Friday, April 28, 2006



Isle of Thanet Gazette reverts to newspaper!

It is nice to see that the Gazette has returned to being a newspaper rather than adopting the sensational style of its sister publication the Thanet Times. However what is disappointing is the fact that the editor, offers no apology for the rather distasteful story on its front page last week.
I can only assume that the journalist who wrote last week's story concerning Roger Gale was hoping to attach this article to his CV and apply for a job with the News of the World which would be clearly pointless as even the news the world generally attaches some public interest element to their stories.

In Roger Gale's last column for the newspaper, he points out in great detail why this story was contemptible and I would think that few people would or could disagree with him except of course the editor and journalist, who seem to have a difficulty distinguishing news from tittle-tattle. It's rather ironic the seemingly sanctimonious note from the editor at the end of Mr Gale's column on how we encourage and expect journalists to be fair and balanced.

Clearly Roger Gale, has proved beyond a doubt with his response to the Isle of Thanet Gazette story that his standards are far higher than most in public life and it's a pity there aren't more genuine people like him.

A final point in publishing the story in question and then failing to apologise for a article which had no news value, has resulted in the editor of the Isle of Thanet Gazette losing one of its better contributors. PRGR

7 comments:

  1. So you'd rather the local hacks concentrated on fluffy stories about fetes and 100th birthdays would you?

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  2. I would rather they concentrate on news stories not ancient history or fluffy bunnies news. Maybe an occaisional political stance not bull anon 5:18 news something that relevant to me. Not scandal for the sack of it justified scandal such as our pompous Deputy Dog Two Jags Prescott

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  3. So you think the Prescott story was justified, when it involved Prescott's private life, and yet the Gazette story you find unjustified, when it was actually something to do with the running of Roger's public office?

    I find that mystifying.

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  4. I suggest you read Mr Gales last column for the IOTG and if you read his comments and assume that he is a decent bloke then, you will see where im coming from. Prescott is a loud opinionated bore and now somewhat of a hippocrit in my opinion so there you have it.

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  5. I've read Roger's spiel and it reads to me rather like he's thrown his toys out of his pram. Still, I'm with you on Prescott, how he got away with punching a voter during an election I'll never know.

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  6. Roger Gale has quite rightly taken a principled stand in refusing to be associated in the future with the Isle of Thanet Gazette particularly when he has obviously done no wrong, and will presumably lose
    the opportunity for a bit of free publicity.

    Well I'm a voter and I think quite a few people thought that Prescott did the right thing on that particular occasion I think if you cast your mind back someone had just thrown at an egg at him. It was actually quite refreshing to see a politician be less than diplomatic when attacked by someone behaving like a moron.

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  7. What is worrying about Prescott is that he is a political hack and a buffoon. Groping a junior member of his civil service staff behind the Office door and other extra-marital antics makes him a laughing stock; he may be a good politician but he is a lousy minister.

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