Ask Charity Weblog

The ban on "political" advertising on radio and TV is being challenged in a test case. Animal Defenders International, had their TV advertisement "My Mate's a Primate" turned down for broadcast. They are arguing that the ban breaches article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which guarantees freedom of expression. More in this article media.guardian.co.uk/advertising/story/0,,1827396,00.html
Countless pressure groups and charities have been caught out by the regulations, including Make Poverty History last year. They wanted to broadcast the "clicks" film but were not allowed.

Posted by Charity at 01:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

We've started offering events to big media organisations where we bring 30 charities to them so they can make contact. We read in the Guardian that BBC TV News was keen to increase its popularity with younger viewers - the predominant audience for the 6 pm news on BBC One is over 50. So we suggested they met a group of representatives of youth charities for a "speed dating" session. We sent an (oversubscribed) invite out through askCHARITY and the event was held on Tuesday. Bar being held in a too hot, too small room, it was a success. The BBC TV producers and reporters were really pleased ro make new contacts. I suppose what was amazing was how few charities they knew. Steve Boomfield of the Eating Disorders Association told me that many of reporters did not know of his charity, which I thought was was one of the most well known in the media. This just shows that you cannot underestimate how few contacts journalists have.

Posted by Charity at 10:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

There is a new blog on the BBC site - this time its of the Editors of BBC News programmes http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/. If you are interested in getting some insight into how their minds work, its quite interesting. And of course there is provision to make comments on their entries. Surfing the site it looks as though a few Editors have engaged, while others are not interested. I can't see anything from the Editors of Breakfast, the 6pm evening TV news or the World Tonight but maybe there are trying to limit the number of entries per day?

Posted by Charity at 01:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I have worked most of my life in the media and never dreamed I was anti media. But I met Vivienne Parry the other day and she made me think. She is a freelance journalist who is in contact with charities all the time. She is also involved in the GUS charitable trust. We met for coffee and she was incredibly supportive - of askCHARITY and its aims. But she said this blog appeared quite anti media. I was surprised. But maybe its impossible to work in the sector and hear about the many problems charities have in dealing with the media without becoming slightly critical of the media?

Posted by Charity at 11:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)