Liverpool Echo & Everton

[Saint Domingo]

Didn't Dominic King cover Everton at some point? Another disrespectful article in the mail
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...tml?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

 

[Dario Terracotta]

Didn't Dominic King cover Everton at some point? Another disrespectful article in the mail
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...tml?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

Yep,but he was a well known RS,it sickens me how these journo's talk of us as a club,we have never stood our ground so to a point we bring it on ourselves,hopefully this Echo campaign may be a starting point for us kicking back?

 

[D410]

An open letter to John Thompson of the Liverpool Echo has been circulated around Everton Fan web sites and social media outlets wrt to the OP post.

Great read and 3 killer questions asked in the letter for the echo to follow up on.

 

[pablo 1878]

Didn't Dominic King cover Everton at some point? Another disrespectful article in the mail
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...tml?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

Don't want to click the link and put more money in the DM's coffers. What's it say?

 

[Saint Domingo]

An open letter to John Thompson of the Liverpool Echo has been circulated around Everton Fan web sites and social media outlets wrt to the OP post.

Great read and 3 killer questions asked in the letter for the echo to follow up on.

None of the echo will care about that though. Still no one has yet to release the full recording of the symposium, I can't believe no one else but the echo has it. Why won't anyone let it out?

 

[Saint Domingo]

Don't want to click the link and put more money in the DM's coffers. What's it say?

Stones' performances in the Euros is his big audition for his Unuted move.

 

[Whistlin' Dixie]

Don't want to click the link and put more money in the DM's coffers. What's it say?

Is that what happens?

Serious question.

 

[bainesontoast]

Is that what happens?

Serious question.

Yes, the more hits an article gets, the more income. Hence the term "click bait". They are baiting you to click because it leads to a profit.

EDIT: It directly affects the money they get from advertisers, too. You see those adverts from Barclays and LV on that page? Those companies aren't going to be interested in sponsoring if their adverts aren't being viewed.

 

[Whistlin' Dixie]

Yes, the more hits an article gets, the more income. Hence the term "click bait". They are baiting you to click because it leads to a profit.

Well, I'll be jiggered! Thought that only applied if you hit the adverts on the page(s).

I'll bear this in mind, in future.

 

[roydo]

I am not sure that clicking on the page leads to a direct bit of cash, but they will certainly use the amount of clicks they get as proof of its popularity, and hence in negotiations with advertisers.

In the same way it is more expensive to put an ad on Coronation Street than it is on *random daytime tv programme*

I think.

 

[Bungle]

An open letter to John Thompson of the Liverpool Echo has been circulated around Everton Fan web sites and social media outlets wrt to the OP post.

Great read and 3 killer questions asked in the letter for the echo to follow up on.

For anyone that wants to read

Dear John,

I write to you on behalf of the undersigned who formed part of a delegation that met with your colleagues Dave Prentice, Greg O’Keeffe and Phil Kirkbride on the 26/05/2015. All attendees welcomed the Echo’s initiative; overall it was felt that the Everton Symposium would allow many of us to express our concerns regarding Everton Football Club, its search for investment, the new stadium, its long term plans and on how your publication reports it.

However, it was a little surprising to receive an email from Greg O’Keeffe on the 27/5/2015 outlining…

“Some of you asked prior to the meeting whether you could record it for yourselves, and we have no issue with that in a personal capacity for your own reference. What we would ask, to those of whom this is relevant, is that you refrain from publishing it on your own sites/social media”

In our opinion this appears to be an afterthought and a little disingenuous. As was the final paragraph in Greg’s e-mail of the 27/05/2015 when he states…

“You were kind enough to give up your time and contribute to a healthy meeting at the Echo. We would like to ensure that it’s not a one-off, but please respect our right as hosts to publish the resulting podcast, and to do so as we see fit in line with the original spirit of the event as explained in previous emails.”

It would appear to be the case that you have attempted to move the goalposts by placing caveats after the event. Far from us been given the opportunity to voice our concerns in an open and transparent manner we had attended a meeting that was going to be edited at your discretion, without any input from us, thus potentially compromising our integrity.

I refer you to my email of the 28/05/2015 when I requested the opportunity for “our side” to play some part in the editing process. Regrettably, this request was denied but we were given assurances that that the podcast would “be a true reflection.” Sadly, it wasn’t.

Our main concerns, in no particular order are…

• At no stage was it discussed, implied or suggested that the podcast would also include contributions from supporters offering a similar or indeed a different point of view. Whilst we would always welcome the views and opinions of all fans the edit gives a disproportionate amount of time to the opposing view.

• The editing process meant that many of the pertinent points ended up on the cutting room floor. Criticism of the Echo’s coverage, poor commercial performance of the club, in particular the Kit deal, which in our opinion is restrictive.

• The mysterious involvement of Philip Green at Everton FC which included an article published in the Liverpool Echo in August 2004 asserting that he had invested £15m into the club.

• The role and function and responsibilities of the Directors.

• The leaked emails which Dave Prentice bizarrely tried to deny knowledge of before quickly backtracking.

• The relationship between the Echo and the club.

• The commitment from the Echo to ask the club for answers to our questions

The three questions we would like the Echo to ask the club are as follows…

1. Where and from whom did Bill Kenwright raise the money for his Shareholding in True Blue Holdings and has the source of the capital been satisfied or refinanced since that time?

2. In 2006 who paid Paul, Anita and Simon Gregg for their 23% shareholding in Everton. For the avoidance of any doubt, the question relates to who paid the Greggs for their shares, not who is the registered owner, that being the offshore entity BCR Sports.

3. Who negotiates Everton’s kit supply deal, how much does Everton receive, from whom and where is this sum to be found in the accounts? Again, for the avoidance of any doubt, this does not relate to kit sales, this question relates to the money paid by a kit manufacturer to a club wearing the products they manufacture.

We also call on the Echo to give us the right to reply given the way that the original podcast was edited didn’t really reflect the seventy-five minutes recorded.

One final point, we challenged the Echo to put together a ‘Question Time’ style event that was independently chaired and allowed supporters from both sides of the spectrum to debate the issues, in front of an audience in a friendly and cordial manner. Has any progress been made?

It is our intention to forward this open letter to the wider fan base, websites, fanzines, and social media including the Liverpool Echo’s letters page. We will also report back to our respective fan groups, given that many of us are answerable to the fan groups who elect us to the various positions that many of us hold. In the interest of fair play, we will delay circulating our open letter by twenty-four hours in order to allow you to respond.

Regards,

Dave Kelly, Joe Jennings, Katie Carter, Barry Jones, Tony Fitzpatrick, Alan Burns, Mark Jones, Mark Ellis, Mark Finnegan, Robbie Daniels, Thomas Regan, David Downie.

 

[mythbuster]

LOL, now they're running a "Greek champions Olympiakos ready to bid for Everton striker Kevin Mirallas." story.

 

[Matty_j1878]

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/spor.../executive-editor-sport-john-thompson-9520643

Executive Editor, Sport John Thompson responds to those Evertonians angry with the ECHO

We are listening - and we do care...

Mainstream sports journalists are lucky, privileged people.

They get to meet the stars. They to get to know them. They get to watch them for free. And get to write about them.

Their words are read by thousands of people every day. And they get paid for doing it.

Here at the ECHO, they - we - are especially privileged. Because Merseyside is home to two wonderful, historic and highly decorated football clubs.

Both Everton and Liverpool are avidly followed by arguably the most passionate and knowledgeable supporters in the land.

And those fans, we know and agree, are the most important of all. By a County Road mile. Which is why it has to be a matter of real concern to us when a group of those fans - Everton fans - feel disillusioned and let down by their local newspaper and its website.

Our accusers tell us we’ve lost touch, are unwilling to ask the questions that matter most to them. They say we deal in trivial, everyday stuff when we should be demanding answers, addressing bigger, more fundamental issues.

And this particular group of Blues are now so fed up they’re accusing us of favouring Liverpool FC in an internet campaign.

They’re harsh accusations - and in the social media age they are accompanied by some pretty unpleasant stuff.

We know we have to listen

But these fans are entitled to their opinions. And when a sizeable group of people tell you the same thing, whether they represent a minority of Blues fans or not, you’d be foolish to dismiss it self-servingly or readily.

We don’t.

Truth is we never have done. We’ve held meetings with these fan groups for several years now at our offices in Old Hall Street and given them platforms. As we have at times too with Everton’s hierarchy.

We believe these campaigning fans want us not just to ask questions and highlight issues of debate and concern, but also want us to join them in demanding sweeping change at Goodison. We do not believe sweeping change is a guarantee of success and would not support it without evidence of a credible alternative ready and waiting.

We invited fans groups in a few weeks ago, so we could record and air their views in an hour-long podcast on our website.

It was us pro-actively giving these fans a big opportunity to be heard more widely. And for us to demonstrate that we do respect them and want their opinions.

The recording took a little while to edit - not least because there were some serious accusations which needed legal scrutiny and attention.

But publish it we did - including some stinging criticism of ourselves and our journalists, as well as Bill Kenwright, Jon Woods, Robert Earl, Robert Elstone and those in the boardroom at Everton.

We recorded around 75 minutes of debate. Inevitably, as we had agreed to put out an hour-long podcast, some of it had to be left out.

We were though pro-actively signalling our intent to engage and listen. And respond. Which we were - and are - planning to do.

There’s more to football than transfers and tactics
We know Blues fans are as interested in whether Everton will ever find a committed new owner able and willing to invest - as they are in whether the club is signing a new centre forward.

We know many fans are desperate to know if the Blues will ever find a way to keep up and build a new stadium - as well as any analysis of Roberto Martinez’s tactical formations.

We do seek interviews from the top. We do ask the questions. But for all the co-operation we get day to day, we cannot force those running Everton to speak to us, grant us interviews or answer those questions.

That said, even if those running the Blues at times don’t wish to talk to us - that shouldn’t stop us exploring issues and commenting upon them.

So we accept that and we get the message loud and clear.

No favours, no fears…
And as for ‘evidence’ in leaked emails of the past that the ECHO ‘owed the club’ you’ll have to ask Everton FC about that.

That’s not how we at the ECHO saw it - and we would never agree that we ‘owe’ the Blues or the Reds favours for this or that. Never.

Down the decades the ECHO has been banned by the Blues (and the Reds) a fair few times over disputes with management and players.

For example, for David Moyes’ last home game in charge, David Prentice, Greg O’Keeffe and I bought tickets and reported the match from the Bullens Road stand because O’Keeffe had been banned from the Goodison press box as something he’d written had caused offence.

That’s just where all sports journalists live at times. Ask Alex Ferguson.

One great city, two great clubs
We’ve been accused of bias and loving Liverpool FC more than Everton. Not only is that untrue, it would be ludicrous, outrageous and unacceptable if it were.

We have the same number of pages devoted in principle to the Blues as the Reds, though it’s never an exact science and what is happening on any given day or week can at times skew that a bit one way or the other.

We have the same number of Everton columnists as Liverpool columnists. And while, as people who publish thousands of words every day, we will get it wrong sometimes, we try very hard each day to get the balance and tone right.

For instance, when we restructured our newsroom in January we appointed an Everton FC editor as well as a Liverpool FC editor even though Reds’ international following will inevitably deliver us more web views and consequently more revenue.

We have to, and always will disregard that because local audience is ultimately our priority and we will stand or fall on our local relevance.

Across all of our pages, on our website and our social media platforms, across a rapidly changing and developing new media landscape, we accept we must demonstrate a daily understanding that we live in a city that’s blue and red, red and blue, as we promote, signpost and celebrate our journalists’ work.

We have just appointed a mobile website editor with a brief to ensure we promote the clubs equally on our mobile site, and we are working hard with our technical team to ensure that some automated story recommendation feeds are less random and instead are relevant to the readers and the team they support.

Further, we will continue to monitor and cherish the ECHO’S back-page balance and have introduced changes to ensure this happens.

We know also that our sports writers - hard working, talented people who love the game too - are paid as qualified, professional reporters - not employed because they are football fans of one club or the other.

On our floor, like in every other office, school or factory on Merseyside, we have fans of Liverpool and Everton - and of some other clubs too. But their personal allegiances, where they exist, should not, do not, matter one jot.

Our staff are here to be great, well-connected, well-informed and fair-minded journalists who report and analyse the whole picture - not fans with a keyboard able to indulge a private passion.

But in turn we all have to demonstrate our empathy for the Gwladys St as much as the Kop, and vice versa of course.

Actions will always speak louder than words…
Over the next few weeks and months - and for a long while after - you’ll see plenty of stories and commentaries on Everton and Liverpool’s off-field issues. And on Tranmere Rovers’ too as they seek to get back into the Football League after a sad, humiliating and worrying decline last season.

We’ve said and done plenty that maybe gets a bit too readily forgotten.

But we know - we accept - that we’ve got to do more right across the piece on this score.

The Echo and its staff hopes and believes it understands Blues better than any other mainstream media. And cares far more about them and their club.

But perhaps it’s time for we privileged few to prove it better than we’ve done.

To the best of our ability, we will.

 

[bizzaro]

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/spor.../executive-editor-sport-john-thompson-9520643

Executive Editor, Sport John Thompson responds to those Evertonians angry with the ECHO

We are listening - and we do care...

Mainstream sports journalists are lucky, privileged people.

They get to meet the stars. They to get to know them. They get to watch them for free. And get to write about them.

Their words are read by thousands of people every day. And they get paid for doing it.

Here at the ECHO, they - we - are especially privileged. Because Merseyside is home to two wonderful, historic and highly decorated football clubs.

Both Everton and Liverpool are avidly followed by arguably the most passionate and knowledgeable supporters in the land.

And those fans, we know and agree, are the most important of all. By a County Road mile. Which is why it has to be a matter of real concern to us when a group of those fans - Everton fans - feel disillusioned and let down by their local newspaper and its website.

Our accusers tell us we’ve lost touch, are unwilling to ask the questions that matter most to them. They say we deal in trivial, everyday stuff when we should be demanding answers, addressing bigger, more fundamental issues.

And this particular group of Blues are now so fed up they’re accusing us of favouring Liverpool FC in an internet campaign.

They’re harsh accusations - and in the social media age they are accompanied by some pretty unpleasant stuff.

We know we have to listen

But these fans are entitled to their opinions. And when a sizeable group of people tell you the same thing, whether they represent a minority of Blues fans or not, you’d be foolish to dismiss it self-servingly or readily.

We don’t.

Truth is we never have done. We’ve held meetings with these fan groups for several years now at our offices in Old Hall Street and given them platforms. As we have at times too with Everton’s hierarchy.

We believe these campaigning fans want us not just to ask questions and highlight issues of debate and concern, but also want us to join them in demanding sweeping change at Goodison. We do not believe sweeping change is a guarantee of success and would not support it without evidence of a credible alternative ready and waiting.

We invited fans groups in a few weeks ago, so we could record and air their views in an hour-long podcast on our website.

It was us pro-actively giving these fans a big opportunity to be heard more widely. And for us to demonstrate that we do respect them and want their opinions.

The recording took a little while to edit - not least because there were some serious accusations which needed legal scrutiny and attention.

But publish it we did - including some stinging criticism of ourselves and our journalists, as well as Bill Kenwright, Jon Woods, Robert Earl, Robert Elstone and those in the boardroom at Everton.

We recorded around 75 minutes of debate. Inevitably, as we had agreed to put out an hour-long podcast, some of it had to be left out.

We were though pro-actively signalling our intent to engage and listen. And respond. Which we were - and are - planning to do.

There’s more to football than transfers and tactics
We know Blues fans are as interested in whether Everton will ever find a committed new owner able and willing to invest - as they are in whether the club is signing a new centre forward.

We know many fans are desperate to know if the Blues will ever find a way to keep up and build a new stadium - as well as any analysis of Roberto Martinez’s tactical formations.

We do seek interviews from the top. We do ask the questions. But for all the co-operation we get day to day, we cannot force those running Everton to speak to us, grant us interviews or answer those questions.

That said, even if those running the Blues at times don’t wish to talk to us - that shouldn’t stop us exploring issues and commenting upon them.

So we accept that and we get the message loud and clear.

No favours, no fears…
And as for ‘evidence’ in leaked emails of the past that the ECHO ‘owed the club’ you’ll have to ask Everton FC about that.

That’s not how we at the ECHO saw it - and we would never agree that we ‘owe’ the Blues or the Reds favours for this or that. Never.

Down the decades the ECHO has been banned by the Blues (and the Reds) a fair few times over disputes with management and players.

For example, for David Moyes’ last home game in charge, David Prentice, Greg O’Keeffe and I bought tickets and reported the match from the Bullens Road stand because O’Keeffe had been banned from the Goodison press box as something he’d written had caused offence.

That’s just where all sports journalists live at times. Ask Alex Ferguson.

One great city, two great clubs
We’ve been accused of bias and loving Liverpool FC more than Everton. Not only is that untrue, it would be ludicrous, outrageous and unacceptable if it were.

We have the same number of pages devoted in principle to the Blues as the Reds, though it’s never an exact science and what is happening on any given day or week can at times skew that a bit one way or the other.

We have the same number of Everton columnists as Liverpool columnists. And while, as people who publish thousands of words every day, we will get it wrong sometimes, we try very hard each day to get the balance and tone right.

For instance, when we restructured our newsroom in January we appointed an Everton FC editor as well as a Liverpool FC editor even though Reds’ international following will inevitably deliver us more web views and consequently more revenue.

We have to, and always will disregard that because local audience is ultimately our priority and we will stand or fall on our local relevance.

Across all of our pages, on our website and our social media platforms, across a rapidly changing and developing new media landscape, we accept we must demonstrate a daily understanding that we live in a city that’s blue and red, red and blue, as we promote, signpost and celebrate our journalists’ work.

We have just appointed a mobile website editor with a brief to ensure we promote the clubs equally on our mobile site, and we are working hard with our technical team to ensure that some automated story recommendation feeds are less random and instead are relevant to the readers and the team they support.

Further, we will continue to monitor and cherish the ECHO’S back-page balance and have introduced changes to ensure this happens.

We know also that our sports writers - hard working, talented people who love the game too - are paid as qualified, professional reporters - not employed because they are football fans of one club or the other.

On our floor, like in every other office, school or factory on Merseyside, we have fans of Liverpool and Everton - and of some other clubs too. But their personal allegiances, where they exist, should not, do not, matter one jot.

Our staff are here to be great, well-connected, well-informed and fair-minded journalists who report and analyse the whole picture - not fans with a keyboard able to indulge a private passion.

But in turn we all have to demonstrate our empathy for the Gwladys St as much as the Kop, and vice versa of course.

Actions will always speak louder than words…
Over the next few weeks and months - and for a long while after - you’ll see plenty of stories and commentaries on Everton and Liverpool’s off-field issues. And on Tranmere Rovers’ too as they seek to get back into the Football League after a sad, humiliating and worrying decline last season.

We’ve said and done plenty that maybe gets a bit too readily forgotten.

But we know - we accept - that we’ve got to do more right across the piece on this score.

The Echo and its staff hopes and believes it understands Blues better than any other mainstream media. And cares far more about them and their club.

But perhaps it’s time for we privileged few to prove it better than we’ve done.

To the best of our ability, we will.

He can kiss my Everton arse

@davek

 

[bizzaro]

'We’ve been accused of bias and loving Liverpool FC more than Everton. Not only is that untrue, it would be ludicrous, outrageous and unacceptable if it were.'

ITS NOT AN ACCUSATION.

ITS FACT.