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26th
May 2005, The scotsman
EVER wonder what it must be like to be in the middle of a media
scrum. You know the sort of scene where Neil and Christine Hamilton
have the entire press pack outside their door. A battery of
photographers. Even for the likes of the Hamiltons who, it is
fair to say, have courted the publicity, the spectacle must
be daunting. For those who are new to the experience it must
be terrifying.
But fear not because Ofcom, the broadcast regulator, and their
print cousins at the Press Complaints Commission (PCC) have
now offered guidance for those at the centre of media attention.
The difficulty for Ofcom is that they are a post-transmission
regulator.
Accordingly, they are powerless to intervene in respect of anything
that occurs pre-broadcast. So Ofcom's recommendation at a time
when your world will be experiencing a certain degree of falling
apart as TV reporters trample over your hydrangeas, is to contact
the PCC. The PPC have agreed to forward any concerns to the
relevant broadcasters, who will consider whether it is appropriate
to take action.
Probably not the advice that you were looking for. I have made
no secret of my views of the PCC when it comes to punishing
their own. A quick glance at the number of adjudications on
their website that actually find in favour of the complainant
is probably a good litmus test.
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Their
advice when facing a media scrum is to take practical steps.
These include getting the name of the journalist and the newspaper
or news agency for which they work. "Tell them politely
that you do not wish to speak to them and that they should not
contact you again." I am sure that would work.
All the more so when the paper may want a photograph to accompany
the story. By taking those tentative steps outside and allowing
them to capture your picture, no doubt looking shifty and anxious,
the story has now moved closer to the front of the paper.
Other measures include reciting the Code of Practice to the
press pack and reminding them of their obligations not to harass
you. Where is that spare copy of the code when you need it most?
Pinning a short note to your door, altering the answer machine
message or asking a friend or neighbour to deal with the situation
for you are other options. Perhaps we should all move next door
to Max Clifford. But then again every silver lining has a cloud.
The only saving grace is that if you phone the PCC hotline they
will get in touch with the editor concerned and deal with your
complaint urgently, aiming to stop any harassment that is occurring
as soon as possible
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Other
measures include reciting the Code of Practice to the press
pack and reminding them of their obligations not to harass you.
Where is that spare copy of the code when you need it most?
Pinning a short note to your door, altering the answer machine
message or asking a friend or neighbour to deal with the situation
for you are other options. Perhaps we should all move next door
to Max Clifford. But then again every silver lining has a cloud.
The only saving grace is that if you phone the PCC hotline they
will get in touch with the editor concerned and deal with your
complaint urgently, aiming to stop any harassment that is occurring
as soon as possible.
But that is only the harassment element. It won't stop the story
being published. Whereupon other papers and TV crews will arrive
to follow up the story.
Perhaps the best advice the PCC could give would be to contact
someone who actually had your interest at heart rather than
those whom they really represent.
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