Further to the 24th comment (by you) on this thread (and other quips that have passed between us recently on your blog) about pornography… I know you’re a busy chap but if you can spare a mo I’d be interested to hear your opinion about the following story of a pornographic DvD currently on sale at Asda (and displayed and accessible to young children):

http://richardcarvath.blogspot.com/2009/03/depraved-pornography-on-sale-at-asda.html

No worries, I appreciate you must be facing a very stressful time at present. I did notice you had mentioned Barbara, so perhaps was being a bit pedantic.

I also spoke to Cllr Jane Murphy last night who should be back in touch with you again very soon.

Tom.

Funny this from the same man i know?i got the same line over city west rents. Think you might be wrong pamela, it concerns me over the ruling groups attitude to our local press. I have spoken only today over the issues relating to this and there are some serious worries. How much as your paper lost in advertisments from the council? how have other councils reacted in agma over this situation
are Manchester backing there local paper? people will lose Jobs and i think we all no who to blame

I certainly didn’t mean to include any political overtones in my post – I try to shy away from that entirely, though understand that this may be misconstrued, as I didn’t really make myself clear.

It was simply an observation that Labour councillors, not Labour totally (if you remember, I did say that Barbara Keeley had called) had not spoken to us since the news broke.

However, this morning, I had a really lovely conversation with Cllr Merry, who seemed genuinely interested in our situation and was very sympathetic.

I’m writing this with my personal head on, not my professional one, but I would like to add that of the staff that I have spoken to, we are all very touched by the messages of support we have received from the local community – across all political allegiances. Thank you.

I cannot see anything in what you have written above that I would contradict.

The example you give is certainly one of the Advertiser operating at it’s campaigning journalistic best.

Tom.

Cant but help casting my mind to the Salford Labour website which posted its less than flattering comments on the Advertiser and then took them down.
We need the free press, if anything as an essential part of the checks and balances needed in a democracy. Perhaps the Advertiser could promote more good news stories in Salford, but it should not become a mouth piece for the Council or its political opponents.
If you look at the work it has done

http://www.salfordadvertiser.co.uk/news/s/1100520_thank_you

I personally prefer this to ‘Life’ in Salford.

Jane Murphy is more than capable of speaking for herself – but I will say that in all the years I’ve known her ‘irrational vitriol’ is not something I can imagine her pouring forth about anything or anybody, publicly or privately.

In fact, I’d go as far as to say some aspects of your blog’s analysis are more likely to fall under this description than anything she’s ever said!

Pamela,

Next time I see Cllr Murphy I will be sure to ask her to give you a phone call to arrange a meeting. Or maybe a chase up phone call is required from the Advertiser’s end?

Either way, I’m certain a more positive tone in the Advertiser’s coverage of what the Council does for Salford is going to be very welcome.

One further question; if your post wasn’t meant to be political, why make the inherently political point about Labour councillors being the only ones not to have contacted you? That one could easily have been penned by Mr Declan ‘all Labour councillors are rubbish’ O’Brien of Reader’s Letters page fame!

Tom.

Having just spent my week’s political philosophy tutorials getting my students to discuss the relationships between pornography, freedom and equality I can see that it’s probably a subject worthy of a considered post some time in the future (but not now).