Saturday 17 December 2011

JEP-LUCY MASON-A BLOODY GOOD LAUGH


LUCY MASON

Whilst conducting my research I came across this latest article by Lucy (meddling) Mason. Now, I don't know if this is written as some tongue 'n' cheek piece, or meant to be serious, but I haven't laughed as much since her last article. 

There are some cracking lines in this piece and i'm not talking about the 100% columbian type either. I just had to share it with readers.


Team Voice 



LAST week, in the final official piece of business for the States Assembly in 2011, Members exchanged Christmas messages. In a long-standing tradition, one Senator, one Constable and one Deputy each gave a speech on behalf of their colleagues reminiscing about the past year, looking to the future and sending their best wishes to, well, pretty much everyone, including the ever-important tea ladies and even us, the media.

It was an inspiring moment, a happy occasion that gave you a warm, fuzzy feeling inside – and not just because it meant no more States sittings until 17 January.

So I thought it was only fair that I return the favour and come up with my own Christmas message for States Members and you, their voting public – even if it is only to show that I can be optimistic at times. So here goes …

Christmas is traditionally a time when we look back on the year that has passed, take stock of everything that has come and gone, and are thankful.

It has been a difficult year in many ways as Jersey, like the rest of the world, has struggled to weather the economic storms that have been thrust upon us. We have faced cutbacks, rising taxes, job losses and the highest unemployment figures ever recorded for this Island.

But these are all challenges that we have begun to tackle, in the most part, head-on, and this can only be a good thing.

And I have no doubt that with ever more challenges lurking on the horizon – the most timely being the threat to our fulfilment industry – we will continue in this manner. The new multi-million-pound drive to get people back to work is just one example of this.

I know we may not always believe it when our politicians tell us, but we are in many ways extremely lucky and in a very good position to ride out the many problems facing us. We also live in a beautiful, vibrant and interesting Island of which we should all be very proud.

As Senator Philip Ozouf keeps telling us, we have no debt, we have strong public finances and, as much as people (myself included) may complain about them, we have a group of pretty OK politicians to lead us.

Yes, they, like us all, make mistakes, but perhaps just this once we should put ourselves in their position. They work damn hard on our behalf and I doubt that many of us who openly criticise them the first chance we get could do their job.
OK, so maybe I’m being a bit harsh on myself and my colleagues there – we don’t set out to criticise.

And this is something that I don’t think many States Members get. We are taught as journalists that we are the eyes and ears of the public to whom we report, and it is a duty that I certainly take very seriously.
We want the public to know what is going on at the meetings which they can’t always attend, in the States Chamber when they are at work, and in countless other forums where decisions are taken, explained and reported.

But we also only have limited space in which to present this information.
So forgive us occasionally when, for example, we don’t report every speech that is given by every candidate for every position, or we don’t report a proposition word for word, for we also have a duty to keep our readers interested enough to keep themselves informed.

AND please do remember the good bits we write about as well as the bad. There is no malice in what we report, and no pre-planned agenda. And there is certainly no higher force controlling what I write within these pages.

Which brings me very nicely to the hope I have that next year, in keeping with the sentiment to have a reformed, more collaborative States Assembly, that the media and politicians can be a bit more understanding of one another.

Let’s work together; let’s keep people informed; and let’s all concentrate on doing our jobs to the best of our abilities like the professionals that we are.
Because, looking to the future as we also do at this time of year, there are exciting times ahead. We have a new Chief Minister, many new Members and ministers, and new and changing challenges to face.

We all should be optimistic, because with optimism comes a renewed sense of striving for the best, to be the best, to make the best decisions, and do the best for the wonderful place that we are lucky enough to call home. We are all in it together – let’s remember that.

All there is left to say are the thank-yous that traditionally accompany messages of this kind. In keeping with that tradition, I would like to thank the politicians who keep me in a job. Sure, you don’t get it right all the time and you may infuriate the hell out of a lot of people a lot of the time, but where would we be without you?

If we didn’t have you lot to complain about, be outraged about or, very occasionally, be quite impressed with, life would be so much more boring. We’d have nothing to tweet about, nothing to gossip about and the world would be a far poorer place.

So thank you, dear States Members, for keeping life interesting. Oh, and keeping our lovely little Island ticking because yes, sometimes you are rather good at it.
Thank you to the families of our esteemed politicians – how do you cope?
Thank you to the hundreds (and hundreds and hundreds and hundreds) of civil servants who do all the work behind the scenes, often without much public recognition.

Thank you to the States ushers, staff at the States Greffe, the Bailiff and Deputy Bailiff, the Attorney General and the Dean, all of whom keep us informed with what is going on and advise us and our politicians) for it isn’t just us who have to sit through hours of debate that sometimes goes on much longer than anyone would like).

Thank you to our readers for taking an interest, for commenting, emailing, calling and tweeting – everything we do, we do it for you.

And, finally, thank you to Manny, who makes me my tea. I couldn’t do it without you.

Happy Christmas to you all and my best wishes for the new and exciting year ahead.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

"As Senator Philip Ozouf keeps telling us, we have no debt, we have strong public finances and, as much as people (myself included) may complain about them, we have a group of pretty OK politicians to lead us."

No need to panic captain mainwaring !!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Its had to know whether she is completely naive or completely brain washed.

James said...

So forgive us occasionally when, for example, we don’t report every speech that is given by every candidate for every position, or we don’t report a proposition word for word, for we also have a duty to keep our readers interested enough to keep themselves informed.

All of that is forgivable - if you don't make a habit of it.

Publishing things that are flatly untrue is not.

Lucy - there's a boat out in the morning, and you ought to be on it.

Big E said...

P.M.S.L

Anonymous said...

Leave Lucy alone and grow up, she is a lovely girl.

Anonymous said...

A journalist writes a story, an editor may edit the story to leave parts of it out or in some cases 'sex it up a bit'.

Anonymous said...

No, I don't think we should "leave Lucy alone", however nice she might be.

She has made a free choice to be in her position where she has the opportunity to reach a large audience with her views and interpretations. The rest of us don't have that chance and if she wants to be the eyes and ears of the public, then she is really going to have to start seeing and hearing better and accepting criticism for what she writes.

You want to be a journalist Lucy? Well take a look at what real journalists like John Pilger and Chris Hedges are doing. Be a journalist, put your neck on the line and tell truth to power.

Anonymous said...

Will there be black arm bands at the media offices and broadcasts today to mark the death Kim Jong- Il?

Anonymous said...

I think these attacks against Lucy are disgusting and I fear this blog like others is only getting desperate for attention.

GeeGee said...

'Leave Lucy alone - she is a lovely girl'

This may well be the case, but that does not make her a good journalist. When I first read the article that is being referred to it was quite clear she was attempting to justify the negative comments that had been thrown her way, and in particular the one about 'meddlers' which was quite uncalled for.

Yes - you do have a duty to your falling readership, and that is to be fair and impartial. This was NOT evident during the election hustings either from you Lucy or your editorial team.

Basically, if you can't stand the heat you know what to do. Some of this critisism should be seen as constructive and honest.

GeeGee said...

'Leave Lucy alone - she is a lovely girl'

This may well be the case, but that does not make her a good journalist. When I first read the article that is being referred to it was quite clear she was attempting to justify the negative comments that had been thrown her way, and in particular the one about 'meddlers' which was quite uncalled for.

Yes - you do have a duty to your falling readership, and that is to be fair and impartial. This was NOT evident during the election hustings either from you Lucy or your editorial team.

Basically, if you can't stand the heat you know what to do. Some of this critisism should be seen as constructive and honest.

Anonymous said...

GeeGee is most right. There are many lovely girls - and boys - out there who should not be considered journalists.

This is even more apparent if Lucy believes what she states, "There is no malice in what we report, and no pre-planned agenda. And there is certainly no higher force controlling what I write within these pages."

There are only two possibilities. Either Lucy knows nothing about her own participation in the JEP's little world of complicit State Media propaganda or she is blatantly lying on behalf of the beast. Not knowing what a nice girl she is, I can't say which one is the case.

Anonymous said...

nice girl or not,she had me laughing in almost every paragraph. Does she really,really believe all that,or was she told to write a typically,seasonally happy,Turkeys do vote for christmas type piece.All is well on Planet jep where the birds succumb to the dining table with a smile on their faces.