Former Local World boss Steve Auckland ducked questions about his exit from the company during a session at the Society of Editors conference.
Steve, who quit as chief executive of the regional publisher last month, took part in a panel discussion on the changing face of journalism alongside Trinity Mirror CEO Simon Fox and KM Group chairwoman Geraldine Allinson.
During the session, Steve was asked by chairman Ray Snoddy about his working relationship with LW chairman David Montgomery, who has now succeeded him in the chief executive’s role.
But Steve refused to be drawn and merely commented: “I did the job I was asked to do. We’ve had a very good first year and it’s a good time for me to move on.”
During the session, Steve also revealed that multitasking in Local World includes journalists selling advertising.
“There is nothing wrong with a journalist or an editor using their contacts to sell advertising. That doesn’t compromise their ability to report news,” he said.
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The BBC has again came under fire at the conference, this time for failing to attribute local newspaper stories.
The claim was made by KM Group chairwoman Geraldine Allinson during the session on the changing face of journalism.
Geraldine was asked how the BBC can assist local media, following Home Secretary Theresa May’s claim this morning that its online dominance is harming the local press.
Replied Geraldine: “They can help by attributing stories to us which they never do.”
The comment brought a swift retort from Fran Unsworth, the BBC’s head of newsgathering, who said: “Quite a lot of people have lifted BBC stories and put them in their papers without attributing them as well.”
She added: “The problems of local newspapers can not be laid at the BBC’s door.”
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Police chiefs were quizzed over new arrangements designed to ensure “transparency” in police dealings with journalists.
Keith Bristow, head of the new National Crime Agency dubbed ‘Britain’s FBI’ set out new guidelines to ensure all contacts between officers and reporters are “on the record.”
He and other senior police officers were asked by a sceptical audience whether it meant the “death of the tip-off” and how it will work at crime scenes.
Express & Star editor Keith Harrison asked: “‘How are ordinary officers going to be empowered to speak to media?”
Mr Bristow responded: “I would expect an officer to make a record of a conversation they have and report back to the
police press office.”
Barrie Jones, editor of The Leader, pointed out that police comms practices currently varied from county to county, but police chiefs said they wanted to get rid of “local practices.”
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Journalists selling advertising? This truly is the death of local journalism.
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Shhh! Don’t tell JP.
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“There is nothing wrong with a journalist or an editor using their contacts to sell advertising. That doesn’t compromise their ability to report news,” he said.
A reporter sells an ad for Slagz nightclub. Said nightclub then runs into trouble with the local licensing committee and police for repeated violence by its customers. Reporter has to write that story.
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journos selling ads eh? they cant do any worse than the sales people judging by some of the commercial revenues posted recently,good idea! the company can save on reps salaries and cut a few staff while theyre at it,and lets have sales reps writing stories too,lets face it they could do a lot worse than some of the drivel i read in the evening paper in Norwich that`s available at 8.00 am every morning ,’last nights news this morning’ ‘suppers news served cold for breakfast’
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Any chance the ad reps could sell some ads then maybe we wouldn’t be in such a bad state.
Here’s a novel idea. Ad staff finding new revenue streams or at least understanding the various products we now sell!!
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There’s the world of difference between ‘using contacts’, ie. putting an ad rep in touch with a contact, and selling the ad yourself.
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Why are you guys always knocking advertising reps ?
We can both work very well together to produce great publications like we do here at the Mercury.
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