Piers Morgan online now

[JustineMumsnet]

Hello all,
Piers Morgan, former Editor of the Daily Mirror and News of the World, and now Executive Editor of First News, a weekly newspaper aimed at 9-12 year olds, is coming to Mumsnet for an online chat on Tuesday 10th October at 12.30pm. So make sure you make a note in your diary to log on and post a question. If you can't make the actual event do post your question in advance here. Whilst he can't promise to answer every one he'll do what he can (and we reckon he should be able to type quite fast being a journo and all that).
Best,
MNHQ

Hello and welcome all to our online chat with Piers Morgan, former Editor of the Daily Mirror and News of the World, and now Executive Editor of First News, a weekly newspaper aimed at 7-14 year olds - as well as the 9-12 year olds previously stated . One lucky participant will win an annual subscription to First News, so don't be shy and fire away - Piers has promised to answer as many questions as he can. (Apologies in advance to those he doesn't get too).

OK, I've got a serious question.

Your adult papers consistently portray women as either sexual objects, vacous diet obsessed celebrities, homemakers, consumers or harridans. What are you doing in your childrens' newspaper to dispell the myth (perpetrated by your adult publications) that the only way to happiness for a woman is through the approval of men?

Are you going to regularly report on womens' sport for example? Or are you going to do what most newspapers in this country do and report mainly on football, with the occasional foray into female sport, (but only if they are winners and dress in really skimpy clothes)?

Does your childrens' paper have any section specifically for girls? If so, does it contain anything other than clothes, makeup and boyfriend advice? Do you think it is appropriate to warn girls about 'stranger danger' when the reality is that for most women the most physical danger they are ever in during their life is from a partner? Is it worth warning girls that 2 women a week are killed in the UK by their partners? Or is what a footballer's wife wore more important?

Why should I ever encourage a child of mine, especially my daughter, to read your newspaper?

What made you turn from journalist to media c'leb and do you regret it?

oh, good question, slug.

my question is this: how do you see the world of newspapers changing over the next 10 years? will the digital market push some papers out of business? will we just get more and more free dvds? can newspapers really keep cutting costs/staff as they are doing?

I really enjoyed your book, The Insider, though it was much more of a "dipping in" book (and chuckling on the tube) than a straight-through read.

What kind of books do you enjoy reading and why?

Hi Piers

I like the First News (I buy it for dd1 but actually I rather like the simplicity of it for myself ) and enjoyed The Insider, although got bored of it by the end .

What gave you the idea for First News and do you think the market will now be overrun with 'tweenpapers'?

TutterIckOrTreat it was the mumsnet members that came up with the RadioTimes bit but it was too long so shortened it to RT or RTKM

are you the-ere?

I have fabulous norks but am otherwise quite ugly .. would I make page 3?

i have rubbish norks but am not bad looking - would twigg still stand a better chance than me?

Hi everyone, to save a bit of time I thought I'd quickly respond to the various extremely cheeky questions that seem to be popping up through this thread:

1. I am not available for lunch, or sex. (Not without a photograph anyway)
2. I love Tony Soprano, and live off pork pies, so any comparisons to him are welcome.
3. I am definitely not a 'ginger'. And no, I have not shagged Fifi.
4. My 'bloody brill' book is still available, still selling 1000 copies a week, and still loved by all hairdressers. And I've just finished the next volume of diaries which will be out in April, so get your orders in now...then tell all your friends.

Hi Piers

Did Robert Maxwell commit suicide?

ooohh i like him

oh you're fab! ROFL

Mr Morgan, we know what kind of undergarments Major, Cameron, Kennedy et al favour - could you tell us what are your preferred style of underpants? Boxers, jockeys, slips, y-fronts, thongs or commando?

What would your mumsnet chatname be to describe your character or something about yourself?

Dear Piers
I'm doing a charity cycle through Vietnam in November, am I too old to be a First News reporter and report back for your paper? I have already cut out my Press Card just in case)

I'm cycling for Tommy's, the baby charity My Web Site

• also, I don't believe you have sponsored me yet ;-)

xxxx

Am not baying, but am waiting for responses to slug's uncheeky but pertinent questions about portrayal of women etc

Tell us about First News before we delve too much into your underwear!

Piers, would you say you are a feminist? Only I remember you coming along to Women in Journalism parties and making very entertaining speeches... were they tongue in cheek or what?

And how often do you see your boys (very nosey question but hey, journalists should be able to take it as well as dish it out).

Your book was fab, by the way, glad to hear there's another coming out.

Dear JoolsTOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooo,
Relax, age is no barrier to true love. Or lust for that matter.
I'd love to have a go at Patricia Hewitt, isn't she just the epitome of New Labour evil?
I'd never be a politician, I've got far too many skeletons to hide.

ANYONE would be better than Dave -I'll just ignore all the difficult questions and schmooze with the mummies-Cameron.