We're not a mad national red-top...

As well as looking after readers, the Birmingham Mail also likes to look after partners... organisations who serve this city.

A potential story today revealed quite a large amount of taxpayers' money being spent on what many would feel was a lavish event for businessmen.

It's a valid story and we will run it.

But the initial response from an off-guard press office was to issue a snappy quote, one that actually made the story paint the organisation in an even worse light.

Easy enough, it would have been, to just run the story and let the organisation cringe at itself.

But no... the Mail has a responsibility here.

I felt it fair to call the people concerned, offer them my opionion that they sounded, at best, silly, and that if they wanted I would wait for a better, more informed comment, from them.

They did this. It's a better comment, not only putting them in a better light but also explaining the situation more fully which, ultimately, is a better service for our readers as well.

I kind of talk in code above, as I don't think it fair to name the oganisation. But the story and new quotes will be in Monday's paper... without the background above.