Journalist editorship candidate Mark Watts today turns his investigative powers onto Guardian media commentator Roy Greenslade.It was Greenslade who posted about Watts: "His investigations are a sham. Worse, his journalistic pomposity is an insult to our trade."
Today on his FOIA Centre website, Watts describes Greenslade as "my most prominent critic". Watts claims Greenslade has been forced to apologise for a piece "calling into question my mental health” after he complained to the editor of the Guardian.
He adds: "Greenslade failed to make what I regard as proper declarations of interest that were highly relevant to the subject." This involves the fact that Greenslade was listed as a supporter of rival Journalist candidate Rich Simcox on Facebook. Greenslade has denied being a supporter of Simcox or NUJ Left.
Watts also claims that Greenslade had not declared that he had a "working relationship" with him. Greenslade appeared as a guest for two editions of a daily newspaper review programme on Press TV, the Iranian backed tv channel, presented by Watts.
Watts also quotes a book review by Greenslade from a 1997 edition of the New Statesman about about the origins of the Socialist Workers Party in which he wrote: “The communist party of Britain (Marxist-Leninist) was, at least during my membership some 20 years ago, Maoist.”
Watts also quotes a book review by Greenslade from a 1997 edition of the New Statesman about about the origins of the Socialist Workers Party in which he wrote: “The communist party of Britain (Marxist-Leninist) was, at least during my membership some 20 years ago, Maoist.”
Watts asks: "Just why was Greenslade quite so coy about making proper declarations with his article that were plainly pertinent to the subject upon which he professed to make disinterested comment? Perhaps he will do so now."
The BBC is full of reds too Mark - get on to them Mark. Vent your spleen.
ReplyDeleteThe BBC's Newsnight economics editor Paul Mason this morning Tweeted: "Back from a week in Druidstone. Sad to hear Chris Harman died."
Chris Harman was a leading light in Mark's much hated Socialist Workers Party.
Come on Mark. Be consistent. Point out that Mason is not fit to work for the BBC, that he cannot possibly do his job properly holding such views.
Or might it be possible that people of the "left" can make excellent independent journalists?
Be consistent and attack the BBC and Mason, or admit your mistake and apologise to Simcox.