The media furore of the last few days

[JustineMumsnet]

Hi all,

Wanted to post about the extraordinary press coverage of the Riven story over the last few days as there's been a bit of speculation about what happened and not all of it accurate.

It's a fact that for the press to get excited about an issue they need a human interest angle (with pictures). Riven's post on Mumsnet was ideal but when it came to engagement with the media, Riven's clear intention throughout was to raise the issue of respite care for all and to shy away from her own story. Of course the press pretty much ignored her because if it hadn't had a dramatic personal angle there would have been no story - it simply wouldn't have made the papers. If Riven hadn't already met David Cameron, it wouldn't have made the front page. It was a perfect storm of a story for a press looking for human interest, evidence of cuts causing hardship and a David Cameron angle to boot.

The extent of our own involvement was to pass on the enormous number of media requests of which, as far as I know, Riven only actually responded to only 2 or 3 and one of those (the Mirror) was because they doorstepped her. I also suggested and drafted her statement post the Mirror piece as she was upset the morning after that they'd skewed what she said to turn it into an NHS cuts story. Once it had appeared in the Guardian and the Mirror as front page news it was lifted plus picture by almost every other broadcaster/paper.

The press found out about the story both because there are plenty of journalists who are MNetters and because Twitter and Facebook were alight with it - and as it turned out, the story was exactly what the media was looking for.

For the record we think Riven and those who got behind her to make a noise about carers should feel proud of what they've achieved in the last few days. I've got no doubt that the Government will tread more carefully around provision of care for those with SN than they did before as a direct result of their action. The feedback we've had from the major charities involved is that they've never had so much press interest in the issue and that they are thrilled that it has at last entered the public consciousness. We've also had tonnes of emails from carers thanking Riven/MNetters for raising the issue.

The intention of this post is to give a clearer understanding of how things evolved and were played out. Please feel free to discuss the issues raised here but we will delete posts that pick over Riven's personal situation because we really don't think that's on given the bombardment she's been under the last few days.

Glad to have a little update. Been thinking of Riven and her family. Take good care Riven and hope you can get out of your front door soon.

I agree with what you say Justine. The care issue is worthy but dull. Riven put it on the front pages. I do believe it was almost the power of Riven rather than the power of mumsnet: she has so much long standing respect, the force of her personality and cogent argument got that meeting with Cameron, and the sad fact is that other threads on the same issue got fewer responses.

She achieved a great deal and it was an enormous personal sacrifice. What hell it must be to lose your anonymity and have your life examined, whatever your levels of aplomb. Through it all she's still been up half the night and living the same care routine that has dominated her life for seven years.

I don't know her, am no friend nor will be, and I do loathe kiss-ass, but I prize my anonymity and I feel this sacrifice she has made is profound.

Her loss is huge. She was here all the time and it was a great support. Imagine losing that, when you are limited at home and can't get out as much as others.

It couldn't have been different. She didn't do anything wrong. Mn did what it could in the time it had. All anybody wanted to do was help. It could only have been different if she hadn't been pushed to the wall, and no one hre is responsible for that.

As a carer I am very glad that this issue is being talked about by people who previously wouldnt have even thought a lot about it.
My heart goes out to Riven and all carers

I am concerned that Riven used Mumsnet as a source of (reasonably) anonymous support, and that it will be difficult for her to use it as such again.

I am glad of the clarification. There has been a certain amount of negativity about the whole business and blame has been laid at MN's door, which I personally don't think has been fair.

In hindsight I don't know whether the whole twitter madness was a good thing or bad. I think there was a lot of good intentioned activity but I also think the whole thing got out of hand so quickly. Not Riven's fault, not Justine's, not MN's, not anyones. But just the impact of a new media age I suppose.

I hope that Riven and her family are OK and that they are not too bruised by this onslaught in the media. That must have been hugely difficult to live with.

The thing is there is enough money in the pot for respite with the money they promised so no one should miss out but because the money isnt ring fenced we know it won't go towards the respite needed.

I hope Riven is ok, and sending good thoughts to her and her family.

Do you think that is true, lisad?

Is there enough money in the pot?

As of May 2010 (latest statistics I could find), there were 1,790,000 individuals who claimed either middle rate or high rate care component of DLA.

As you are aware, to qualify for DLA at middle rate or higher rate, there must be significant levels of care and attetion needed throughout the day (and for HRC, during the night). So it would be reasonable to expect that these are the cases that would benefit from respite, in an ideal world.

Even 1 hour per week of respite per claimant, per week, each year, would require funding of £1,396,200,000, if we use the rate quoted by Riven of £15 per hour.

If every claimant with significant care needs was allocated 'only 6 hours respite' per week, the amount it would cost is £8,372,200,000.

Bear in mind that this is in addition to DLA, Attendance allowance, Elderly Care, Special School places and Specialist provision in Mainstream schooling for children with SN, the list goes on.

Do you really think that there is enough money for over £8 billion pounds in respite?

Also bear in mind that I am only talking about what it would take to bring those of us with nothing up to the 'only 6 hours' quoted. Remember, that there are many families who receive more than that. Do you think that there is enough money in the budget of councils, that we can all have sufficient respite?

Of course not. One family stamps their feet, and gets a little of the help they need. The next family get told 'you are coping'. The next family stamp their feet, and the family after that are told 'you are coping'.

There isn't enough money. Full stop. Nothing will change that.

There is enough -- it's just spent on the wrong things. Care should be an absolute number one tip top priority. It isn't.

Other costs should be cut to fund care. The problem is they are central government costs.

Labour stopped ringfencing for this, I hear in the recent furore, thus making care vulnerable to general cuts. There is additional unfairness when some have costs paid for out of NHS budgets.

The whole thing's a mess, but I agree with Lisa: the money is there, the will to spend it appropriately is not.

I am glad that the issue is out there, but sad that one person had to get sacrificed for that to happen, and that the carer issue in general is seen as 'worthy but dull' ( even if I know that that is the case in the media) unless it's about specifics. Agree that a personal story is the only way, though; my local journo wouldn't run a story about SN school problems without the sad photo of mum and son looking all traumatised. I think photos of just the child keep the focus on the child, which is the whole point and maybe makes the public think about who they are responding about.

Lougle and herbie, as before, have valid concerns. I guess, though, as I said before, we can't ever not stamp our feet on the basis that someone else might lose out if we win, not when it's for our kids. Every time I fight for more support for my son, I do it for him. I do of course care about other kids, and I do a lot of speaking out for SN children in general, but my son will always be my priority.

The main thing is that we've ALL got a responsibility, not in a wanky Big Society bollocks way, but in a genuine community/ society way, got to stand up for those who can't do it for themselves. Whether that's your own child, or someone who's in your local paper, or someone you see in a news story, or a sector in general e.g. carers, SN kids, elderly...anyone who needed it, we all need to start thinking about how our country's priorities should be, cos it's looking pretty scary from here right now.

I think and hope that Riven's story has raised wider awareness of what life is like for a forgotten, apparently 'dull' sector of society.

I'm glad that the issue is finally being taken seriously. The fact is, as Riven pointed out in her statement, successive governments on both sides of the spectrum have failed carers.

For years, authorities have relied upon the fact that carers will get on with the job with or without help (mostly without) because they do care for their loved ones. They know that people will do what it takes to look after their children, spouses and parents. It's easy to cut budgets in this area because carers are often just too busy or exhausted to do anything other than keep going.

My DM has a progressive, debilitating condition. Her quality of life owes very little to her local authority or NHS trust, but to the unfailing care she receives from my aging father and my DB and SIL. They receive wonderful support and advocacy from a condition specific charity that is manned by volunteers.

Riven's situation has touched a cord with so many of us because we know people that struggle day to day in similar situations. I'm glad that the issue is finally being taken seriously. I'm just sorry that it took a Mumsnetter's desperation to do it and that Riven's privacy has been invaded.

thanks for the update Justine and I hope that Riven and her family are doing OK.

I am glad that this has raised awareness of a serious shortcoming in the care system in the UK, but so sorry that Riven has had the added pressure of the media storm to worry about.

Like many mumsnetters, I added my voice to the campaign, thinking that I was doing the right thing and would hate to think I was responsible for adding to Riven's misery. However I don't think that the raft of posts condemning people for getting involved are helpful; it's easy to say that after the event, as I don't think anyone really anticipated just what a circus it would become.

regards to Riven and family

totally agree that there is no way near enough money for respite for all who need it and no amount of ring fencing is going to change that

the whole issue of social care needs tackling as a whole, and just focusing on respite care dilutes the issue and is far too short sighted

Thankyou for the update.

Nothing to add that hasn't been said except I hope Riven and family are ok.

Thanks for the update mn. Best wishes to riven and family.

I'm just sorry that Riven has probably lost the support network of MN through the well intentioned twittering of many. Now that her posts have been splashed across the papers and internet she has no anonymity left here at a time she probably needs support more than ever.

Georgimama Riven asked someone to contact 'Dave' and thanked the people who were contacting their media contacts.

Also, I have to say, that the first post by MNHQ also said 'we will contact the press'. That doesn't sound like 'we will field the requests that come to us', more like 'we will make sure the press are aware'.

I read the thread, and I seem to remember her asking everyone to calm down as it escalated. I don't doubt the intentions were well meaning, I'm just sorry at the (entirely foreseeable) effects. Some anticipated this outcome, on the thread at the time, as I recall.

What's the hmm for about worthy but dull? No need for that. Honestly people will start about anything.

I'm sure if Riven wants to use Mumsnet/Facebook for support she is savvy enough to know how to do it anonymously - frequent namechanges, no profile, different posting names for different areas of her life; completely anonymous FB account so only a few trusted people know it is her, etc.

I'm sure she is, but what a lot of hassle.

I have visited Riven and she seemed OK but wants and needs time out.

Mn thank you for clarification.

'Or if those who were concerned'

the problem of that is not without notable exception many of us concerned people already have our own disabled kids, partners or are themselves disabled.