Threats don't deter journalists...

A letter distributed to binmen depots today makes the amazing claim that the Birmingham Mail is in cohorts with the city council over the current single status pay dispute.

The letter goes on to claims that the editor (me) is a 'fully paid up member of the Tory party'.

It also, in what I can only think is an attempt to be threatening, prints the name and home address of the editor (me) and local government correspondent 'for information'.

Now, everyone has a right to their opinions, although I would reject any suggestion of imbalance in our coverage, (indeed, many at the council would claim we are on the side of staff striking!!).

Facts are important, however, and so, for anyone interested, I am not a member of any political party and would be in breach of my own journalistic integrity, let alone company policy, if I was.

As for printing home addresses, it should worry trade unionists and/or binmen that someone amongst them appears to want to suggest some kind of personal approach or harassment.

I'm not too worried about this myself, as I'm pretty tall, heavy and can look after myself. But because staff addresses are also included in this weak attempt at coercion, whoever it was should know that as a matter of policy the letter is now in the hands of the authorities.

And, just in case anyone's wondering, the Birmingham Mail will continue with its balanced coverage on this dispute. Nothing will change that. The council will be praised or criticised when necessary, and so will binmen or other workers.

It reminds me of when the BNP, whose policies we argued against in the paper, posted my address on its website in 2005, implying that someone might want to send something offensive through my letterbox.

Again, their details were sent to the appropriate authorities. And again, the Birmingham Mail will continue to knock the BNP.

My point? People should know that threats don't deter good journalists.