Attention Minders and those who are supportive of

[pippin26]

There is an article in The Sun newspaper today regarding a young child Ryan aged 3 who was murdered.
This is truly horrific and very tragic. May Ryan now rest in peace.

I would like to call your attention though to the headline -

'Murdered by Childminders'

The scum who murdered Ryan were not childminders, they were friends of the mother.

I am not trying to detract from the appalling nature of the crime but I would like to urge Registered Minders and those who support us to contact the writer of the article (in a calm, professional manner) and let him know that his use of the word 'childminder' in this instance is misleading and wrong and it can damage us as professionals. Let him know what it IS to be a minder - what we have to acheive and maintain to be a RC. I have asked for an apology for the misleading title.

His email address is (and its printed in the paper so I do not think I am breaching any rules here)
[email protected]

Journalists should research what they are talking about and use the right terminology and quite obviously in this case, he hasn't.

Oh I didn't realise they'd used that word, I will contact them. Thanks for pointing this out, like we need bad press!!!

RIP poor little Ryan

Done

done

Pass it on to friends, colleagues and family.

done

Could you bring it to the attention of the NCMA?

Yes, NCMA should be on side with this! I'm sure they have a press office number or something?

Done

Have emailed now. I've also copied in the NCMA using the following email addresses:

[email protected]
[email protected]

I think it would be good for all NCMA members to cc these addressing if taking the time to email the other person.

Thanks Pippin

Also send a message to the Press complaints

journalists are probably used to getting emails/correspondance from people not happy with their articles.

Press complaints can really kick their butts

[email protected]

Done

NCMA are on the case

Excellent Looney - what have they said?
i see in the NoW yesterday they still had the word 'childminder' in the article but also called the killer a 'babysitter' as well - so in their eyes there is no difference between a babysitter and minder

This is the reply I got from the NCMA Media email address (from a press officer):

Thank you for your email X, as we do not have a media monitoring service that operates at the weekend we were grateful to you for sign posting us to this article. I have passed this on to our Comments officer, Sue Bishop, but rest assured we will be reviewing this article and considering our response.

Best wishes

As for babysitter and childminder being the same......

Press Complaints Commission have sent a large reply now. Not sure if others have had this too - let me know if you want me to post what they said.

please post looney. Thank you

Here goes . I hope they get in a lot of trouble for this. They need to learn to think very carefully about their words before publishing an article!!!

Thank you for your email.

We would be happy to consider the matter.

Would you be able to confirm under which Clause of the Code you wish to complain? The most relevant may well be Clause 1 (Accuracy).

A copy of the Code of Practice which all newspapers and magazines who subscribe adhere to, can be accessed using this web link: www.pcc.org.uk/cop/practice.html

Our aim is to resolve all complaints that raise a possible breach of the Code amicably and quickly. It might be useful if I therefore set out a number of points about our procedures.

• As part of a full and fair investigation we must ensure that each party to a complaint is able to see and comment upon what the other has to say.

• The Commission has a commitment to deal with all complaints as speedily as possible. It expects both complainants and newspapers ? and their representatives, legal or otherwise ? to cooperate with that commitment. Any unreasonable delay on either side may be taken into account by the Commission.

• We will usually send a copy of each letter of complaint to the editor even if the complaint does not raise a breach of the Code. It is important that editors are aware of criticisms of their publications. Similarly, any substantive decision made by the Commission under the terms of the Code will be sent to the editor.

• The Commission is not able to deal with all complaints. Some of the circumstances in which we may not be able to pursue a complaint are set out on our website.

• It is possible that the Commission may find that your complaint does not amount to a breach of the Code. If this is the case we will explain to you why the Commission took this decision.

• If, at the end of the process, you are dissatisfied with the manner in which your complaint has been handled, you should write within one month to the independent Charter Commissioner who will investigate the matter and report any findings and recommendations to the Commission. Further details are included on our website.

Further information about the complaints process can be accessed using this web link: www.pcc.org.uk/complaints/process.html
Information about our service commitments to complainants can be accessed using this web link: www.pcc.org.uk/complaint/charter.html.
Further information about the PCC can be found on our website www.pcc.org.uk .

Do not hesitate to contact us if you need further advice. When you write to us, please quote our reference number on this email.

Yours sincerely

Thank you - I did see that and I was fuming

i got the same message to looney from the PCC - we all need to follow this up with them.

Do we agree that its Clause 1 - Accuracy that we are asking the PCC to follow up under?

Sorry, been away. I haven't had a chance to look online at the big list but tbh, it sounds like 'accuracy' IS the route to take!

well done, disgusting..

UPDATE

Just had an email from Press Complaints Commission saying:

The Sun will be printing a letter from Helen Charlesworth, an Ofsted registered childminder, in its letters page tomorrow in response to the article.

Thought I'd let you know in case you weren't aware.

LT