Hello all,
Sorry am late to this - am logging in from on hols - knew it was a mistake to turn my phone on grin.
Anyway couple of things to clarify.
First, as Helen said, we knew nothing of this article. I was quite surprised because Isabel Oakshott the journo in question had been in touch about our miscarriage campaign, as it's an issue she indicated that was close to her heart. She said she wanted to do anything she could to support the campaign and I dropped her a line only last week to update her on the fact that we're going in to discuss our code of practice with Andy Burnham and the Chief Nurse next week with a view to getting some or all of it adopted. She seemed thrilled.
So when I finally got a phone connection last night and logged on and saw the piece I was, as you can imagine a little hurt on all our behalves. I'm surprised tbh that she hadn't dropped me about it. But of course everyone is entitled to their opinion.
Bonsoir people use archive pix all the time - doesn't mean a fig about cooperation. We really don't need to court press - we don't and never have had a pr person or agency or team. It's pretty much me who the fields calls and I've not the time nor the expertise to spin things. That said we are usually happy to cooperate with quotes and interviews because, as I've said elsewhere we are happy to spread the MN word - we want newbies. At the moment it seems we are the story du jour - it's become a sureal tbh so we are turning down some interview requests. But as I've said a few times, I doubt it will last beyond May.
Secondly, Atlantis I think, mentioned something about us being politically aligned at MNHQ. That's just not the case and I can't see where that argument comes from? We are scrupulous about not taking sides in interview and offering the same level of guidance and support during webchats etc to all sides. We had Sarah Brown on but we'd be pleased to have Samantha Cameron too and have extended an invite. The Tories have announced they'll diseminate info to new parents via MN if they win, Labour are looking at our miscarriage code of practice. We try very hard to keep our personal politics out of it. In fact we see them as an irrelevance. When interviewers have asked how I'll vote that's what I say - it's irrelevant. From polling it's obvious that there's a left of centre bent amongst Mumsnet users compared to the country but as I've said a few times on radio, the idea that there's some kind of block MN vote is ludicrous.
We're sorry we can't extend a general offer to our 10th birthday party - there's just too many of you. If Wembley stadium was available we would! And as you know we have always tried to avoid elevating any posters above any others so picking particular posters above others would be anathema, however much we love you as individuals. But it would be unthinkable to have no Mumsnetters there, so we thought we'd put our efforts into a really great comp prize for entry (london hotel, partners, outfits dinner etc) and to get someone else to do the judging (we were tickled pink that Carol Ann Duffy said yes).
On the guest list are MN contributers and staff, webchattees, various politicians and those who've helped us on our way over 10 years and that includes quite a few journalists who, contrary to current trends, have written lovely articles about MN.
Finally, just a word about the premise of the article that MN has got bitchier and that we at HQ are somehow complicit because we did a gag about rockets.
Well it's quite a common theme over the years tbh. That MN is meaner, feistier, bitchier than it was. It is a site that was characterised by the description "Love and knuckles" many moons ago. Mumsnetters are opinionated, smart and we have always encouraged debate. We don't tend to delete things that can be viewed as unsupportive because they offer a contrary opinion to the OP - we accept that that is a different stance to many sites but twas ever thus.
Of course there's a fine line between telling it how it is and being unkind and no doubt sometimes folks overstep that line. The very best thing to do if you think that's happening more often these days is to report it. Our rules/philosophy hasn't changed. We delete personal attacks and don't allow bullying - our aim is to make parents' lives easier - but we can't and don't keep an eye out, so if you sympathise with Isabel Oakshott's opinion and want to rectify things - then report them. An essentially self-policing system only really works well if lots of folks are doing the policing.
Maybe we shouldn't have done the origami rocket - seemed a giggle at the time but of course like the Boden dress code followed by a wink on the invite - jokes that have to be explained are not necessarily the best jokes... Anyway I must return to family before dh combusts. Have a lovely week all.