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.

lisad123 please wish her (?both) all the best and let sparkly know that people are thinking about her

I've not felt the need to read every post on this topic so I have no idea what Andy Coulson has done (OK or even who he is) and what has been the result of all this the last thing I saw was the fuss over the statement from the council.

It's facile to say that what one person gets isn't going to impact on what everyone else gets though, it happens ALL the time of course an individual who shouts will often get more but it is the responsibility of those dealing with the issues to spread it fairly and 'trial by media' is likely to hinder that process in many cases.

(Not least being the fact that those most in need are often unable to speak out)

Honestly herbie if your children are suffering because of your condition you should be fighting for extra support. Who told you another family would lose out? It's utter rubbish - that is not how things work. The way it works is the council provides everyone with the minimum and will only provide what they should to those who will take them on.

When they used the 'oooh another child will miss out' line with me it didn't matter as their proposals would have left my son at daily risk of death so I ignored it anyway. But it's also not true.

For a which we had a great SW and I talked at some length with her about funding etc

I shall certainly be using riven's case when arguing my case with our council over thhe next few months. :rolls up sleeves:

Just as I used her case when taking on the PCT and their blanket policies restricting nappies per day. Those have apparently gone now.

Jenny it will be wrapping next weeks fish and chips

'I don't believe that Riven didn't know what she was doing either, she posted that she was on X Board and Y committee on many occasions, so she knows how the system works'

Yes; that she can shout all she likes but nothing gets done which is what I have learned (through lesser lessons) and so we were amazed

BTW she didn;t get any extra help agreed after April: simple permission to use up underspend in her DPs.

Herbie I get what you mean about worrying another family will lose their help. I don't know when you became disabled but I;ve been in this world now for 6 years and tbh ditching that whole guilt thing has been a big key to getting help: if we don;t ask they cannot learn that they have to prioritise it can they?

I just got ds1 a palce at a specialist AS Base for Comp; 2 kids of 37 applicants got a aplce. At every stage I worried about the other kids; posted that on here when we heard,. But if we pulled out some other child will simply get help ds1 needed and why should we get less? I will fight to maximise the help available- but not sacrifice us or ds's on the altar.

It took a lot though to reach that stage. Years.

I hope you don;tt think I am brown nosing herbie, and I will be sad to see you as we do need to ehar from others in the debate.

if you do, good luck X

Shouting "MN Royalty" is the Mumsnet equivalent of Godwin's Law. It doesn't strengthen any argument and looks chippy.

So, should our situation call for it, we'd best not shout and make a fuss in case it affects someone else? Really? Come on, this is the real world not the Waltons. People are primarily, and rightly, concerned for their own. That's how it works. It's all very lovely, fluffy and idealistic to be concerned for the whole world but it's a lie. Given the choice the whole world could go hang if the alternative was at the expense of your own child and I simply don't believe anyone who says otherwise.

Peachy is right, of course you will feel concerned that someone else may be missing out, but give up your hard won place? Hell no. And why would you, they wouldn't give it up for you.

Agree totally

And anyway, as we said, all she ended up with was an agreement to use up underspend on her direct payments before April - after nada. When they will hope she has gone away.

A help but far from a huge win.

"Please feel free to discuss the issues raised here but we will delete posts that pick over Riven's personal situation"

but surely it is Riven;s personal situation that is the story?

seems a bit odd to say we can discuss the news item just so long as we don't actually mention the news item.

This whole thing was ridiculous.well intended but ridiculous.

Could i suggest a list of do's and don't for when the bandwagons start forming next time? (last week eastenders, this week Riven, next week...who knows)
A bit like a complaints policy. first you harrass by email X, then you harrass by email Y and then if nothing happens you can approach Z?

because i realy dislike this "power of mumsnet" thing being used negaitivly by the press. it makes us appear a gang of screaming harpies who have have gotten above our station. That we seem to believe our own hype that if we shout loud enough the government will be on its knee's.

There is power in numbers, and even more power in intelligence. we have both by the bucket full. in future could we just use it a little more wisely. please.

Do you really think people should be proud of what they have achieved mnhq? What has been achieved exactly? the issue of carers of sn children is being talked about but nothing has and will change as a result - the news will be 'tomorrows chip paper' and yet thousands of carers are still struggling; a well thought out and planned campaign, based on facts, and directed by hq would have been far more effective - unfortunately the way it happened the story used can be, and has been, ripped apart, campaigning orgs are having to review their pratices to avoid the 'mumsnet effect' and still nobody has yet to find the magical pot of money to increase everyone who needs its respite. I agree with the above post entirely

Zubin that is what i have been saying since this whole thing started. but apparently i am merely an axe grinder.

I disagree with you Queen. There are thousands of families like Rivens in this situation. I have known children being admitted into hospital because their parents are exhausted, 'social circumstances', it's called. Sadly these families don't all have the support from mumsnetters who are willing to fight their corner so they are left to struggle, day on and day out. I'm pleased that it's been picked up because it highlights the problem that other families, as well as Rivens, are facing.

So how should it have been done? Because everyone is quick to criticise but no one has put forward any other suggestions other than that people needing help should shut up and know their place in
case someone else takes offence.

I don't know what all this will have achieved, I wasn't really involved as had other things going on, but staying quiet would have achieved even less.

I absolultely don't think people should have kept quiet.

But the very quick googling of disabily rights campaigns would have given people a good direction with which to aim at.

They don't work though Queen. When parents have to resort to camping out in the social services department or having their child admitted to hospital just so they can sleep then there's a problem. This isn't new, my experiences are from 2005!

It should have been managed properly like campaigns such as Mencap's are - well meaning tweeting etc is all very well and good but a campaign needs to be thought through, the desired outcome needs to be clear and needs to be based on absolute facts that can't be picked apart, yes it has raised awareness to an extent but what was it ever going to achieve really? Take death by indifference - 100% factual stories, clear desired outcome, well managed = successful outcome. A thought through campaign would have made it clear it was about all carers not 1 in particular, would have checked the facts before tweeting just about everybody and would have come up with some proposals rather than 'this mum can't cope give her more respite'

Belled - i am one of those families.

I know that i will not have benefited from any of this circus that Riven has had to go through.
I am fairly sure there are any other Mners who have either.

Riven may well get back her 6 hours of respite but in all honesty what will that do to help she was struggling when she recieved those 6 hours. she needs more than that, not just to have it reinstated.

a campign to improve support for ALL would have helped far more than just one family.

All i am asking is that in future, rather than just acting with well intended blind emotion. take a little time to look into WHO would be best suited to take on the task.

For starters, if everyone who had emailed sent those emails to the correct MP (i bleive it is Steve Webb that is in charge of disablity and carers service) then at the very least they would have been read by someone who has the ability to actually do something.

Some people seemed to think that DC is some all powerful god that can just bark an order and see it done. Real change takes time and effort. What was displayed here this week was an awesome display of social media and the strength in numbers.

Please could we just put it to better use

This isn't and wasn't a campaign. It may bring about a campaign, or highlight a campaign already underway, though.

"Because everyone is quick to criticise but no one has put forward any other suggestions"

A planning phase prior to seeking to catch the media attention.

Going first to the charities and interest groups connected to the crux of the matter and asking

a) for input in terms of how to get immediate,even if temp, help for an individual member in crisis.

b) asking how the critical mass of mumsnet could be put to work in terms of raising awareness, in what manner and offering to be the "grassroots" foot soldiers, online and off, under the leadership of those who have decades of knowledge of the breadth and profundity of the issues in hand and have a sound idea regarding which pitfalls should be avoided. Thus having those in the know leading the design of the charge rather than having to react to it.

c) considering connecting the critical mass of mumsnet to the critical mass of the mummy blogosphere (for eg) in order to maintain public attention (in a grassroots "bubble up" manner) to counteract the short attention span of "old comms" like mainstream press.

the above are ideas that might have huge holes in them, but still a conversation worth having if there is interest in making the issue one people want to keep at the fore of the public's attention.

I do see where you are coming from Queen. I think this site does have a lot of very well meaning people on it who tend to act first rather then plan. I don't think rushing into things was the best option, it was in and out of the media in 24 hours. I've been on here for a few years and have seen how manic things can get (sorry if I offend), I do think that people did get carried away.

Sarahitaly - excellent post.

But sadly there has been nowhere near as much support for the threads about the DLA cuts or links to already established campaigns to support disabled families.

It seems that without a well known face to relate to people just aren't that interested.

Lougle - not everyone who receives higher rate DLA needs respite carer. My sister has cystic fibrosis and gets higher rate DLA but don't need a carer constantly, only help when she has a bad infection. Most of the time she manages fine on her own.