Why are MN Towers joining in with the Journos?

[lou031205]

news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Swine-Flu-Parents-Urged-To-Avoid-Childrens-Flu-Parties/Article/200 906415324424?lpos=UKNewsFirstUKNewsArticleTeaserRegion1&lid=ARTICLE15324424SwineFlu%3APa rentsUrgedToAvoidChildrensFluParties

""We have anecdotal evidence on the discussion boards that these parties are taking place," Geraldine Holman told Sky News Online."

Bad enough that journos are using mumsnet as their source so much, but now MN Towers are helping them out?

[onagar]

It will be part of how the site is financed. Someone has to pay for the costs. If MN were not paid for this story as such they benefit from it as more people visit and see the adverts here which increases their income.

And more visitors also means more members to talk to.

[SomeGuy]

Is Geraldine Holman from mumsnet? Not sure that she is....

Little trace of her here:

www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=%22Geraldine+Holman%22

[SomeGuy]

Oh well, the journos probably made the quote up as they did her name.

[ABetaDad]

Seems perfectly respectable to promote MN to a wider audience.

Get slightly miffed though when I see journos writing up stories that seem to have come straight off an MN thread just a few days before.

Once found a journo actually directly copy a post I made on another forum (not MN).

[GeraldineMumsnet]

Well, it's certainly not my recollection of the conversation. Quote is perhaps as close to what I said as my surname ie mostly right but a bit wrong

[Biscuits4Cheese]

Seems fair enough to me.
But is that quote correct? I thought all mention of swine flu parties had been met with scorn on the boards?

[PortAndLemon]

I suspect what Geraldine actually said is what Justine's been saying -- that a reasonable number of posters have suggested that it may be better to catch it now rather than in a second wave of pandemic later in the year. Which people have been saying, just in a "so I won't hide in the cupboard under the stairs with a duvet over my head" way rather than in a "so I'll organise a swine flu party right away" way.

[GeraldineMumsnet]

From what I recollect, I said Mumsnetters were discussing swine flu and the anecdotal evidence that there had been swine flu parties eg on this thread.

But it got a bit garbled . Tis true to say that pros and cons of getting it earlier vs later are being discussed. And even more so since BBC asked Justine for a quote in reaction to BMA.

[morningpaper]

You can't say "joining in with journos" as though it's some sort of orgy

Mumsnetters are a voice. 'tis a GOOD THING

[lou031205]

"Mumsnetters are a voice. 'tis a GOOD THING"

I agree, if it is the voice of Mumsnetters that is being represented.

[ipiratethief]

plus there's always been this. on the homepage of chat.

'Please note that Mumsnet has copyright in all submissions to Mumsnet Talk, and reserves the right to edit and re-publish these in print form.

[blissa]

The Daily Mail has produced drivel about this LeninGrad here

I agree with what lou031205 said

[lou031205]

I have no problem with Justine, Geraldine, et al. giving quotes that are true, but the quotes are far-fetched at best. I suppose "actually, mumsnetters are being eminently sensible" just isn't as exciting.

However, I accept that Geraldine is saying her message got 'garbled'.

[monkeytrousers]

I don't see the problem.

[Grammaticus]

"An orgy of journos". Has a nice ring to it. Has anyone ever looked up collective nouns on Wikipedia with a child for homework? I switched off abruptly when we got to "a bunch of pricks"

Some of them were great, mind.