Posted by jameswdcrawford on October 8, 2009 under PR | 
Frederic Mitterrand has admitted that he likes to procure the sexual services of young boys.
Obviously what Mitterrand has done is deplorable, but putting the vile admission to one side, isn’t it strange that someone would choose to fall on their own sword in this way?
Talk about pressing the self-destruct button. One can only speculate on why he chose to share this with the world.
This follows the recent story of Polanski’s arrest and the French Government’s unwillingness to deport him to the US on grounds of paedophilia.
My girlfriend is French and although she thinks Mitterand and his actions are vile, she will, like millions of other French people, stand up and defend Polanski, who slept with a 13 year old girl.
I’ve asked her to explain the moral argument and the best line I can get is that not deporting Polanski is a vote winner for the French Government and defying the US is always a popular move. (edited by Valerie Agnes Therese Thibieroz: she didn’t say this apparently) was a decision made because the French love an artist and they don’t like to noisy around in people’s private lives.
I can only imagine the same story playing out in the UK. The Sun would have a field day. GMTV would be up in arms. It is safe to say it would not be a vote winner.
This story only goes to underline some of the differences between France and The UK.
Posted via email from jamescrawford’s posterous
Posted by jameswdcrawford on August 29, 2009 under Current Affairs |
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6814974.ece
And I would guess that it won’t just be the Americans who will be up in arms…
Posted via email from jamescrawford’s posterous
© James Crawford’s PR and Media Blog. 2009
Posted by jameswdcrawford on under Journalism |
Is the inevitable newsworthy?
What is it about the British media?s desire to report on Bank Holiday traffic? The story currently has equal billing with pig flu, Jacko and Ted Kennedy?
As sure as eggs are eggs and night follows day, the Bank Holiday means an exodus of holiday makers hitting the motorways. It happens every Bank Holiday.
At the grand old of age of 31ish I have experienced this phenomenon, perhaps, 30 odd times. I know it is going to happen. I am used to it happening. I take evasive action to avoid it happening to me. And importantly, I don?t bore people with stories about six mile tailbacks… zzzzz
Stories about Bank Holiday travel are a good way for the BBC et al to fill time while the ?real? journalists are away on holiday. They can call in the eager correspondent from Bristol to report on the M5 junction, while the rest of the team take the day off.
My question to you all is this: is the inevitable newsworthy? If the inevitable is news then it is not very interesting! Wake me up when the Sport comes on…
Posted via email from jamescrawford’s posterous
© James Crawford’s PR and Media Blog. 2009
Posted by jameswdcrawford on August 11, 2009 under Media |
Just when you thought the Americans were just like us Brits, you get a real shock to the system.
The new healthcare reforms in the US, meaning everyone regardless of wealth can access care, are proving a sticky wicket for the president.
The proposals are
‘communism by stealth’, will ‘put politicians in between the people and their doctors’ and is pretty much the end of the world as we know it.
There are demonstrations and in some places violence at town hall rallies.
It just goes to show the power and influence of lobbying and the in-built love of the free market within US society.
The whole situation is funny, frightening, enlightening and remarkable.
Trying to convince the US public that healthcare reforms are in their interest would be a great campaign for a PR man like myself to be involved in. Instead, though, I will watch from the sidelines, via John Stewart. And with the thousands of miles of distance between us and them, I can kick back and enjoy the spectacle on TV.
Posted via email from jamescrawford’s posterous
© James Crawford’s PR and Media Blog. 2009
Hi. I am James Crawford, a PR man. Media relations is my specialism, but public relations is changing and the internet is at the heart of it.
I'm a Manchester dweller and lover of the media. I have too much music, support Manchester United and adore all things French.
I currently work for a Citypress, Manchester's biggest and best PR consultancy, but all the thoughts on here are my own and nothing to do with my employers.
