UK Political Blogging

Paul Staines

University of WestminsterJune 17, 2011

Tell you about the origins of my blog

Give you my take on contemporary

UK political reporting

My thoughts on the relevance of blogging to mainstream

“newsmaking”

20s think-tanker, foreign affairs lobbyist 30s worked in City, Broker, Trader, Bonds

then Technology stocks Lived in Hong Kong and Tokyo

2003 Got married. 2004 Became a political blogger.

2006 Set up digital advertising agency

Guido Fawkes or Guy Fawkes is a very strong brand name

Most famous “anti-politics” name We celebrate Guy Fawkes’ day every

5 November with fireworks. Anti-hero. Now anti-politicians hero.

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September 2004 Total monthly hits 600 September 2005 Total monthly hits 27,000 May 2009 3,600,000 hits

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Guido’s blog is political scandal central Unlike the BBC no pretence to

objectivity Aimed at journalists, Westminster

insiders (“the Village” or “the beltway”), think tank wonks, politicians,

Lobby journalists, activists, spin doctors, SpAds & broadcasters

During stressful periods it aims to be a crucial point of information for political

activists

Governing Labour Party Lost 5% in Polls following week

Conservative Party broke 40% level It was a “game-changer”

Destroyed image of PM Gordon Brown as politician with a “moral compass” Proved bloggers could get stories from within heart of Downing Street

Influence of Guido is widespread Gordon Brown used to rage about

stories My phone call is not welcome, but is

taken. As powerful as a newspaper. Populist.

Feared, not liked. We are never on message, even

though we are sympathetic to Conservative Party

(I’m more radical right-wing, Thatcherite.)

Thoughts on the business

of news and blogging.

‘News cycles’ are being replaced by ‘news streams’ just as old printed media are being replaced by news brands.

Guido’s blog is a viable business, with staff

Blogging plus traditional media pays enough

Guido sells stories to the tabloids

"How Markets and Technology Empower Ordinary People to Beat Big Media, Big Government, and Other Goliaths", by Glenn Reynolds. This is the 21st century, the days of media conglomerates making the news in a top-down Fordist fashion are over. Boutique news sources will proliferate.

The "news" is no longer what the news anchor says it is, the news is whatever is disseminated to a wide audience, Big Media is going to be disintermediated when it falls down because technology has drastically reduced the cost of dissemination. Failing to hold our political class to account was a terrible failing of Big Media in Britain.

Blogs have changed the media for good in that sense.

Platform for wannabee journalists, political malcontents, campaigners

That is a feature not a bug

Unaccountable and unedited: Accountable to readers

US has more paid bloggers than lawyers

Huffington Post has more readers than New York Times

Twitter is replacing the newswires

Relevance to China:

Vaclav Havel – live in truth Pluralism strengthens society

Uncovering corruption at grassroots

Critical feedback mechanism Gives a voice to voiceless

Stop jailing dissident voices.

My fee for this talk is being donated to