Media coverage

The Jackal · 25-07-2006, 04:58 PM

Basically, the problem is this: only one candidate is really newsworthy- Farage- and the one of the others is a nutcase with a single issue, vote losing agenda (Noakes). As an NUJ member, I know that the BBC and other organisations are far more likely to cover the election once the result is announced as that will give them something to go on. The only other stuff likely to engage the print or broadcast organisations is if there are allegations of wrong doing, corruption, lying about the candidacy intentions of other candidates and so on. We don't want anything like this coming out, and would be far better placed if we kept shtum until a few days before the result when they could be alerted to an impending news story without any nasty overtones that could damage the party or leave us open to allegations of dodginess.

Also, put simply, both broadcast and print organisations would be happier dealing with Farage as they know him, he's an accomplished performer, hasn't got a dubious background (at least none that would excite adverse comment or that hasn't already been covered anyway) and can provide day to day details about happenings in Brussels and Strasbourg and use staff to assist the media in a way that no other candidate would be able to, making the job of basically lazy journalists much easier.

Anthony Butcher · 25-07-2006, 05:44 PM

How would making him leader help though? This is what he already does. I can see no added benefit to him being party leader, if he already does the job with the media. Would we get five or ten times the coverage? If not, then simply electing him as leader based on his media profile will just lock us in to four more years of exactly what we have at the moment - obscurity.

What's more is that your strategy actually makes the lack of media coverage worse. Instead of building up a team of people that the press will come to, we will just have the same single person every single time.

Also, I think that media attention is one of our lesser problems at the moment. Far greater issues include structure, communications, political philosophy and top of the list: our brand. Sort those out and the media coverage will follow (eventually).

Is Nigel the person to restructure the party and improve internal communications? No.

Is he the person to define a pro-British ideology for the party? No.

Will he be a full time leader dealing with all of the problems? No.

SponPlague · 25-07-2006, 06:37 PM

Hear Hear!

Lawrie Boxall · 25-07-2006, 10:03 PM

Dear Jackal

Like me you've had your day

Providing lazy hacks like you with news from Brussels and Strasbourg is the last thing the UKIP leader should be doing. He/she should be:

attacking Blair and Bush right now for their refusal to criticise the Israeli over-reaction in Lebanon

commenting on a host of other issues things like the WTO debacle, the many failings of the Home Office, cash for peerages, our wonderful Deputy PM, our horrendous PM, ...

But Nigel is on holliday and cannot even be bothered to shift his backside to a hustings let alone engage his brain long enough to have an idea

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

25-07-2006, 04:58 PM	#1 (permalink)
The Jackal Newbie Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Devon Posts: 5	Basically, the problem is this: only one candidate is really newsworthy- Farage- and the one of the others is a nutcase with a single issue, vote losing agenda (Noakes). As an NUJ member, I know that the BBC and other organisations are far more likely to cover the election once the result is announced as that will give them something to go on. The only other stuff likely to engage the print or broadcast organisations is if there are allegations of wrong doing, corruption, lying about the candidacy intentions of other candidates and so on. We don't want anything like this coming out, and would be far better placed if we kept shtum until a few days before the result when they could be alerted to an impending news story without any nasty overtones that could damage the party or leave us open to allegations of dodginess. Also, put simply, both broadcast and print organisations would be happier dealing with Farage as they know him, he's an accomplished performer, hasn't got a dubious background (at least none that would excite adverse comment or that hasn't already been covered anyway) and can provide day to day details about happenings in Brussels and Strasbourg and use staff to assist the media in a way that no other candidate would be able to, making the job of basically lazy journalists much easier.

25-07-2006, 05:44 PM	#2 (permalink)
Anthony Butcher Administrator Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Long Ashton, Bristol Posts: 10,095 Party: None	How would making him leader help though? This is what he already does. I can see no added benefit to him being party leader, if he already does the job with the media. Would we get five or ten times the coverage? If not, then simply electing him as leader based on his media profile will just lock us in to four more years of exactly what we have at the moment - obscurity. What's more is that your strategy actually makes the lack of media coverage worse. Instead of building up a team of people that the press will come to, we will just have the same single person every single time. Also, I think that media attention is one of our lesser problems at the moment. Far greater issues include structure, communications, political philosophy and top of the list: our brand. Sort those out and the media coverage will follow (eventually). Is Nigel the person to restructure the party and improve internal communications? No. Is he the person to define a pro-British ideology for the party? No. Will he be a full time leader dealing with all of the problems? No.

25-07-2006, 06:37 PM	#3 (permalink)
SponPlague Uber Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Zurich Posts: 2,976	Hear Hear!

25-07-2006, 10:03 PM	#4 (permalink)
Lawrie Boxall Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Sandhurst Posts: 1,015	Dear Jackal Like me you've had your day Providing lazy hacks like you with news from Brussels and Strasbourg is the last thing the UKIP leader should be doing. He/she should be: attacking Blair and Bush right now for their refusal to criticise the Israeli over-reaction in Lebanon commenting on a host of other issues things like the WTO debacle, the many failings of the Home Office, cash for peerages, our wonderful Deputy PM, our horrendous PM, ... But Nigel is on holliday and cannot even be bothered to shift his backside to a hustings let alone engage his brain long enough to have an idea