EASTCLIFF’S LATE BREAKING NEWS

There is breaking news and breaking news, ECR who rarely visits this part of the web, has on Thanet’s other top Blog, Eastcliff Richard a “Breaking news feature”, unfortunately for him, its not as quite farm fresh, as he might think, since it refers to the extraordinary decision of KCC to extend the life of KENT TV.

The story was covered at some length (yawn!) on Bignews back on the Tuesday 30th June but its fair to say that the story ECR links to by Paul Francis serves up the facts in a more professional and agreeable form than is likely on these pages.

Kent Council TV update

I see that since my posting on Monday, that KCC announced later in the day, seven kent based production companies would be producing content for their Kent TV (the Rate payer funded TV channel).

Now a question that comes immediatly to mind, is what is the role of Ten Alps, the company that has been awarded the 1.2 million pounds contract for the next 2 years. Assuming that the money for these additional production companies is coming from the same pot, then I suppose one cannot complain to much, except if you care to take a look and the location of these production companies, 5 of which are located in the centre of Kent around Maidstone and Ashford, with just a couple in perhaps more social deprived areas (Sittingbourne and Faversham).

It would be interesting to see whether Ten Alps thought to contact local video makers such as er... myself or ECR, well I can answer for myself and the answer is no, and I´m willing to bet that no effort was made to recruit ECR either, which begs the question, just what community are KCC & Ten Alps serveing.

Anyway given the likely content, I doubt anyone could produce something worth wathching, choke on this lot "greener lifestyles", "local helath issues", "kent volunteers".

If you´d like the full facts from the KCC press release click here, incidently at this point things are still a little confused as to the start date, mention has been made of 21st September "formal launch" at its studios. I get the feeling that things are probably not too well though out, as far as this enterprise is concern, the original announcement appeared rushed and poorly though out as I think will be the product.

NEWS FOR THE SUNDAY PAPERS

As with everything, you tend to get what you pay for, particularly with your Sunday papers, of course the main choice is whether to buy down, middle or up market. However whether your reading the Times or the People, you’ll find that the term ‘story’ is very appropriate to most of what we read.

Last Sunday in common with many people, I stumbled across Nick Dorman’s piece about Margate, which I’m sure was factually correct, where fact occurred, but in my opinion, it was selective and constructed to be a sensational piece. Just what you expect in a ‘popular’ Sunday paper.

Now I see that according to the authoritative and much respected EASTCLIFF RICHARD blogsite, that former local journo Nick Dorman has felt it necessary to communicate his offence at remarks, which he believes have crossed the line of fair comment.

Well he might be right, it seems that its not only residents of Margate, that have feelings, meaning we don’t like being rubbished by some down market Sunday paper, seems that journalists don’t like those they offend biting back.

Obviously, no one can condone libel but maybe a sense of proportion is called for I’ve had threats and libels by some of my readers and find it best just to ignore them.

Still its refreshing news, for those journalists, who write unfair inaccurate reports, that the worlds changed and just about anyone can legitimately challenge sloppily written stories, I have on more than one occasion.

Any way good luck to Mr N. Dorman, I hope he finds something positive to write about Margate and soon.

ECR TV / BIGNEWS LAUNCH TV PRODUCTION

THE WESTWOOD CROSS VIDEO

After an exhausting day of wrangling between ECR TV and Bignews Margate, following completion of a co-operative venture, Bignews Margate has after taking legal advice, reluctantly agreed to allow transmission of the feature "Westwood housing development makes Tony Flaig cross".

''This whole affair has been an eye opener'' says Me, a couple of weeks ago we were approached by ECR TV, to produce an uplifting account of the progress made by Thanet council, in making Thanet beautiful, we were given the impression that we would have strict editorial control on the finished product.

Concerns were raised on day one of the production, when having been told that Eastcliff Richard, would himself be directing the production, he failed to show, instead we were greeted on location by Mr Ceaucescu who was keen to point out that he was a graduate of the Bucharest Institute of Cinematography, having won several awards, for his work with the Romanian Ministry of Information. He also insisted on expressing extreme gratitude, with a tear in his eye to Mr Richard for not only allowing him to make films again, but also allowing him to drive his benefactor to meetings, and help keep things tidy in exchange for £50 a week and being allowed to dine on the finest English cuisine '' the beans on the toast '', having his own room in the garden, called a shed.

Anyway if alarm bells weren't ringing then, they were this morning, when we receive notification that the fee payable to Bignews, was being made in the Channel Islands, for ''tax reasons'' and then we received the actual finished product not having participated in the editing. Whole sections of our script have been ripped up, our praise for the fine job that Sandy Ezekiel and his colleagues have done, the inspirational leadership over the Turner Gallery, Dreamland and Margate high-street. Even worse our views on Westwood Cross have been completely misrepresented.

The whole day, had been ruined, work on the Flaig estates has been disrupted, in the end, rather than face a lengthy legal battle, Bignews Margate have capitulated and are allowing transmission to go ahead with their approval.