unicornnews: Bloggers welcome No 10 review

Political bloggers have welcomed the review of Downing Street’s communications which was announced last week, and which may further open up the channels between the heart of government and the media at large. Some reckon the move is in recognition of the growing importance of political bloggers over more traditional political journalists. Infamous blogger Paul ‘Guido Fawkes’ Staines announced the review with the headline “Guido killed the lobby star”. In reality the secretive nature of the British government’s press briefings to so called ‘lobby journalists’ was ended years ago, not least when Tony Blair’s press secretary Alastair Campbell put the daily updates ‘on the record’. These days a summary of the daily briefings is also put on the Number 10 website. 

But the new review of communications at Number 10 may further open up the daily press meetings, especially proposals to televise some or all of the briefings. Among the TV proposals being considered is one that the Prime Minister’s press secretary’s briefings be filmed, while another suggests that a senior minister provide a bespoke weekly briefing for the TV cameras. In the current government that minister would most likely be Peter Mandelson, widely seen as the current government’s best communicator, despite continued mixed public opinion of the Business Secretary, even among faithful Labour voters.

The review is being headed up by Simon Lewis, the former Vodafone and Buckingham Palace communications chief who recently became Gordon Brown’s press secretary. He announced the review, alongside Financial Times journalist Jean Eaglesham, who chairs the lobby reporters’ group. Both will lead the review, which will also involve a number of other journalists and government officials.

Lewis and Eaglesham admitted the review was needed partly because of dramatic changes in the news media in the last decade, not least the 24/7 nature of news reporting in the internet and rolling-news-channel age, and the increasing importance of bloggers and social media in setting the news agenda.

However, there are other motivations for the review. With the reputation of the political community at an all time low following the fall out of the expenses scandal, Lewis’ review is also part of an initiative to try and make government seem more open in a bid to renew public confidence in MPs and ministers.

Posted Monday November 16 2009 by Chris Cooke

Related categories: Political Communications