Guest 720- Registered: 20 Jul 2011
- Posts: 114
As a supporter of local newspapers - as others have said they are a record of history - I read both the Express and the Mercury, and during the past couple of weeks I noticed this interesting comparison.
Both papers reported on the meeting which local police had with some of our senior citizens at the Riverside Centre. The pensioners were able to tell the officers what concerned them. The Mercury reported on this meeting first, and mentioned the "issues" which the pensioners raised. A week later, the Express had the same story (and on their website), but by then the "issues" had become "crime fears". So what were these crimes that the elderly folk were worried about?
Firstly, groups of youths gathering on the streets. Well that's an age-old situation and I suspect that when I, as a lad, met up with my mates for a chat we might have looked intimidating. But we had no criminal intent, and I am not sure the majority of today's youngsters have that intent either.
Secondly, there are not enough facilities for the young people. Again, an age-old problem, but it seems to have got worse in recent years. I understand there were many more youth clubs and groups in the town back in the 1960s, 1970s and even the 1980s (before I moved here), and sadly most have closed. There are still some (such as Archers Court, Buckland, and Bench Street) so well done to those who give up their time to keep the youth entertained and provide them with places to go in their leisure hours.
And the third issue, was the problem caused by roadworks and scaffolding on pavements, especially to people using motorised scooters. Nothing new there, either.
As far as I am aware, none of these issues are crimes. So why did the Express use the word "crime" in their headline?
Guest 710- Registered: 28 Feb 2011
- Posts: 6,950
The answer must lie somewhere in this extract...
"Proposed sale of Kent Regional News and Media aborted
The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has referred Northcliffe Media's proposed disposal of the KRNM portfolio to the Competition Commission.
The disposal of KRNM to the Kent Messenger Group, who was seeking to acquire the titles to integrate with its existing Kent based media portfolio, was conditional upon the transaction receiving clearance by the OFT. As the OFT has not given this clearance but has referred the case to the Competition Commission both parties have aborted the transaction.
Steve Auckland, group managing director of Northcliffe Media, said: "This makes a mockery of politicians expressing their desire to reduce red tape in business and allow consolidation in the regional press. We are not talking about a Google or a Microsoft here.
"The OFT has to operate within a regulatory system that is not designed to cope with small local newspaper businesses that have no prospect of funding a Competition Commission review and are thus denied the opportunity to consolidate."
Richard Karn, managing director of Northcliffe Media's South East businesses, added: "The last twelve weeks have been a period of great uncertainty for staff who have responded magnificently. We look forward to being able to return our focus entirely to the challenge of growing our business, by meeting the needs of our many valued advertising customers and business partners across Kent."
Northcliffe Media acquired Kent Regional News and Media from Trinity Mirror in July 2007.
The portfolio consists of hybrid paid/free titles including the Folkestone Herald and Dover Express Series, the Isle of Thanet Gazette, Thanet Times, East Kent Gazette, Medway News and Canterbury Times Series."
" by meeting the needs of our many valued advertising customers and business partners across Kent."
If only the fellow had thought to add 'readers' to his list?
Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
Tabloid journalism is never very satisfactory.
Kathy bailes do you simon finlays number please think i may have a story for him
That is intriguing!!!!!!
Guest 659- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 331
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Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
matthew
ref local papers i to have time for a community paper one that gives the info that many have called for on this forum
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
Halfway down the right hand side of p5 of today's Express/Herald is a picture of Damian Collins claiming to be Your (i.e. Our) Member of Parliament. I thought he was member for Folkestone.
Just above is an article about the planning application for change of use of an area of land behind our neighbour's property. This land is owned by the council and the change of use is to a pub garden. This is so that it can be transferred to us in exchange for the land presently belonging to us which is required for the St James development. The article claims that this is a DDC initiative. Either the Express has put 2 and 2 together, making 5, or someone has been telling them porky pies.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Guest 659- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 331
Damian Collins is a paid for advert, I have no control over that. The planning nib from Terry would have come from DDC website and he would have got the info from whatever documents have been submitted.
Someone has control, Kathy, even if you do not.
Guest 659- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 331
Yes they do Bern, you're quite right.
The Dover Express and Folkestone Herald are part of one series. If you pay for an advert it goes in all the papers in the series. If Charlie put in an advert it would also appear in the Folkestone paper.
This is how income is generated.
Understood and no argument. I think people are just commenting about "local" ness.
Guest 720- Registered: 20 Jul 2011
- Posts: 114
I see in today's paper, the DE reporters, via the Dubris column, have decided to have a go at some poor unnamed person who, they claim, has gone through life not knowing how to use apostrophes. That's a bit rich, coming from the Express hacks (as they seem to like to call themselves). Also in today's edition, St Radigund's is mentioned on one page (with an apostrophe) and St Radigunds on another (without it). Folkestone Magistrates' Court is mentioned several times, sometimes with an apostrophe and sometimes without. On another page, there's a story with spaces missing between words, and brackets (or parentheses) which end but don't start. Pot, kettle and black come to mind ...
And as I wasn't born in Dover, but have lived here for some time, could you tell me where Diana Gardens, Dover is, please (court case page 3)?
Jim that column with its unpleasant innuendo and low level smug bullying is exactly the reason why I will never buy the DE
Guest 659- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 331
the dubris was about one of our own. I think Diana Gardens is actually Deal, I assume it had Dover on the court list
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
you cannot put that column down to me sarah, i was always somewhere else.
You are always something else Howard, and I claim my right to misuse an apostrophe
Guest 659- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 331
why would anyone put it down to you Howard? I don't think I've ever seen you at one of our keyboards
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
sarah referred to unpleasant innuendo, seemed to nail me down kathy.