I was pleased to see that my union backed the Helsinki Declaration for ethical PR.
Here are the key points on the NUJ site on the Helsinki Declaration.
These ten points outline the desired standards for people working in the PR industry:
- To work ethically and in accordance with applicable laws
- To observe the highest professional standards in the practice of public relations and communications
- To respect the truth, dealing honestly and transparently with employees, colleagues, clients, the media, government and the public
- To protect the privacy rights of clients, organisations, and individuals by safeguarding confidential information
- To be mindful of their duty to uphold the reputation of the industry
- To be forthcoming about sponsors of causes and interests and never engage in misleading practices such as ‘astroturfing’
- To be aware of the power of social media, and use it responsibly
- To never engage in the creation of or knowingly circulate fake news
- To adhere to their association’s code of conduct, be mindful of the codes of conduct of other countries, and show professional respect at all times
- To take care that their professional duties are conducted without causing offence on the grounds of gender, ethnicity, origin, religion, disability or any other form of discrimination.
All very laudable and I’m glad that the NUJ is fully supporting this mission statement for the PR industry.
Now the vast majority of people working in PR will have no problem in adhering to the Helsinki Declaration.
Of course, on Planet Fitba some very different rules apply, especially when the Ibrox brand is involved.
In Fair Caledonia, a penniless shyster was described as “billionaire” on the orders of company PR.
As you know a chap added his own Off The Radar garnish to the fable.
Amazingly, I’m told that such obedient credulity can win journalism awards in Scotland.
Indeed, since the days of Mr Whyte and Rangers (1872-2012), the Sevco shit show has benefited from a high-Level narrative.
However, I detect that not everyone will keep to the script from now on.
Pedro has ready access to the Portuguese media and they are not on inter-galactic rules.
I learned today that if he thinks that some of his players are about to be sold from under him in the January window in order to make ends meet then he just might say so in his native tongue.
Of course, it is highly unlikely that the journalist in Portugal would be at the required Level to appreciate that there are special rules for Sevco stories.
Moreover, if he thinks that a disruptive influence is being foisted back onto him then he might just tell it like he sees it.
Of course, this should be meat and drink to any reporter covering Scottish football.
Alas, we have seen over and over from the death of Rangers to the Sevco shambles that the stenographers are a pushover for the PR folk who act for the owners of teams based at Ibrox.
Sadly, that opens the door for inter-galactic malpractice, especially when the invoices are going to a convicted criminal.
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Have I missed something in the media?
1. Has the SFA made any response to the revelation of the dual shareholding of the Park family?
2. Has Regan retracted his statement on the Oldco UEFA licence where he stated that the wee tax bill had not crystalised?
3. If not has he made public the documentation from HMRC confirming that to be the case or correspondence with an agreed payment plan?
4. Does Regan/SFA have a coherent drug testing plan in place and ready to go, as at the moment the chances of a player being tested is akin to me winning tonights lottery…… The Scottish Sports Minister shoud be all over this, its a disgraceful lack of governance.
5. Has the SFA outsourced future Scottish Cup draws, following the shambolic last 32 Scottish Cup draw, following on from previous cock ups?
It’s been heartening, not, to read in the media a debate around King’s lack of readies and what impact it could have on Newco, irrespective of any future ruling.
Will it give the auditors pause for thought as they finalise the annual accounts…..will be very interesting to see what level the soft loans have risen to, what NOALS contribution has been, and when they will be repaid.
Interesting weeks ahead.
There may be some fine journalists in Scotland, but other than our bloggers and exalted internet bam pots, where are they? Hiding in a cave some where?
Since 2011/2012 succulent investigative stories have placed before them, yet no takers. We all know the reasons . Fear of the “Klan”, “the Herrenvolk”, “the Bearmacht” etc,etc.
Cowards! Shitebags!, and many more insults which are unprintable.
Edmond Burke said “ All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for one good man to do nothing “. You won’t find any of them in Scottish journalism.
Chapeau to our fearless bloggers.
Hi Phil,
I’m sure there are very good journalists in Scotland. However, in the case of the Rangers/Sevco farrago, most news media put their sports journalists on the case.
Scribblers who dealt on a daily basis with the merits of 4-3-3 formations, skills and values of players, on-field tactics and off-field romps and assaults, found themselves assigned to understanding taxation, tax avoidance, liqudation and the associated legal process. Instead of preparing for the weekend matches they found themselves sitting in the courts, or reading the newswires, blogs or tweets on the day’s proceeding in order to get their required copy.
In my opinion, the newspapers and broadcast media at best failed abysmally by not assigning business/legal journalists to the case. At worst, they did this to conceal the truth.
You might struggle with 10 yourself….. Well if such respected organisations as show racism the red card are to be believed.
Phil you may not have realised it but you coined probably the best Irish joke in years, “Ethical PR and Ibrox” all on the same line, now that is funny..
Its a funny world when we have a national paper who are meant to follow the code of conduct advertising ticket sales and ticket hotline numbers for season tickets in amongst editorial for one team and one team only.
Scotland is brimming with ethical reporters but where are they most days when there is a massive story to be told bjut its yourself who is the lone voice..
Isn’t there a body who regulate journalists in Scotland apropos inaccurate (lies) coverage Phil.
Keep at them.
I don’t ‘do’ Twitter, (I just can’t, with a name like that) so, if you don’t mind, Phil, may I tell The Clumpany here that his ‘Polar Bears & Penguins’ article might be the funniest thing I’ve read since Lennon threw a Spaniard in the works at his own ‘Shark-Jump Hotel’ ..?
Damn, man, that’s some GREAT writing!
Gotta say though, The Offensive Banner piece topped it for pertinence alone, as a lot of folk DO seem to have forgotten just how social media works and how if they run with the hare they can’t hunt with the hounds.
Cheers.
And peace to all.
Odd that the truth could cause so much of a shock, though, eh ..?
Folk so inured to it that the mere sight of it causes outrage and fury …
What does that say about both our journalistic standards and the standards of the people themselves ..?
Like ‘military intelligence’, ethical PR seems a bit of an oxymoron. Problem is the failure of journalists, and sports journalists in particular, to ask questions that discomfort the interviewee or subject or, even, fanbase. PRs today seem to spend most of their time preventing stories getting into papers, or online, and online is prey to all manner of fakery. It’s why sites like Phil’s are valued… they tell it as it is, and don’t hang out for scraps from anyone’s succulent lamb luncheon.
The weakness of journalism in Scotland reflects the tightness of the current ownership groups. They have spent decades cutting jobs in order to please shareholders with little regard for quality journalism. We are left with an imbecile media, more insulting than informative, at worse peddling handouts as news at best airing, but briefly, matters of real public interest. Desperate times for seekers after truth everywhere.
Respect Sir.
It defies belief that Jackson is still employed down at the Daily Radar.
Claiming the billionaire with off the radar wealth as his own was a lie, a big lie, and he was well aware of that when the story went to print.
Some time after the fact he claimed to have been infected by the duped virus that was prevalent at the time.
Another lie of course. Did the Daily Radar splash an apology all over the front page when Whyte stood on the steps of Ibrox and announced an admin event?
Nope, they never.
Only a moron would have been duped by Whyte so if Jackson wants to hang his hat on that claim then his moron status is confirmed.
What influences do Level 5 have over the same small group of journos who dance to their tune?
Are the journos, and their editors, afraid that they will be expelled from the magic circle if they don’t play ball or are there more sinister influences at play?
The DR’s demograhic is shrinking slowly but surely as no one with internet access buys a paper these days, certainly not if you are a football fan who refuses to be taken for a fool by the daily nonsense being pumped out in the media.
King is paying a fortune to keep the PR show on the road.
Level 5 has all its eggs in the Ibrox basket case, no King, no PR, no Level 5………tick, tock.
The newspapers are not interested in telling the news. They are only interested in advertising revenue: that’s what keeps the lights on. The SMSM get a great deal of advertising revenue from some on the Ibrokes board……
By you tone…you have answered your questions. This really is a sad time for any journalist. Yes there are a good few but many and their Editors are lazy, incompetent or are least corrupt; in the sense, they continue to churn out script that has been landed at their bar stool; now insert posh nosh establishment, maybe serving succulent Lamb. Sad but not totally unique in the world of Scottish Media v Catholic success themes. Good luck in your pursuit of the answers Phil. We are behind you all the way.
David Murray is a liar and a tax cheat yet he has not been questioned or confronted by anyone in the media in this country.
Former rangers managers Souness and Smith who received payments from rangers long after they had left the club have not been questioned or confronted by anyone in the media in this country.
This is an endless list.
The tax justice network report was ignored.
The corruption at The SFA.
The LNS report.
The journalists in this country are not doing their job.
The politicians in this country are not doing their job.
We live in a country dominated, corrupted and contaminated by a football club.
We live in a unique society.
Says it all really…
Well done sir.
Aye Phil,but the saying goes ‘what happens in Helsinki STAYS in Helsinki’
Unless you believe those same Planet Fitba journalists are going to now grow an overnight conscious,that’s exactly where this declaration will stay.It won’t make a blind bit of difference to Scotland’s masonic mass media.
I always wondered that the NUJ must have some set of ethical standards that are definitely NOT being adhered to in Bonnie Scotland.
It’s all well and good drawing up these ‘Declarations’ but implementing them;well……
HH?
There are many fine journalists in Scotland.
All unemployed ..?
There are indeed many fine journalists in Scotland but not the printed media. The sports desks and business desks chose to ignore the biggest story to unfold before their eyes and their editors clearly deemed this to be okay. Scottish newspapers are a disgrace to journalism – every one of them, and their English versions are no better. God bless the Internet.
Here,here.
I would wager Phil’s comment to be true,but where are they??
They’re never there when the nonsense gets spouted from £1brokes to even question their fanciful claims,£6m for some non-starter who’s set be a ‘real star’,then gets punted quietly for less than 10% of the £6m evaluation.Where then these many fine journalists??
Because I’m quite sure if Celtic F.C.,or any other Scottish club for that matter,came out with such a statement with a similar outcome,well,I’d wager heavily that that same scenario would result in a media frenzy tearing into ANY club,apart from sevco.
Yes Phil,many fine journalists,but NONE willing to make a stand for what’s right and show some integrity.HH?
Maybe their NUJ rep could ask them,Why?
Name some
The insolvency register is available for all to see. Rangers was a small business of c. £50m turnover which is small beer in a business sense. The pages devoted to it were huge relative to, for example, Murray International which had >10x the turnover.
It was a football story.
What is astroturfing? Sounds somehow appropriate ?
Fake grasses ..? 😉
It’s when someone pretends to be Lee Wallace.
My brother played professional soccer in the USA…
When he came home I asked him if he preferred Astroturf to grass…
He replied…
“I never smoked Astroturf.”…:0)
One rule for one team and different rules for everybody else. I trust lord Davidson got his fee upfront. The SFA will have a big QC bill as well trying to put up some excuse or other when the court of session gives its ruling. Keep up the good work
Hi Phil,
Why would yo send an invoice to a “penniless” glib and shameless liar. The Q of creditors must be heading along Edmiston Drive to Govan Cross, they’ll soon cross the Clyde heading Eastwards with a begging bowl.