Handbags at dawn...
I don't often swear, but I did today on the telephone to an individual temporarily at the helm of a n other media organisation which dared to vilify the Birmingham Mail for no good reason.
The trigger came after he tried to excuse the ill-considered tone as the 'cut and thrust' of the industry when I called to challenge him.
"If that's your attitude, the *!%£*&! gloves will come off," I raged (this was to a chap I've known for 14 years, you'll understand).
The recipient hung up, which was arguably a sensible tactic (although I reckon he lost his ability to speak).
The annoying thing is that his boss and I have an gentleman's agreement not to lower our organisations into such mud-slinging.
I guess acting up in his boss' absence may have gone to the wannabe's head. It's a big chair to fill at times, and certain types just find it irresistible to play the big 'I am' for a week, especially if it's a rare indulgence.
I've since written to the cheeky monkey's organ-grinder and hope that he settles things on his return rather than tempting me into a tit-for-tat.
He'd better, or else I'll make Clifford's day and start naming names (see Clifford's comments on the recent 'Spy' blog).
Blimey, us journos. We do get very (too?) passionate about our brands at times!
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Steve Dyson
Blog from the Editor on recent issues and events.
"The annoying thing is that his boss and I have an gentleman's agreement not to lower our organisations into such mud-slinging."
Two of the many annoying things about the press is, firstly, their reluctance to criticise each other and, secondly their hypersensitivity to criticism. This latest post by Steve (fact-lite as ever) is an example of both.
C'mon, Clifford, you like a tease!!
Dear oh dear. Thirsty work on Friday afternoon was it?
So basically you attempted to 'rage' at a fellow senior professional, effing and blinding . . . and he quite rightly put the phone down on you.
Sounds like a reasonable response to me, but it raises a couple of points about your judgement.
Firstly, is this any way for the editor of what used to be Birmingham's respected evening paper to behave?
(Not just your self-confessed foul-mouthed threat in the phone call, but this cowardly on-line tantrum after having your over-inflated ego pricked by being cut off.)
Secondly, having acted in such an appalling, irrational and unprofessional manner, most people would – on sober reflection – cringe with embarrassment.
Why on earth would anyone attempt to boast about it on the internet? Vanity? Insecurity? Sheer stupidity?
All three probably, but whatever the reason, you don't bring much dignity to your role.
I'll agree with you on one thing though: 'Certain types do find it irresistible to play the big 'I am'.'
Now, either you are being hugely ironic (doubtful) or you lack a single ounce of self-awareness (likely).
Perhaps all this goes some way to explaining why your paper's circulation has plummeted from 96,143 (ABC July to Dec 2004, just before your arrival) to 65,467 paid-for copies in the same period last year.
This after blowing an eye-watering £1m on a disastrously ill-conceived relaunch.
Losing a third of your circulation in just three years certainly takes some doing Steve - keep up the good work!
How much longer we'll have the chance to laugh out loud at your self-important, delusional drivel we don't yet know.
But I suspect the 'other chap' may not be the only one in 'temporary' charge, so how you think any of this helps your long-term career prospects, God only knows.
My advice is to think before you speak in future, think before you write – and think very carefully about who you try to pick a fight with, especially as you're about as threatening as a Teletubby. (La La presumably)
Anyway, I've cast around the internet and can find no reference to this incident on any other site, so whoever rightly cut you off mid-rant is keeping a dignified silence.
You should try that sometime . . .
Barry
PS: What level of outrageous vilification could have provoked such a 'rage'? A front-page headline? A self-important blog? TV stitch-up?
We really should be told.
ooo... this sounds like a very bitter Barry! Former Mail hack? Or a pseudonym for the afflicted deputy??
Hi 'Barry'! How's the knee? Good to see you're still watching. Best regards, and all that.
Moderator's correction: 69,816 was the daily recorded sales figure for the Birmingham Mail between July and Dec 2007 (source, www.abc.org.uk). B Austin cites July to Dec 2004, but Dyson's arrival was not until June 2005, at which point the paper's sales were in double-digit percentage decline and still falling. The relaunch was in October 2005, and in the last two years the Mail has more than halved its decline rate. It has also seen its website’s ‘unique users’ rocket since the launch of birminghammail.net, and has spread its brand into the weekly market, with 183,000 Birmingham Mail Extras delivered to doorsteps each week. ‘Daily, weekly, online’ is the emerging motto of a brand that is tackling the internet and free newspaper market in Britain’s fast-changing second city.
doesn't sound like a moderator more like a company lickspittle,
Can't argue with the facts though James.
i thought all papers were in decline anyway! (hence sites lke these)
Sorry.. anon is me...
steve, the ex/star (who i assume you're on about) are a joke.
I'm a West Brom fan I can assure you that none of the fans on the message boards that i read take that newspaper seriously. The coverage you give to england may not be as much but quality wise it's 100 times better.
they're considered a bit of a joke really. Here's an example of how bad they are
http://www.wbazone.com/forum/index.php?topic=20953.msg244034#new
er, i meant 'albion' not england!
As a Manchester United fan living miles from home I have to tell you I enjoy the E&S. After all, they carried more on our Champions League win than the Manchester Evening News did including a big colour poster!
Not too sure how that fits into the remit of a 'local' paper!!!
If it was the X&S, their columnist has a cheek calling another title 'fading'! Try asking the editor of the Wolverhampton paper how many editions he's had to cut in the last 12 months, how many district offices have been closed and how his deputy runs a bullying, despotic joke of an operation that can only be compared with Tucker the F*****'s reign as no.2 20 years ago!! And, for that matter, how many of us hacks get away with spelling out our abuse as acronyms on the first words of every papragraph on certain 'letters to the editor' that are published!! I for one can't wait for my redundancy cheque from what I consider is the fading X&S!
Derek Tucker!! Blimey, what a presence he was in the X&S newsroom. It would make our Keith Harrison look like a mushroom!