Press freedom

[PurpleCanary 6,384]

Posters worried about a possible threat to the independence of Archant''s coverage of NCFC affairs following Stephan Phillips'' appointment as a director can be totally reassured by the following statement, made by Express proprietor Richard Desmond in a libel case, and reported by The Guardian:Despite rumours of Desmond''s interfering style circulating in the

newspaper industry and beyond, the Express owner insisted under oath

that he never intervened in editorial decisions. He declared that

newspaper proprietors never meddle in editorial matters. "It''s not the

way it works. You do not instruct or order your editors or journalists

to write features about people you know. It does not happen," he said.According to The Guardian this was received with "incredulity" on the press bench, but I think we can put that down to the bitter cynicism of journalists. If Richard Desmond says it never happens in the industry that''s more than good enough for me.PS. For the avoidance of doubt, I''m not seriously suggesting any similarity between what goes on at Archant Towers and events in the Express building by Blackfriars Bridge.

[Camuldonum 0]

It was met with incredulity this end as well having been on the sharp end of some of Mr Murdoch''s ideas and....errr.....likes or dislikes.  I also know some of the things Mr Desmond gets up to.

Two of Rupe''s dislikes are people who wear brown shoes and people with beards ("They are never trustworthy").  It forced the then deputy editor of The Sun to rapidly shave off his beard although, unfortunately, it did not have the desired effect of making him trustworthy.  He still isn''t.  Perhaps none of us are.[:$]

I could probably write at least half a book length on proprietorial "interventions."  Old Big Bob was famous for them at the Mirror, of course.

[pak mei 0]

[quote user="Camuldonum"]

It was met with incredulity this end as well having been on the sharp end of some of Mr Murdoch''s ideas and....errr.....likes or dislikes.  I also know some of the things Mr Desmond gets up to.

Two of Rupe''s dislikes are people who wear brown shoes and people with beards ("They are never trustworthy").  It forced the then deputy editor of The Sun to rapidly shave off his beard although, unfortunately, it did not have the desired effect of making him trustworthy.  He still isn''t.  Perhaps none of us are.[:$]

I could probably write at least half a book length on proprietorial "interventions."  Old Big Bob was famous for them at the Mirror, of course.

[/quote]I''ve got no major axe to grind with the Phillips appointment I think it''s just good business but it stands to reason you don''t bite the hand that feeds you, You can be sure that his presence on the board alone is intervention enough.