I must admit I was surprised when I heard Chris Fisher had been invited to question the finalists for the Mid-Norfolk selection. Chris is political editor of Norfolk’s leading paper, the Eastern Daily Press, a paper I admire as a journalist.
But it has a reputation of not being Tory friendly, and I must admit I found this to be the case during my role as Eastern Region Press Officer for Conservatives during last year’s general election. It was like drawing teeth to get them interested in what we were doing, though I found the response varied depending on who I spoke to.
I remember calling their Norwich newsdesk in exasperation in the run-up to voting day and complaining about yet another double page spread on Charles Clarke (Norwich South MP) and asked them to tell me exactly how many column inches coverage we had been given in comparison to Labour in the election campaign. As a result, their reporter and photographer came out that weekend and gave us great coverage too. But phew, it was hard work.
I will admit they have been very supportive of Gillian Shepherd, maybe other Tory MPs too I have not worked closely with, so there seems to be no real rhyme or reason for these perceived difficulties which began before my arrival on the scene.
So I would like to congratulate the clever person whose brainwave it was to have invited Chris, the Jeremy Paxman of local media, as their question master. It was a stroke of genius and a gesture much appreciated by Chris which he describes in his column today.
During the Mid-Norfolk selection process, I bumped into a Tory stalwart who mentioned that Chris was being “a pain in the neck”, trying to get info and names. I replied that Chris was merely doing his job, and what was the problem with that?
Hopefully, this person will now have have changed his views about openness too, having seen how successful it can work both ways. Although it takes time to restore trust and build bridges, this is a great start, let’s hope it continues.
It must be very hard to encourage certain newspapers to give column inches. If candidates don’t get the exposure, voters won’t know what they represent etc.
Do you think this example has been and will be followed in the other parts of the country?
James, It takes time for trust to be established both sides. The best way is to form good links regardless of whether an election is held. A journalist has his/her job to do and is not the enemy. This story from ConsHome will show you the problems the press had in Sittingbourne too:
http://conservativehome.blogs.com/goldlist/2006/10/sittingbourne_s.html
Politicans complaining about the press is like sailors complaining about the sea. Fisher is very anti-Tory but hey, ho that’s his job and somewhere else there will be a pro-tory political editor. I am glad he enjoyed the Mid Norfolk thing and I hope other local Tory parties will do similar events. What do you make of the LibDem whinging about their annonymous selection in Norwich South then, Ellee and what would you, as a professional, advise them to do in future?
SIM.UEA, If you read Chris Fisher’s report, he says how he knew nothing about the Lib Dem selection for Norwich South, and I believe him. If they wanted it mentioned in the press, they should have brought it to his attention. As far as advising them, I’m afraid I’m not going to do that, they can seek advice elsewhere. As far as Conservatives are concerned, they are doing a splendid job at being invisible.
The Conservatives are invisible? No they are not, they are all over the press. What did you mean by this?
I meant the Lib Dems, of course. “As far as Conservatives are concerned they (the Lib Dems) are doing a splendid job at being invisible.”
Splendid – I have no time for the LibDems. They can be as invisible as they like.