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Mumsnet in the news

58 replies

justiner · 29/03/2003 09:01

Thought we'd point out the feature in Today's (Saturday) Times Magazine with a lovely pic of those who attended the pre-Christmas dinner in London. The motherhood survey is scheduled to be featured in tomorrow's Observer (news section) and space permitting we should also be in the Sunday Times (news review) with a light-hearted quiz to test how good a mother you are.
ps to all those who attended the first Vinopolis lunch forgive me for hamming it up a bit - artistic licence and all that. You'll have to buy the Times now to see what I'm talking about...

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WideWebWitch · 31/03/2003 10:31

Completely agree about the survey elliott, I thought the same. And as someone said on the thread about the motherhood survey, yep, of course it was reported as "x% of mothers think Nigella (or whoever it was) is a great role model" Err, we weren't given much choice! I don't think it let you answer 'none of the above'. Surveys shmerveys hey?

WideWebWitch · 31/03/2003 10:32

ooh bk, we posted at the same time and said the same thing!

Original poster
justiner · 31/03/2003 12:05

Hang on a minute guys. The question asked about celebrity mothers was: Which of the follow PUBLIC figures is in your opinion the best role model for mothers? It was not asking who are your role models and it was not reported that way. "Mothers chose Nigella Lawson as Britain's best PUBLIC role model." ie it was NOT reported as "x% of mothers think Nigella (or whoever it was) is a great role model".
There was an "other" option - ie you didn't have to answer from the choices given. 12.3% of respondents said other but there was no one in the other list who got more than 1% of the vote. Of course this wasn't a completely pucker survey - mumsnet members are far from being a representative sample of the country - they are almost certainly better educated and wealthier than the average. But that doesn't mean the results aren't interesting. And in our opinion the results were not used in a misleading way by the Observer.
What you can say (and we have some sympathy with this view) is that asking which celebrity is the best role model is not a particularly high-brow or worthwhile question. Fair enough, but we were trying to get a bit of publicity for mumsnet because it attracts new members and ultimately that is the only way we are going to survive financially. And the plain truth is, as evidenced by the way the Obs presented the piece, stories about Nigella, Posh et al is what gets you in the papers which is no mean feat when 80% of there pages are taken up with the war.

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Original poster
justiner · 31/03/2003 12:40

Actually, reading it again, you're right Elliot, the Obs did use the words "representative sample" which is misleading. As I said I very much doubt we're representative and we certainly didn't pretend to be. Was a shame about the book not getting a plug - it did in the first edition but got chopped in later editions in favour of something about Gordon Brown.

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bayleaf · 31/03/2003 12:57

I do sympatise Justine - you must feel you're between a rock and a hard place with us lots picking at everything you do - and yet what you are doing is your very best attempt to do whatever it takes to keep Mumsnet going( and if that means mentioning ''media friendly'' mums then so be it!)
We'd be shouting even louder if you WEREN'T trying hard and just said '' sorry guys, mumsnets off - we're giving up....''
A B I G thank you for all the work you must have put in to getting the articles written and in the national press in the first place - hope they sell lots and lots of books ( and no I've still not bought one but I will!)

Lil · 31/03/2003 13:02

Justiner et co. ignore the nit-picking - we think you're great!! thanks for mumsnet, I read the article on sunday and it was lovely feeling part of a club like this one. Am curious when the website was actually first launched though - it looks like it was about the time I had my first baby, I can't remember when I first logged on but that's great timing!!

good luck with the books (I feel like I'm spreading the gospel at the moment!!)

Demented · 31/03/2003 13:07

I don't know Justine, what made them think that people would be more interested in an article about Gordon Brown, the cheek of them!

I too would be interested to have a look at some of the Mumsnet news articles as I missed them all, can anyone post any links?

Batters · 31/03/2003 13:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Lil · 31/03/2003 13:59

can't do links but heres the Observers article with the survey...

www.observer.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,6903,925633,00.html

WideWebWitch · 31/03/2003 14:13

OK Justine, the article said "Mothers chose Nigella Lawson as Britain's best PUBLIC role model as a working mother" so I stand corrected on my quote, which was wrong. I didn't remember there being an 'other' choice so sorry if I was wrong about that too.

I still don't think it's accurate to translate a mumsnet survey of 1,013 as either a representative sample (I know you agree with me and didn't tell The Obs it was a representative sample) or as "1 in 4 British parents thinks being a parent is harder than it was for their own mothers" unless that 1 in 4 figure was from an entirely different survey?

I do agree that whilst not scientific it was interesting, and of course we all want mumsnet to get publicity, attract new members and keep going. So fine, mentions of Posh and Nigella got it in the paper - good for you and does it matter if the way the stats are reported is inaccurate or misleading? Probably not. I do still think surveys schmerveys!

BTW my being interested and taking issue with the stats reporting shouldn't be construed as nit picking, I want mumsnet to keep going as much as the next member

Crunchie · 31/03/2003 14:37

Just a quick vote in support of the mumsnet survey. I used to work for one of the big parenting mags and we did 'National Motherhood Survey' thingys. Usually 1000 - 2000 respondants were analysised. Now my understanding was that results from a survey of 1000 people are statistically viable ie are statistically a good representation of the nation.

When surveys are done re politics or whatever usually 1000 ish people are asked, and this is enough. Mori Polls etc use a few more than this, but the opinion polls that are x% are for the war etc, will be from a survey of less than 2000 people. However they will also ensure the survey follows the socio-demographic profile of the country as a whole.

So big support to Mumsnet, this survey was viable in a national forum, however not entirely represntitive since our socio-demographic profile is not the norm in this country.

CAM · 31/03/2003 15:03

Just wonder how y'all know that mumsnetters are not a representative group socio-demographically. Has a survey been done that I don't know about to prove this?!!

Marina · 31/03/2003 15:14

CAM, one of the factors must be that we all have internet access... I think that alone would skew our profile.
Sorry to hear bits of the Observer article got culled in favour of the Chancellor, but have now seen the Times piece and thought it was a terrific plug for us all. Nice article, Justine!
Is it feasible to be told here when more press coverage is likely, then we can make sure we buy the right paper...don't think there's been anything yet in the Guardian, Telegraph or Independent.

lou33 · 31/03/2003 15:14

The quiz is here if you cut and paste (won't let me link).www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,1-525-627684,00.html

Tinker · 31/03/2003 15:51

The Mother's Day top ten was in the Independent last Thursday - with sobernow's Zafira!

Original poster
justiner · 31/03/2003 16:20

...and Guardian's G2 had a piece entitled Mothers doing for themselves about websites being the new gurus last Weds' parents pages. (Our idea). Yes will definitely try and keep you posted on any press coming up - got radio and the Telegraph in our sights now... anyone with any contacts do let us know. Thanks, Justine.

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SueW · 31/03/2003 17:09

Marina, a very high proportion of non-middle-class people I know have internet access. It isn't a privilege of the middle classes, in my opinion.

I think for a long time it was, since it came out of universities but even our local council has a plan to get the whole of the largest council estate internet access by something like 2005. Which will mean, I suspect, more people on the council estate will have internet access than on any other development in the county!

Demented · 31/03/2003 17:30

Thanks for the links, the survey in particular was very good, made me laugh!

sobernow · 31/03/2003 18:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Chinchilla · 31/03/2003 18:35

Did anyone else notice that the Observer article called us 'Momsnet'? Hope there was a better description of the site included in addition to that!

elliott · 31/03/2003 18:49

Justine, I wasn't meaning to nitpick - did like the G2 article - but as a researcher by trade the words 'representative sample' did rather leap out at me (and it is one of my bugbears that much reporting tends to be scientifically illiterate) - but I'm sure you didn't use those words....
Anyway it wouldn't be mumsnet if we weren't so forthcoming with our constructive criticism, would it?

Marina · 31/03/2003 19:46

did I say it made us middle-class SueW I was thinking more of the time we all manage to find to keep up with the site...while other commitments are put to one side!
How is your dd by the way? Have you seen the specialist again lately?

bayleaf · 31/03/2003 20:42

It's a bit of a long shot - but just to ''do my bit'' I've sent a pleading email to an ex whose partner works ( or did when we last spoke about her job) on Woman's Hour to say how worthy Mumsnet would be of a mention....

SueW · 31/03/2003 21:06

Marina

DD is going into hospital again on Thursday all being well. They are doing an endoscopy and possible dilatation. Unfortunately she developed a cold last week which put it in jeopardy but she seems much better now. I have to call the hospital to double check tomorrow that they are happy.

I am much calmer about it this time around - well the general anaesthetic anyway - but the procedure is only 15-30mins. I don't expect it to achieve anything and they are already saying they may have to re-do the surgery.

Carriel · 31/03/2003 22:49

Thanks Bayleaf for the Radio 4 attempt - we keep trying and would love to get onto Woman's Hour so all assistance gratefully received. Just a quick plug for the boo launch. I've heard from a few folks, but there are still plenty of spaces left - are any of you guys coming?

PS No zafira's yet sobernow, but will let you know...