Filed under: Journalism, Politics | Tags: Afghanistan, Gordon Brown, Jacqui Janes, Letter, Politics, The Sun
Gordon Brown is a prime minister who has received a plethora of media criticism, a figure who is easily satirised in cartoons, berated in numerous newspaper columns and is a complete juxtaposition of his predecessor; the media savvy Tony Blair. Much of the criticism Brown has received may well be justified when based on policy and whether we like it or not the majority of newspapers have a political agenda. However The Sun newspaper has taken it a step too far with their recent reporting of a letter sent by Brown to Jacqui Janes, the mother of a soldier who was killed in Afghanistan.
Brown’s letter was sent to the bereaved mother after he learnt of the death of her son, hand written it is purported to have numerous spelling mistakes (25 according to The Sun) including the surname of Jacqui Janes – misspelt as James. It is not entirely clear whether the number of mistakes were indeed spelling errors or just the result of poor hand writing (the Prime Minister is blind in one eye and partially sighted in the other). I’m of the opinion that Brown has been unfairly criticised as the result of this letter which he could of easily had wrote for him or typed up on a template, replacing only the names of families. Instead, he took the time out of what I’m sure is a unbearably busy job to hand write a personal letter (like he has for every other affected family, none of which have complained until now).
While I know that The Sun (biased in a swing-voter fashion) have now officially got behind the Tories, merging their pro military stance (yet never demanding an end to absurd conflicts as their too busy wrapping themselves in the Union Jack) with a biased anti-Labour tone has taken it too far. While the press, should of course have freedom and with that often comes political allegiance (I should mention, I can’t even find a mention of the letter in the pro-Labour Mirror) exploiting a grieving mother for political points is beyond reprehension. However, as far as I could tell Sky News and other media outlets who offered the public a chance to have a say on the issue people got behind Gordon Brown and this could be one of his better PR moments, although some believe that The Sun are just reporting with political bias much like other papers do and they didn’t overstep the mark.
Today The Sun also published a story regarding Mr Brown’s phone call to Jacqui Janes on Sunday night – on the website you can listen to the recording, may I add that Brown didn’t know the phone call was being recorded. Much like when The Sun didn’t inform Max Mosley of the story they ran on him (and who is currently fighting his case in the European Court of Human Rights, after winning compensation in the UK courts) the publishing of this phone call smacks of bad journalism. While I’m sure many will defend it as it falls within the public interest, I’d argue that it does not constitute anything of the sort, this is a personal phone call made about a personal letter, whether it was from the Prime Minister or not.
While I disagree with many Labour policies, the letter whether it had errors or not showed the sincerity of the Prime Minister who despite bad eye sight was willing to hand write letters to many families affected by the wars the UK are currently fighting. Jacqui Janes, who I don’t blame personally as her actions may be excused at such a hard time, being used as a political pawn is an indictment of The Sun - then again, who really respected the comic paper in the first place?
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I agree with you 100% here Scott. This story highlights the irresponsibility of the The Sun, and particularly shows trainee journalists the stories we shouldn’t be covering!
Many comments from the public on other forms of media (BBC and ironically Murdoch’s Sky,) all jump to the defence of the PM- and rightly so. To criticize a man due to poor spelling, handwriting or his blindness is completely below the belt. What we should be concentrating on are the REAL political issues- the economy, the environment and the strategic points of the war in Afghanistan.
I do believe that this piece of Sun ‘journalism’ has backfired.
Comment by Laura November 11, 2009 @ 6:22 pmThe Sun as we all know is always under the influence of Rupert Murdoch, who will stop at nothing to manipulate the public into believing his political agenda. Usually by throwing his support behind a party that will further his influence. So he will do anything to make New Labour look bad so people will support the Tories, just as he does. I don’t support New Labour or the Tories but Murdoch is a dangerous man.
Comment by rwaldron November 12, 2009 @ 2:46 pmI agree entirely with your argument. I believe The sun have stooped too low for even their standards. The letter has the sincerest message behind it, and many of the mistakes I saw on the letter I would put down to Mr Brown’s handwriting or poor eye site. To imply that Gordon Brown does not know how it feels to loose a child is again a The fact that they have used this letter and Mrs Janes’s circumstances is in my opinion very unprofessional. Where has the standard of journalism gone, can they not see the pettiness of their claims?
Comment by rohannaphillips November 16, 2009 @ 1:55 pmPersonally, I usually like the Sun and I am by not means a Gordon Brown or Labour fan. However I was annoyed at the way the obviuos swing in political stance had changed their reporting.
I don’t understand why Brown has been so critsied. He has taken time to write (which he didn’t have to do) and is blind in one eye, so that will obvioulsy affect his writing skills. However, I totally disagree with you on your idea that Mrs Janes has been exploited by the media. I’m not deying the press have hammed this story up into a big deal, but she was the one who exploited her son’s death in the first place. She has obvioulsy been paid for her story and I am shocked at the lengths she has gone to in order to gain publicity. I know if that was me, I would appreciate the letter no matter how many mistakes it had it in. I would be too busy greiving for my son, rather than seeking press attention.
Comment by ashpercival December 2, 2009 @ 12:27 pm