The club were seemingly unhappy about certain stories and how coverage had been portrayed and took the decision to act upon it.
Now it has become clear just why that decision was taken, and ultimately it is all about money. The written press have been welcomed back into St James’ Park, but now they are being asked to pay for the privilege of player interviews and access behind the scenes – basically all the things that they used to get for free they must now pay for.
I’ve always been sceptical of the press as they survive by selling copies of their publication and sometimes that can lead to half-truth and rumour being cast as something more serious, but all in all I don’t especially mind them as I can read them without hanging off of every word they say.
However the decision to ban local press and then decide to charge them to return to the club is baffling. I get it, in theory, but I just don’t see how it is going to work? How can it really be policed? Surely you cant stop anyone speaking to anyone else? How far does it go? Are blogs and forums like this next in line for the rough treatment? After all, there is plenty of critical reaction to Ashley and Co on many of them…
At the end of the day Ashley is trying to break links that have been in place for decades and that is only going to hurt fans who turn to the press to read about the club. The press may hurt for a bit, but they’ll soon get around it and certainly on a national level they’ll just make up the detail if they need to.
Rather than being so against the press, why not try and work with them? At the end of the day they can be used by the club just as much as they can be used by the fans so why be so against building a working relationship with them? Perhaps then they might not be so eager to jump on anything that paints a negative picture at United.
After all, they are only reporting Ashley’s own mistakes in the first place…
Yet another fuk up by Jabba and Co,
Not a bit of wonder the media give us a rough ride.
For me the local media should be a vital part of the chain in keeping fans informed of what is going on at their club, but then we are not a normal club and Jabba is not a normal owner but more a spoilt dictator that wont except and stick even when he deserves it.
Big Dave(Quote)
if its ganning into the club then it aint really a big deal to me 😯
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
If it were going to make us big money and get us a purple (do we still use this terminology under JFK?) or two then that would be fine by me.
But it won’t. What are we expecting here? Maybe we can pay Colo’s wages for a week after we sell a season’s worth of interviews, so what really is the point?
Newkie(Quote)
The BBC and Sky will throw money around, but the local rags? Come on man.
Newkie(Quote)
Well this article will likely get more posts than the announcement of the new training centre.
This is only a news story coz the papers have made it so. I really don’t care less about this one like.
The reality is that the media company will stick an extra 5-10p on the Journal and Chronicle and the Geordies will cover the cost and the papers will continue printing stories that sell … and the world, well that will keep on turning.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Total non-issue for me. I don’t have a high regard for the average journalist, esp of the Brit tabloids, so I couldn’t give a stuff about the poor souls having to pay for the privilege of talking to people. It won’t stop them from writing bullshit.
brisvegas(Quote)
TAE do you really think we will benefit out of this ❓
Newkie spot on the local rags are struggling to keep their heads above water, IMO the only media outlet will benefit out of this will be SD news and I would bet they wont be paying.
As the heading says just another own goal
Big Dave(Quote)
Bris I would say it will give them more of an excuse to write more bullshit.
But then why worry 😯
Big Dave(Quote)
Dave – what makes you say the local rags are struggling to keep their heads above water?
I’ve only seen them print Ashleys financial figures, never their own.
Sharpy17(Quote)
What “purple” has the Wonga money got us?
The money is so insignificant. Its obviously done as a means to control what is written and what is said by players.
If he wanted to generate revenue, he wouldn’t charge NUFC to sell their merchandise in Sports Direct stores. And he would ask sponsors to advertise on billboards instead of having Sports Direct everywhere.
I also don’t believe Wonga paid a cent to have the stadium name changed back to St James Park.
He realised his stuff up there and knew that he won’t going to get anyone to pay to change the name, so he used it as a Propanganda tool when Wonga payed for our kit sponsorship.
The man is an arsehole. He’s made some decent decisions, some shocking ones. But as a person, I have zero respect for him.
JJ(Quote)
Dave- I agree mate, I think SD news may pay into our coffers just to give it some legitimacy, but in real terms it will be a pittance to our finances-and a hell of a lot less than that to theirs.
Sharpy- I have no figures to back me up I will admit that but I’m pretty certain there is a decline right across the newspaper industry, given the fact that almost everyone has access to superb blog’s such as these 😉 Seriously though can you honestly see us bringing in a few million from this? If we do then kudos but I don’t see it happening for a second.
Newkie(Quote)
Newkie – not a chance of bringing millions in. JJ is right, this is more about control over financial gain.
I’ve done a quick Wiki search on the chronicle and they are owner by a company called Trinity Mirror PLC:
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinity_Mirror
I’m sure they will cope with the cost. Like I say, what you will probably find is that they increase the cost of the paper by 5p to cover it.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy what they write about has no real bearing on their own finances, I thought it was well known that newspapers are struggling to make a living because of on line media, or are you suggesting that they arnt struggling to keep their head above water ❓
IMO a local club is far better to have a good relationship with local media as they both have the same customers.
Big Dave(Quote)
Sharpy-and that’s the point. If it was about increasing our revenue streams and helping the finances of the club with a good plan i’d be all for it. But it’s just Ashley wanting everything his own way, yet again. Now while I’m not fussed about what scraps the press get or what they write about, the fact our owner has such a petty approach to things like this just diminishes my opinion of him that bit more. I’m sure he doesn’t care how I feel either, but think it shows just how much credit should go to Pardew for working decently under an ego/persona like that.
Newkie(Quote)
Dave – I would refer you to my above post to Newkie. If they were in such dire straits, why have so many prints?
Is there a need for the Journal (morning print) AND Chronicle (evening print) – what effect does that have on the environment? – all that paper.
Surely there’s not that much news in the N/E that requires twice daily reports.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I don’t read the papers, All they seem to do is spread fear and despondency. The Sports pages are not much better. Either telling you what happened when you already know or making mountains out of molehills. Very occasionally you get insightful pieces but normally you don’t. They got banned for printing pages of build up to the “We don’t know what we want, but we want it now!” non event as if it mattered. Sledgehammer reaction. Now they are saying the only people who get their research for free are the pharmaceutical industry and the Press. So perhaps if you have to pay for it you will value it a bit more. Unlikely but worth a try.
Premandup(Quote)
Newkie – Ashley/NUFC are the driving force behind trying to reduce the costs of away tickets for travelling fans – which IMO is far more newsworthy. As is the proposal of the new training facility. As is transfer targets for Jan. As is the 41yr wait to beat Man Utd that has now been overshadowed by Ashley looking to charge probably a nominal fee to journos – a fee that TV companies have been paying for some time now anyway. I just don’t think it’s a story mate.
Sharpy17(Quote)
http://mobile.newsnow.co.uk/A/684711334?-11058
It would appear that the editor of the Journal agrees with me. They have moved onto possible Jan targets while the blogists discuss the cost of a player interview 🙄
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy what has this got to do with the environment 😯 as for the morning and evening print I dont know why they do it as my own local paper does it I guess there must be reasons for it like the morning edition would carry any stories that happened after the evening before publication so they would hope they would get workers to buy the paper on their way to work. Where as the evening edition is the main stories of the day for people coming home from work, thats just my guess but I still dont get what that has got to do with how their finances are 🙄
Big Dave(Quote)
Sharpy – I gave credit to that plan when it came out about the away tickets, anything that lowers their cost is good by me. That was a while ago. I also mentioned about the training facility-great news, should have happened earlier I would argue (when we were supposed to be focusing on youth, but now we’re back with buying players in their prime and not getting under 18s apparently) but still I gave credit and mentioned it probably, three four threads or so ago? Although few seemed interested.
We will never not be linked with transfers. Let’s see what happens. And it isn’t even a scratch on the win at Old Trafford for me so I’m not sure what you’re getting at? This is in the news and I’ve given my opinion, as I will on literally anything NUFC related. It is a story, but obviously as it is negative there will be some making loud noises and crying about it. My general feeling is that it’s just a pointless, petty move that won’t change anything for us.
Newkie(Quote)
Dave – you’re telling me that they are struggling to keep their heads above water – I’m simply pointing out that they can afford to run 2 newspapers per day, so they can’t be that skint.
I don’t know how often you get to read the journal or chronicle either mate, but they seem keen to write the negative stuff about Newcastle but rarely do I read similar about Sunderland. Maybe coz Sunderland allow them better access to the club and players
Sharpy17(Quote)
@ BIG DAVE
if it gives the club more money im all for it and them struggleing rags you talking about 😯 are they the same 1s that ussally pay about 30k for a kiss and tell story 😆 :
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
Newkie – I wasn’t referring to you mate, I was referring to the papers and blogs. I set myself up here coz people will rightly say, if you want an article about the training facility or whatever then write one! 😳
What I don’t get is, if Ashley is so bothered about what is written why does he not have a better media team. Allow them to take stories to the Journos. If he had a team that put stories about the training facilities or the away tickets that were fit for print I reckon the locals would lap it up
Sharpy17(Quote)
TAE – 😆 😆 I’ve never read a kiss and tell in the journal mate 😆 I think you’re confusing them with the national rags.
Sharpy17(Quote)
@ BIG DAVE
is in tears over here bud 😯 for them struggleing rags fighting to keep there heads above water 😆 😆 😆
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
Sharpy your right about them not giving the Mackems a hard time because they give them better access, thats my whole point jabba should be giving them better access instead he bans them because they reported on the protest, thats what dictators do.
TAE you think the local rags pay out 30k for a kiss and tell 😀 what one was that
Big Dave(Quote)
Sharpy-exactly mate! We all know Toonsy is a negger and won’t put up the “good” stuff, do it yourself or get Aussie/Prem on the case! 🙂
Sharpy-maybe because it would cost him money, or more likely cost the club money (which would also **** people off). In a way he is essentially doing what you say anyway by having a media department at Sports Direct News and they will just report on anything and will have the little inside info that’s allowed out-which is annoying because I’d rather not get drawn there but know for a fact that I probably will. After all why would he care if the locals sold papers?
I expect he isn’t overly fussed about general reporting but he does get angry at the bad stuff. So he’s banned them all to prevent in depth snooping, while the good stuff generates traffic for his site.
Not trying to put an “anti Ashley” spin on it, that just seems the straightforward answer to me.
Newkie(Quote)
The huge problem with this is, the club will have the press over a barrel and only good news will be allowed to be published. Otherwise the paper will be sacked.
That is dictatorship in other countries.
Freedom of speech is being stifled. The Soviet Union and China control what goes in the papers.
It’s absolutely horrific and has nothing to do with making money. It’s all about controlling the press.
Can you imagine the Gvnt stating to the press that only the companies who pay premiums can have access to MPs.
It’s beyond belief!
The national press need to be united in this and stand firm against it.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
you will find the local press gets the interview a lot cheaper this is really aimed at the national press
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
TAE I take it your busy trying to find out what that 30k kiss and tell was that the local rags ran 😳
Big Dave(Quote)
@ BIG DAVE
you got anything to back up the claims of the local press struggle to keep there heads above water 😳
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
https://scontent-b-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/1455089_10201123663238746_1505323181_n.jpg
Newkie(Quote)
How the locals must regret covering a **** poor 200 strong protest instead of sticking with the huge majority and ignoring it. Ashleys bit back on this but it could have happened plenty of times before. The papers have hardly helped at times their coverage of cetain events: Carrolls sale, Pardews appointent, The Cabaye situation, Ba’s contact clause, Colo wanting to go to San Lorenzo ETC.
This last summer window was a good example of the rags ability to kick up hysteria, Most now aknowledge we have a good squad and are sat in a european spot, If you read the papers in the summer you’d think we were relegation certainties with Sunderland leading the way on good recuitment and preparation for ***** sake 😆
News now, Facebook, Twitter, Sites like this, The beeb, BT sport, Sky, Teletext, NUFC tv, 5 live, Talkshite, Radio newcastle. I think people will just about manage to keep up to date without interviews with players appearing in the chronicle/journal/sunday sun…
CC(Quote)
TAE I thought it was well known that local papers are struggling against online media, Hence why so many local papers have closed or are closing 😕
I take it you dont have any proof then of the local rags paying 30k for this kiss and tell
Big Dave(Quote)
Troy @ 28: Ashley is the antichrist come to destroy human civilisation.
brisvegas(Quote)
@ BIG DAVE
<<<<< will take that as no proof then hearsay dint cut it bud 😆 😆 😆
missread ya press statement but if you look at 29 that should cover it 🙄
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
@ Begas
Do you not see how this is about controlling the press and not about money?
Troy Stavers(Quote)
If Ashley died tomorrow most of you would be crying your eyes out. Paper’s are rich and should pay 30k for interviews. good idea
Terry(Quote)
If papers dont like it they can do one.
Terry(Quote)
more intresting question for me is how much dosh a season is the club expecting to make from this.We the 1st club to try this,but if it brings money into the club think few of the other clubs,will probally follow suit
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
Will there be a day where there will be not pre-match press conference and post-match press conference??
What an easy job for the manager then. 😯
AngelOfDeath(Quote)
TAE we were talking about local rags when you came off with the 30k kiss and tell stuff, but dont worry just squirm your way out of it because you know your wrong 😳
I take it you have proof that the local rags will get it cheaper ❓ even though they are banned 😆 😆
Big Dave(Quote)
@ BIG DAVE
dont see 1 mention were i said local 😯
guess you dont think ya wrong claiming the local rags are struggleing to keep there heads above water,without any facts to back ya claim up 😳
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
TAE yeah your right 😆
Big Dave(Quote)
Troy – is it about control or balance, the good with the bad?. Is it asking that the paper report on fact rather than speculation?.
If it was about dictatorship then as I said to Newkie, Ashley would have his own media team realising only the stories he wants out there.
Or maybe you’re right, he could be sent from the bowels of hell to destroy NUFC whilst supplying his followers with a uniform or 3/4 length Lonsdale tracksuit bottoms and a Le Coq Sportif vest top (neither of which I have before you start!).
Maybe the training ground will be his new recruitment HQ
Sharpy17(Quote)
@ BIG DAVE
Think this is aimed at the national press more than the local press the national press can afford to pay decent bucks for a interview
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
And for all we know this might be 1 of the ways the club come up with to help pay for the new training complex,cause its ganna be the club paying for it
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
And i think most in here would agree, that new training complex is a step in the right direction for the club 😀
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
Wow Sharpy 😯
I never realised I had said Ashley came from the bowels of hell and here to destroy NUFC.
Could you show me where that came from ? I’m intrigued.
I’ve only ever said Ashley is happy to keep us mid table mediocrity.
Above relegation and out of Europe.
Of always said that and never changed my views. I find it strange where you get your quotes from. Maybe it’s what you are actually thinking. 😛
Troy Stavers(Quote)
once thats built the only thing we will be needing then is the 100k seater stadium to put that old dump called old trafford in its place,Which would make us the Kings of england 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/newcastle-united-seeks-cash-national-press-interview-players? national press not local
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
Troy – “Or maybe you’re right, he could be sent from the bowels of hell to destroy NUFC” .. fair play, that shouldn’t say ‘you’re’, but I do believe that is the view of some on this site.
Sharpy17(Quote)
CC @ 33
That sums the whole thing up in a nutshell
This is another non issue that is being whipped up by some of the press and fans. You would think Hitler has been reborn the way some on here get on ffs.
Every paper covers negative stories against Newcastle its just most of them don’t cover it over and over and over again. Lets not get confused they were not banned for covering the march they were banned for the way the did it.
The tv companies have to pay why shouldn’t the written press if they can’t or don’t want to then fine they can just get their daily quotes from the tele no big deal really 😛
@KK from the last thread I am hurt you didn’t mention me as an Ashley fanboy I thought I was one of his biggest supporters on here…
and you are a wum don’t kid yourself 😀
Santii(Quote)
Bloody hell handbags are out today aren’t they ladies 😛
Newkie(Quote)
TAE have you learnt nothing fans don’t accept change if it goes against “tradition” you can stick your 100k seater up your whole 😛
Santii(Quote)
Newkie you love it don’t lie 😛 you ***** 😀
Santii(Quote)
Santii 😆
Just can’t wait for Saturday now 😥
Newkie(Quote)
The print media depend on advertising. This Ashley idea is bollocks as the journos will get round it somehow and especially for Troy – it’s amazing how much news manages to get out of Russia and China. In the world of the internet everything always comes out in the end. Ashley can dictate his **** off, it’ll make no difference.
georgio(Quote)
@ SANTII
should you not be out makeing sure the raindeer are ready bud 😆 😆 😆
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)