The Front Page. - Copy 141(The DTC White Cliffs picture fiasco)
23 November 2010
...on the White Cliffs Picture furore.
All the following just in from Mike Webb.....
Dover Forum is a valid debating chamber as part of our democratic process. People are rightly free to express their opinions. My only comment concerning the original posting is that, given the nature of the query, it was a pity that this concern was not address directly to us at the Town Council, in the first instance.
When the thread first appeared, a local journalist approached me on this subject. I advised the appropriate Councillors and we were more than happy to deal with the situation, in our normal open and transparent way. The journalist was informed that any photos, without copyright and of the high- level resolution required, would be welcomed into the Town Council office for consideration for use on our website. However, matters did not rest there. The story passed through the various press agencies and into the national realm of newspapers, television and radio. The reality of the situation is as follows: -
The Web Designer’s remit was to provide maximum space on the home page, using a small, generic picture in strap form. The photograph that has caused the furore shows a beach head and rocks. It was taken from a non-copyright, high-definition library photograph. It does not, show the beauty and expanse of the White Cliffs of Dover. Our website does not feature the castle or the Pharos or the port, either. This was deliberate, in order to ensure that there was maximum space on the home page for what the Town Council considers relevant being Council information for the people of Dover.
This format has worked well, for over 3 years, without any comments, until the posting on Dover Forum. This, I believe, rather puts this issue and the accompanying media feeding frenzy into perspective.
The Town Council will not be ‘panicked’ into changing the photograph, since it has done nothing wrong. Indeed, the photograph, for non-specialists like myself appears indistinguishable from the bays heading towards St Margaret’s. However, the Council is never complacent. The situation clearly will be monitored, and adapted in due course. To help with this, any member of Dover Forum who would like to provide a photograph of the professional resolution required, and which has no copyright, would be welcome to send it here to us at the Town Council for consideration.
I am also happy to confirm that today I have contact Dame Vera Lynn, with the request that she could choose, from the photos submitted, her favourite which will finally be used.
It is unfortunate that, from time to time, the media has such a feeding frenzy and a non-story becomes national news. However, that is the nature of a free press and of democracy so cannot, perhaps, be criticised.
Of greater concern to the Town Council is the fact that the important work that is currently underway has been sidelined in the public perception. A high priority within this work is the public consultation that the Town Council is widely engaged, which was advertised on Dover Forum and which is just coming to a close.
Also, this weekend, we have our Christmas Switch-on Extravaganza Day on Saturday 27th November. This is the highlight of Dover’s year and will run all in the town from the Market Square to the Town Hall all day, from 12noon with the switch on at 6pm.
Whilst writing, of course, we also have Dover Athletic Football Club for the first time in its history into the second round of the FA Cup. That also will take place on Saturday 27th concurrently with the Switch-On. Therefore there is a lot that is positive that we need to bring to people’s attention.
Finally, I trust that those who read Dover Forum will see that the Town Council is neither complacent nor complicit in any cover up. Equally, I hope that they will share with me the belief that this story did not deserve the attention that it has received.
Mike Webb
Town Clerk
* *
Oh the humiliation of it all! Both the televison channels and of course all the radio stations too, had a field day yesterday tuesday reporting the fairly awful fact that the Dover Town Council have a picture of Sussex on the frontpage of their website...and have intimated by association that this picture is of the White Cliffs of Dover. If you want to see it for yourself dear reader and to see what all the fuss is about, go to our links page menu left to see a live link to the DTC website or paste the following...www.dovertown.co.uk.
The story broke here on Doverforum. This extraordinary white cliff anomaly was noted by our vigilant forumite Ray Newsam who spotted the clanger, and we have a thread running on it now in our Forum. Although the item aired itself more than a week ago in our Forum, the DTC seem unable to respond. The picture still embarassingly languishes on the frontpage of their slow moving website. In the meantime the story has gone national, hurtling skywards like a Guy Fawkes rocket.
Yesterday ITV's Meridian News called us here on Doverforum wanting to interview yours truly, alas I was out of town at the K&C boneyard and was unable to respond. They were originally trying to get hold of Ray Newsam himself, Ray being 'the man who broke the bank at Monte Carlo' as it were.. Last night on BBCTV as mentioned, and on the Radio throughout the day, we had none other than Dame Vera Lynn wheeled into the picture and expressing deep sorrow at this latest humiliation for Dover. Only a few weeks ago Vera, still a passionate supporter of all things Dover, was brought into town to promote the Charlie Elphicke Port Privatisation Plan. The ups and downs of Dover life.
The pictures show top Polly Evans of BBCTV Southeast reporting the story on your tv screens at 10.30pm last night tuesday. Next along is Town Clerk Mike Webb making the defences on the same programme..saying essentially that it was a money saving idea, to flag up Sussex instead of Dover !? Then we have Vera Lynn as mentioned in the copy immediately above.
To the left there we have ITV's Meridian News reporting the same story.
Paul Boland. ( see also the thread in the Members Club Forum )
The Town Clerk Speaks Out
...on the White Cliffs Picture furore.
All the following just in from Mike Webb.....
Dover Forum is a valid debating chamber as part of our democratic process. People are rightly free to express their opinions. My only comment concerning the original posting is that, given the nature of the query, it was a pity that this concern was not address directly to us at the Town Council, in the first instance.
When the thread first appeared, a local journalist approached me on this subject. I advised the appropriate Councillors and we were more than happy to deal with the situation, in our normal open and transparent way. The journalist was informed that any photos, without copyright and of the high- level resolution required, would be welcomed into the Town Council office for consideration for use on our website. However, matters did not rest there. The story passed through the various press agencies and into the national realm of newspapers, television and radio.
The Web Designer’s remit was to provide maximum space on the home page, using a small, generic picture in strap form. The photograph that has caused the furore shows a beach head and rocks. It was taken from a non-copyright, high-definition library photograph. It does not, show the beauty and expanse of the White Cliffs of Dover. Our website does not feature the castle or the Pharos or the port, either. This was deliberate, in order to ensure that there was maximum space on the home page for what the Town Council considers relevant being Council information for the people of Dover.
This format has worked well, for over 3 years, without any comments, until the posting on Dover Forum. This, I believe, rather puts this issue and the accompanying media feeding frenzy into perspective.
The Town Council will not be ‘panicked’ into changing the photograph, since it has done nothing wrong. Indeed, the photograph, for non-specialists like myself appears indistinguishable from the bays heading towards St Margaret’s. However, the Council is never complacent. The situation clearly will be monitored, and adapted in due course. To help with this, any member of Dover Forum who would like to provide a photograph of the professional resolution required, and which has no copyright, would be welcome to send it here to us at the Town Council for consideration.
I am also happy to confirm that today I have contact Dame Vera Lynn, with the request that she could choose, from the photos submitted, her favourite which will finally be used.
It is unfortunate that, from time to time, the media has such a feeding frenzy and a non-story becomes national news. However, that is the nature of a free press and of democracy so cannot, perhaps, be criticised.
Of greater concern to the Town Council is the fact that the important work that is currently underway has been sidelined in the public perception. A high priority within this work is the public consultation that the Town Council is widely engaged, which was advertised on Dover Forum and which is just coming to a close.
Also, this weekend, we have our Christmas Switch-on Extravaganza Day on Saturday 27th November. This is the highlight of Dover’s year and will run all in the town from the Market Square to the Town Hall all day, from 12noon with the switch on at 6pm.
Whilst writing, of course, we also have Dover Athletic Football Club for the first time in its history into the second round of the FA Cup. That also will take place on Saturday 27th concurrently with the Switch-On. Therefore there is a lot that is positive that we need to bring to people’s attention.
Finally, I trust that those who read Dover Forum will see that the Town Council is neither complacent nor complicit in any cover up. Equally, I hope that they will share with me the belief that this story did not deserve the attention that it has received.
Mike Webb
Town Clerk
* *
Town Council get a Roasting on TV!
Oh the humiliation of it all! Both the televison channels and of course all the radio stations too, had a field day yesterday tuesday reporting the fairly awful fact that the Dover Town Council have a picture of Sussex on the frontpage of their website...and have intimated by association that this picture is of the White Cliffs of Dover. If you want to see it for yourself dear reader and to see what all the fuss is about, go to our links page menu left to see a live link to the DTC website or paste the following...www.dovertown.co.uk.
The story broke here on Doverforum. This extraordinary white cliff anomaly was noted by our vigilant forumite Ray Newsam who spotted the clanger, and we have a thread running on it now in our Forum. Although the item aired itself more than a week ago in our Forum, the DTC seem unable to respond. The picture still embarassingly languishes on the frontpage of their slow moving website. In the meantime the story has gone national, hurtling skywards like a Guy Fawkes rocket.
Yesterday ITV's Meridian News called us here on Doverforum wanting to interview yours truly, alas I was out of town at the K&C boneyard and was unable to respond. They were originally trying to get hold of Ray Newsam himself, Ray being 'the man who broke the bank at Monte Carlo' as it were.. Last night on BBCTV as mentioned, and on the Radio throughout the day, we had none other than Dame Vera Lynn wheeled into the picture and expressing deep sorrow at this latest humiliation for Dover. Only a few weeks ago Vera, still a passionate supporter of all things Dover, was brought into town to promote the Charlie Elphicke Port Privatisation Plan. The ups and downs of Dover life.
The pictures show top Polly Evans of BBCTV Southeast reporting the story on your tv screens at 10.30pm last night tuesday. Next along is Town Clerk Mike Webb making the defences on the same programme..saying essentially that it was a money saving idea, to flag up Sussex instead of Dover !? Then we have Vera Lynn as mentioned in the copy immediately above.To the left there we have ITV's Meridian News reporting the same story.
Paul Boland. ( see also the thread in the Members Club Forum )