cutting the cuttings

Lambeth’s communications department has made the sensible decision to save upwards of £5000 a year, and a lot of paper, by going electronic with the council’s press cuttings. Up to now councillors have had a twice-weekly bundle of press cuttings delivered to our doormats.

Cue outrage from the Liberal Democrats, whose experience with electronic voting has clearly left them e-phobic. I can imagine them now, at their next group meeting:

“Down with electronic voting we say! Down with that interweb thing, down with the wireless and anything connected with Messrs Edison, Bell or Logie Baird. Up with the abacus, up with ink and vellum, up with chalk and slate. Up with deforestation and waste paper baskets – those nice wicker ones, nothing too modern.”

One of their number today felt moved to email the communications team to register his protest. I expect that, in his anger, his quill snapped on his last sheet of foolscap and he was forced, with gritted teeth (and everything else clenched) to resort to the “new writing” to make his point.

He said, curtly: “This is not very helpful. Press cuttings are difficult to read on screen. Please continue to send me the press cuttings in hard copy.”

He does not say why the cuttings are difficult to read on screen. I’ve had a look at the new system and it’s so simple that a potted cactus could master it.

I suspect it has more to do with the number of press stories detailing Labour’s positive programme of action in Lambeth since May 2006, and the occasional nod to the floundering Liberal Democrats. That must be difficult to read.

My advice to the Lib Dems is to put their hand in their orange leatherette purses and buy the local papers – two editions of the excellent South London Press per week for the very reasonable price of 50p each (ten bob in old money), available from all good newsagents. The other two local papers are free.

3 Comments »

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Lambeth pen pusher said,
Phoenix House, Vauxhall

Wed, 31 Jan 2007 - 8:36 PM

The email was sent to all councillors and the reply from Cllr Julian Heather was also sent to all councillors, having a go at an officer. Not a private email and not a very pleasant one neither. What is that in the councillors' code of conduct about "failing to treat people with respect"? If he wanted to show disrespect one to one, he shouldn't of pressed "REPLY ALL".


Rob F said,
London

Mon, 29 Jan 2007 - 2:02 PM

When you say this cllr e-mailed the communications team, does that mean that you reproduced a private e-mail between a cllr and an officer? Did you ask the permission of either party first?

John Lee said,
Mon, 22 Jan 2007 - 10:05 AM

E-phobic lib Dems? Good grief!!