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MNHQ

The media furore of the last few days

9 replies

JustineMumsnet · 22/01/2011 22:44

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.

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MNHQ

JustineMumsnet · 22/01/2011 22:55

@sethstarkaddersmackerel

Justine, have you been in touch with Riven at all today or yesterday? Is she (& family) bearing up ok under the strain?

Last corresponded yesterday eve when we thanked God for Andy Coulson (that's something I never thought I'd say Grin)

MNHQ

JustineMumsnet · 22/01/2011 23:11

@LeninGrad

Hey Justine, wonder if tech could take the URL from the old thread and map it to this, that would be one way to redirect people.

We will certainly ask Lenin [you clever thing]

MNHQ

JustineMumsnet · 22/01/2011 23:18

@ssd

justine why don't you give this thread a sticky (or am I showing my age)

good plan

MNHQ

JustineMumsnet · 23/01/2011 10:38

@nottirednow

"The extent of our own involvement was to pass on the enormous number of media requests "

did you also tweet and join the Facebook campaign?

The way in which the story was presented on the news had as much to do with "the power of mumsnet" as it did with the problems of carers and how a family at the end of their tether get help - or don't. Why was it presented in that particular way unless MN towers was involved?

There are a lot of journalists who use this site. Perhaps whoever initially suggested a vulnerable family might go to the press needs to think about whether that was adding to the pressures of a family in crisis.

I know quite a few politicans and the only change I'd expect is they'll become even more sneaky about hiding what they are up to. Conservatives don't give a damn about the disabled, or anyone else who needs money spent on them, unless they see it hitting their vote. And a bit of newspaper publicity doesn't do it unless it's right before an election because they know that it'll be forgotten by election time.

It might achieve something if the story, or another like it, is publicised near election time. Or if those who were concerned actually look into things like becoming a link family, helping on holidays for the disabled or just being slightly less offensive to disabled families who dare to come onto mumsnet.

Yes we tweeted about the thread and linked to it on our facebook page - like everyone we were keen to raise the issue. The reason the story was couched by some as "The Power of MN" (not by the Guardian incidentally - they only mentioned Mumsnet on page 2 and the Daily Mail never mentioned MN in the 2 large pieces they wrote, only ever saying Riven had posted on a website) is because that's what papers do - they spin things and create angles to add to the interest.

I don't want to speak for Riven and I am sure the attention has been overwhelming for her personally - but she has been offered a bit more help and the issue has been well and truly raised. Most people would agree that that this a good outcome.

@Lougle

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'.

Yes we did intend to but we soon realised we really didn't need to - the press were all over it. I did call dh who works at the Graun but by the time he got back to me, they'd got in touch anyway.

MNHQ

JustineMumsnet · 23/01/2011 10:53

Sorry to delete you again HerbieTea but as we said in the OP this isn't a thread to have a go at individuals. I'm sorry if you've felt got at in the past - all I can say is that we don't allow personal attacks and if they occur do report them so we can get rid.

MNHQ

JustineMumsnet · 23/01/2011 11:04

@herbietea

I was telling Peachy, lisa, and highlighting the double standards which surrounded Riven on here. We're not allowed to discuss what has gone on, or her previous posts, it all gets deleted. But she can make personal attacks on people, and it wasn't just me, and MNHQ, as do a lot of other posters, look in the other direction and let her get on with it. It is sickening.

Yes you're allowed to discuss what went on, you just can't make personal attacks. It's one of our very few rules. We don't always see them however so if you think any have occurred you need to let us know.

MNHQ

JustineMumsnet · 23/01/2011 11:06

@Toughasoldboots

Herbie didn't post a personal attack , she explained what had happened and it was relevant to the point that she was trying to make.
This is completely proving what she has been trying to say.
Hello Peachy Smile

I can only repeat what I wrote in the OP: "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."

MNHQ

JustineMumsnet · 23/01/2011 12:02

@lenak

While the last few days must have been incredibly stressful for Riven at a time of already heightened stress, I am sure when all of the personal attention dies down, she will realise that what has occured will have long term positive affects.

Although she probably didn't realise how it would all explode, she is not stupid and some part of her must have known her existing 'Dave' connection could lead to this getting into the national press - even if it wasn't a concious intention at the time.

Justine is quite right when she says the media want a personal angle, but it is not just the media, it is the public at large who generally have very little understanding of these issues - they understand them much better if they can relate them to a 'face'. Concepts and ideas without that are much more abstract and feed into the "well it doesn't affect me so I don't care attitude". If they can relate it to a person they have much more understanding or at least inclination to empathy.

The front page interest in all of this will die down - but it has given charities some much needed ammunition to enable them to push their campaigns into the spotlight. Once they have public attention, it is much easier to keep the interest up. It is generating the interest in the first place that is the problem and this episode has helped to achieve that very difficult feat. Riven was in a unique position to do that. She was the one who said that she wanted the issue to be about all carers and the charities will make sure it is. I really do hope that, with hindsight, she comes to see all of this in a positive light.

Either way, my thoughts are with her, her beautiful daughter and the rest of the family for what they do on a daily basis. It cannot be easy and I admire her and all of the other parents with seriously disabled children for doing what they do because they have very little choice - I'm not sure I could do it!

------------

As for the funding for carers - the carers grant was ringfenced up until this year and it was substantial - the real criminal fact is that most councils massively underspent their carers grant, despite the number of people desperate for a break.

If anyone is particularly interested in this (and has a blog or something they want to write about it on) I suggest that you write to a number of councils in your local vacinity with a freedom of information request asking questions like:

What services are provided for carers. How much do they cost?

Over the last four years, what percentage of your carers grant did you spend on respite?

What proportion of carers on your books were provided with respite in the last four years (giving figures for each year)?

What is the average hours of respite each carer gets?

I know you would be very shocked at the answers!

Great post Lenak - and yes you're right it's not just the press who crave personal stories, the public do and without them there's no way they'll empathise.

MNHQ

JustineMumsnet · 23/01/2011 12:14

@herbietea

FFS I din't make a personal attack on her. I posted what she had said to me. It is nearly 3 years to late to delete her attack Justine, but thanks anyway!

Sorry but we don't clock every post - you need to report personal attacks to be sure we see them.

@herbietea

It is such a shame that MN create a furore, yet we can't debate it, unless we completely agree with everything that has been done.

You can debate it and clearly you can disagree. You can say you think all this has done more harm than good as you have done. I just don't happen to agree.

@herbietea

Riven did know what she was doing, she is on enough boards with the hospitals, councils etc to know how the system works. I just feel sorry for the person who is going to lose part, or all of their respite so that Riven and her family can have theirs increased.

It's this kind of statement that we think is unfair. You don't know what Riven's knew or didn't know and I very much doubt she or anyone thought things would get the level of exposure that they did (I certainly didn't) Nor do you know that someone else is going to lose care and obviously that suggestion is quite hurtful. All we are saying is that, given how stressful the last week must have been for Riven, we're going to delete this kind of speculation.

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