How the press can be MORE powerful
Do you remember the phrase 'the power of the press'?
We don't hear it so much now because newspaper brands are not just printed, but are online, downloading to mobiles, broadcasting video, etc.
But together, the traditional printed editions AND the web can make the 'press' even MORE powerful.
Take the campaign to 'Support Jaguar Land Rover NOW!', launched this Tuesday.
In print, there was not only the Birmingham Mail shouting from page one to kick the government into action. Thanks to the forward-thinking of my fellow editor Marc Reeves, the co-ordinated campaign was simultaneously published by his Birmingham Post, down the road in the Coventry Telegraph, and up the M6 in the Liverpool Echo and the Liverpool Daily Post.
And on ALL those papers' websites... see here, here, here and here.
Not to mention on video broadcast over the web.
And did I mention the campaign's Facebook site and petition on Number 10's website, all linked from each of the papers' sites?
At the last count - 7.40pm, Wednesday January 7, just two days into the campaign - there were 3,223 e-signatures piling up on that site.
And guess what? The grapevine now tells me Gordon Brown is coming to town on Friday to find out what it's all about...
Watch this space...
Older/Newer
« Villa's brave face of Christmas | Gordon Brown facing up to Jaguar Land Rover »
7 Comments
Leave a comment
Profile
Steve Dyson - Blog from the Editor on recent issues and events.
'Government intervention to save Jag?' is needed the Mail say. I think Mr. Tata might have already asked?
How many millions of taxpayers money should be thrown at an industry producing luxury, expensive, large, gas-guzzling vehicles. Vehicles which we are constantly reminded are bad for the environment and seemingly have a diminshing market.
Did the Government (or the Mail), get behind Woolies? It seems only the Banks or selective industry is eligible for a Government band-aid (and Mail support). Not the thousands of people losing their jobs in the retail sector.
How did The Mail campaign to save Rover go ?
I seem to remember The Mail getting involved with that one too.
You got that elected mayor in Brum yet Steve? Oh and I loved how you forced the Government into a proper consultation on Post Office closures. Hang on, no you didn't.
Its good to see that the Birmingham Mail is getting involved to safeguard jobs especially in light of the recent job losses at Woolworth's Birmingham Mail, Adams, Birmingham Post, M&S etc. Perhaps the Mail could launch a campaign to save the Birmingham Mail and Post, with falling circulations, they need all the help they can get.
Used to read the Mail/ Hacked Off: Many firms deserve support, but Jaguar Land Rover is the firm we feel needs vital action BEFORE it's too late. Adams and Woolies surprised everyone, and were done deeds by the time they were in the public domain. JLR has been saying for months: we need help now to survive. It's not a bail-out - it's a commercial loan. JLR employs 13,000 in the Midlands. How many is that if you include families they support. And then the suppliers. It beggars belief what JLR failure would do to the WMidlands.
Old cynic: I tried to post earlier on this but it doesn't seem to have appeared... so excuse me if it suddenly does and therefore repeats. But yes... I do remember 'Don't Let Rover Die!' in 2000, a campaign the Mail ran with the full support of unions, and I remember how that helped persuade BMW and the Government to work together to allow Towers and co to take over. (For info, I was head of news at the time and organised and coordinated the campaign, including leading a 30,000-strong march through the city). "But Rover's gone!" I hear you cry. Yes, but that was FIVE years later, so 5,000+ workers and suppliers were given half a decade more employment, and in the latter's case those crucial years in which to diversify.
Truly appalled: So should we be meek media and only support or campaign for things we know are in the bag? I think not. Newspapers should highlight concerns and fight the good fights that reflects opinion. I could list many 'successful' campaigns, but I'm unashamed of standing up for difficult causes. (Re. the Post Office, see our permanent statement on this debacle on p2 every day.)
Hey Big Steve ,
How's the campaign going ?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7828201.stm
The fact is , that JLR , or whatever the acronym today is, is making products that are no longer suitable for market.
On the one hand the powers that be are encouraging us to be " greener" and more enviromentally aware , and then thay are launching initiatives to save JLR from extinction . They are delaying the inevitable. Market forces will preside.
JLR is headed for extinction.
When was the last time you saw a Land Rover off road doing some thing useful ?
I've parked next to plenty in supermarket car parks, whilst their owners are blissfully unaware of the hazards their stupidly large vehicles are making of themselves.
Get real. We are living in a society that will increasingly disapprove of gas guzzling vehicles , which will ultimately be judged as the automotive equivalent of tobacco smokers , taxed to the hilt , and frowned upon as selfish, self indulgent dullards.
Pip Pip.