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London weekly papers barred from event starring Cameron and Boris London weekly papers barred from event starring Cameron and Boris
(about 3 hours later)
Work has started on the regeneration of London's Battersea power station. This was reported last week by the Daily Telegraph here and The Guardian here. The Sunday Times also carried an "exclusive preview" online here. Updated 2.40pm: Work has started on the regeneration of London's Battersea power station. This was reported last week by the Daily Telegraph here and The Guardian here. The Sunday Times also carried an "exclusive preview" online here.
The national papers were invited along to witness prime minister David Cameron and London mayor Boris Johnson at the official ground-breaking event. So too were journalists from international titles. The national papers were invited (see update below) to witness prime minister David Cameron and London mayor Boris Johnson at the official ground-breaking event. So too were journalists from international titles.
But the Battersea Power Station Development Company, in its wisdom, decided not to invite local newspaper journalists and, when they turned up anyway, barred them from entering. But the Battersea Power Station Development Company, in its wisdom, decided not to invite local newspaper journalists and, when they turned up anyway, they say they were barred them from entering.
Perhaps the company's PRs should have read what Cameron wrote a couple of years ago about the "vital role" played by local papers:
Perhaps the company's PRs should have read what Cameron wrote a couple of years ago about the "vital role" played by local papers:
"Local newspapers are hugely important to our country - for two good reasons. First, they strengthen our democracy, holding the powerful to account… it's local papers that often really analyse the detail of what central and local government is doing and the impact their policies have on the ground."Local newspapers are hugely important to our country - for two good reasons. First, they strengthen our democracy, holding the powerful to account… it's local papers that often really analyse the detail of what central and local government is doing and the impact their policies have on the ground.
Second, local papers are hugely important in helping to build a bigger, stronger society."Second, local papers are hugely important in helping to build a bigger, stronger society."
Maybe the developers should think again about its bar on the Wandsworth Guardian and South London Press, papers that have an obligation to tell the people who live around the power station what is happening in the area.Maybe the developers should think again about its bar on the Wandsworth Guardian and South London Press, papers that have an obligation to tell the people who live around the power station what is happening in the area.
A HoldTheFrontPage article quotes Wandsworth Guardian's chief reporter, Jamie Henderson, as saying it was disappointing not to be allowed entry because the paper had spent years reporting on the site and, incidentally, supporting the project.A HoldTheFrontPage article quotes Wandsworth Guardian's chief reporter, Jamie Henderson, as saying it was disappointing not to be allowed entry because the paper had spent years reporting on the site and, incidentally, supporting the project.
He said: "The reports in the nationals didn't report on anything to do with the local area. There was nothing about Wandsworth or the people who are hopefully going to get jobs there.He said: "The reports in the nationals didn't report on anything to do with the local area. There was nothing about Wandsworth or the people who are hopefully going to get jobs there.
"It is pretty galling… we have given support to the project but local people want to know through our newspaper what is going on.""It is pretty galling… we have given support to the project but local people want to know through our newspaper what is going on."
His paper's report, headlined "VIPs turn out for Battersea Power Station ceremony but Wandsworth Guardian not invited", was therefore unsurprisingly negative.His paper's report, headlined "VIPs turn out for Battersea Power Station ceremony but Wandsworth Guardian not invited", was therefore unsurprisingly negative.
Similarly, Twitter followers of South London Press reporter James Cracknell would have read that he had been banned "because the South London Press doesn't qualify as important media."Similarly, Twitter followers of South London Press reporter James Cracknell would have read that he had been banned "because the South London Press doesn't qualify as important media."
Score nil for the Battersea power station company's press and public relations crew. May I suggest they give the papers' reporters a tour and briefing asap.Score nil for the Battersea power station company's press and public relations crew. May I suggest they give the papers' reporters a tour and briefing asap.
Update: A spokesman for the PR company Brunswick says there was no question of the local journalists being barred because there was no "event" as such. A Press Association photographer attended, as did international media, but no national papers were invited. The Sunday Times's preview visit occurred separately. I am told that PRs for the company are contacting the two local paper journalists today to explain the situation.