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Post by frankicookney on Nov 29, 2012 9:37:11 GMT -5
Hi there,
I'm not sure if this is right place to post this but hopefully you'll have a read and let me know what you think.
I'm a journalist at the Sunday Mirror. I'm working on a story about the situation with UK Coal and the various planned closures (Maltby etc).
I'm looking for a family - two or even three generations - who were affected by pit closures in the 80s and who are facing job losses now. If this sounds like you or someone you know, get in touch.
We'd like to offer you the chance to tell your story. You would need to be prepared to speak to me about your job and family and agree to being photographed by one of our photographers.
Do feel free to contact me directly. Best wishes and I hope to hear from you,
Francesca Cookney
Sunday Mirror
020 7510 6148
francesca.cookney@sundaymirror.co.uk
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Post by tygwyn on Nov 29, 2012 14:24:05 GMT -5
Lets talk business,
What are you paying?
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Post by dazbt on Nov 29, 2012 16:57:32 GMT -5
Lets talk business, What are you paying? That's a laugh Jim, The Mirror paying ? ;D Francesca isn't Mr. Roy Greenslade still around to help with the facts? |
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Post by Wheldale on Nov 29, 2012 17:12:52 GMT -5
What's that old newspaper saying........never let the facts get in the way of a good story?! ;D
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Post by John on Nov 29, 2012 17:43:23 GMT -5
I'd imagine they were one of the papers that were throwing crap at "the disgusting miners" who were trying to save their jobs and thousands of other workers jobs, am I right or wrong???
Then they have the audacity of having "short memories" and wanting a good story to manipulate years later to suit their bottom line.
I cannot see any mineworker these days having anything to do with either printed or televised media.
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Post by dazbt on Nov 29, 2012 17:53:52 GMT -5
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Post by dazbt on Nov 29, 2012 18:38:40 GMT -5
In fairness, I had always believed that The Mirror was the 'working man's newspaper', supporting the miners particularly, but, as I get older and more cynical I look back and realise that like Mr Gillette who determined that a successfull business is often best based on providing a consumeable to an existing 'audience', a change in audience perception requires a change of presentation or a change of audience, and then, along came Maxwell the Magnanimous.
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Post by shropshirebloke on Nov 29, 2012 19:08:42 GMT -5
To find out just how foul the campaign against the NUM was (and not just the Mirror), read Seamus Milne's "The Enemy Within". I seem to remember The Guardian were a bit economical with the truth during the strike as well - the proletariat of Hampstead can only put up with so much...
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Post by dazbt on Nov 29, 2012 19:17:54 GMT -5
I only read the TV Times these days, and I don't believe much of that either.
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rac
Shotfirer.
Posts: 87
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Post by rac on Nov 30, 2012 5:41:50 GMT -5
I only read the TV Times these days, and I don't believe much of that either. excellent book every miner should read, really does expose the so called impartial press and media and the dirty smears they ran. as said previously i can't see anyone being too eager to take this journalist up i think it's a bloody cheek asking! |
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Post by John on Nov 30, 2012 7:05:37 GMT -5
I haven't bought or read a newspaper in years, they are not even a good substitute for toilet paper these days with the eco friendly inks that come off on the skin blackening ones undies....Pity the newspaper owners weren't eco friendly...
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Post by John on Nov 30, 2012 7:09:50 GMT -5
Just an aside, I don't think this young lady is old enough to remember "King Coal" it's traditions, disasters or the media with it's union traitors who sold out their comrades when they needed them most, ie reporters who never reported the truth, yeah true, the editors would never allow the truth to be printed, but reporters and printing unions should have closed the presses down until the owners/editors allowed the truth to be printed.
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Post by frankicookney on Nov 30, 2012 8:41:03 GMT -5
Hello all,
Thank you for your thoughts. I understand your skepticism but I want to assure you I am approaching you in good faith.
Personally I find it appalling that it's over 25 years later and yet people are still facing the same struggles, the same financial worries, and the same 'look after your own' attitude from a Tory government.
I come from a working class family from Manchester and I don't know about you but when my parents raised me and my sisters they envisioned a brighter future for their children. Yet all across the UK there are people out of work and struggling to make ends meet.
You're right, I don't remember the 84/85 strikes but I am lucky enough to live in an age when I have ready access to our history - all over the internet and in our libraries and schools. I was also brought up with a keen understanding of fairness - especially when it comes to people's job prospects and living standards and it is this that prompted me to suggest the feature idea to my editor. Regardless of what others have written before me, this is something I feel passionately about and I'd love to do it justice but I would need your help to do so.
As for the charge of being a 'young lady'... well, I'm pushing 30 now but if that still counts as 'young' then I'm delighted to accept the title! In any case, I don't think it disqualifies me from wanting to talk to people and hear their stories.
As I said, I completely understand your hesitation and no worries if you can't help on this occasion. You have my contact details now so if there's ever anything you would like to talk about - any story you think deserves to be shared or represented in YOUR words - then give me a shout.
Til then best wishes,
Francesca
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rac
Shotfirer.
Posts: 87
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Post by rac on Nov 30, 2012 8:43:31 GMT -5
 Just an aside, I don't think this young lady is old enough to remember "King Coal" it's traditions, disasters or the media with it's union traitors who sold out their comrades when they needed them most, ie reporters who never reported the truth, yeah true, the editors would never allow the truth to be printed, but reporters and printing unions should have closed the presses down until the owners/editors allowed the truth to be printed. totally agree john ,as you say the younger generation have no idea all they have to rely on is the misquoted double dealing lying press and media. is this what is known as democracy ? i think not.it makes one wonder how the country would be now if thatcher had'nt been allowed to shut pits down and sell all our utilities off.hmmm.
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Post by John on Nov 30, 2012 10:06:41 GMT -5
Just an aside, I don't think this young lady is old enough to remember "King Coal" it's traditions, disasters or the media with it's union traitors who sold out their comrades when they needed them most, ie reporters who never reported the truth, yeah true, the editors would never allow the truth to be printed, but reporters and printing unions should have closed the presses down until the owners/editors allowed the truth to be printed. totally agree john ,as you say the younger generation have no idea all they have to rely on is the misquoted double dealing lying press and media. is this what is known as democracy ? i think not.it makes one wonder how the country would be now if thatcher had'nt been allowed to shut pits down and sell all our utilities off.hmmm.
The irony of it was the steelworks didn't need all the coal were producing and so AI&S had shut down the most productive faces, cut overtime to emergency work only, closed the books to recruitment.We were in negotiations for a new "award" for the industry. higher pay extra weeks leave, extra sick leave etc... So the unions had their books closed, an overtime ban on and work to rule.
We were shocked when AI&S demanded we lift the restrictions when it suited them down to the ground!!
It eventually led to government intervention, an impartial Judge being appointed and a tribunal to hear both sides of the story....The employers lost, the Judge awarded us with the biggest raise the industry had seen in years, extra two weeks leave, 5 new sick leave days, two pair of workclothes per year, a new bonus scheme that reflected our hard work etc...
Luckily the media were backing us to the hilt and Joe Public was there helping with cash donations for food for the striking mens families....It was a long strike, but not as long as the UK strike. |
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rac
Shotfirer.
Posts: 87
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Post by rac on Nov 30, 2012 12:54:00 GMT -5
totally agree john ,as you say the younger generation have no idea all they have to rely on is the misquoted double dealing lying press and media. is this what is known as democracy ? i think not.it makes one wonder how the country would be now if thatcher had'nt been allowed to shut pits down and sell all our utilities off.hmmm.
The irony of it was the steelworks didn't need all the coal were producing and so AI&S had shut down the most productive faces, cut overtime to emergency work only, closed the books to recruitment.We were in negotiations for a new "award" for the industry. higher pay extra weeks leave, extra sick leave etc... So the unions had their books closed, an overtime ban on and work to rule.
We were shocked when AI&S demanded we lift the restrictions when it suited them down to the ground!!
It eventually led to government intervention, an impartial Judge being appointed and a tribunal to hear both sides of the story....The employers lost, the Judge awarded us with the biggest raise the industry had seen in years, extra two weeks leave, 5 new sick leave days, two pair of workclothes per year, a new bonus scheme that reflected our hard work etc...
Luckily the media were backing us to the hilt and Joe Public was there helping with cash donations for food for the striking mens families....It was a long strike, but not as long as the UK strike.know what you're saying john but the 84/85 strike was not about money it was about saving pit's and communities and safeguarding the industry and what happened was we were let down and betrayed by our own people so the industry was decimated and now we are held to ransom by all and asunder .Take a look at china and they can't produce enough coal to fuel their industry so are having to import it! and are riding so high on it they look like in a few years they will be the no1 super power.mention coal as being a dirty fuel to them polluting the atmosphere-do they care? we used to be totally self sufficient at one time but narrow minded vengeful politicians put paid to that. i suppose the only saving grace is that the ones that were in the tories pocket at the time were also sold down the river and lost their job's and pits as well.deja vous. |
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