has made no claims as to such.
Because this item appears to have upset some local sensibilities, comments will only be approved when they are directly relevant to the subject and contents of the meeting. In particular, potentially libellous comments about individuals will not be permitted.
As stated above: views expressed are not those of Calderdale NUJ or any of its members, except where specified.
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