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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| The FT’s Presidents Club scoop shows how attitudes have changed | The FT’s Presidents Club scoop shows how attitudes have changed |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Even the tabloids thought it was sleazy – and only the Mail was left to decry ‘virtue signalling’ | Even the tabloids thought it was sleazy – and only the Mail was left to decry ‘virtue signalling’ |
| Contact author | Contact author |
| Sun 28 Jan 2018 14.06 GMT | Sun 28 Jan 2018 14.06 GMT |
| Last modified on Sun 28 Jan 2018 22.00 GMT | |
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| The Financial Times struck journalistic gold with the Presidents Club shenanigans, its first major investigation since it launched its team in autumn last year. | The Financial Times struck journalistic gold with the Presidents Club shenanigans, its first major investigation since it launched its team in autumn last year. |
| Few newspaper exclusives produce such instantaneous results, with the rest of the media joining the chorus of amazement and condemnation. Politicians from all parties were united in their outrage. Nadhim Zahawi, the minister for children and families, who attended, faced pressure to resign. Theresa May expressed her disgust at “the objectification of women”. | Few newspaper exclusives produce such instantaneous results, with the rest of the media joining the chorus of amazement and condemnation. Politicians from all parties were united in their outrage. Nadhim Zahawi, the minister for children and families, who attended, faced pressure to resign. Theresa May expressed her disgust at “the objectification of women”. |
| In the face of the onslaught, and after 33 years of running what amounts to an upmarket stag do, the organisers were swift to throw in the towel. They did attempt an initial, rather pathetic justification of the male-only dinner parties by arguing that they raised money for good causes. Then the charities decided to return the cash and the fig leaf vanished. | In the face of the onslaught, and after 33 years of running what amounts to an upmarket stag do, the organisers were swift to throw in the towel. They did attempt an initial, rather pathetic justification of the male-only dinner parties by arguing that they raised money for good causes. Then the charities decided to return the cash and the fig leaf vanished. |
| The FT has not previously been noted for undercover reporting. But the allegations passed to the paper’s accounting and tax correspondent, Madison Marriage, were too disturbing to ignore. | The FT has not previously been noted for undercover reporting. But the allegations passed to the paper’s accounting and tax correspondent, Madison Marriage, were too disturbing to ignore. |
| First, there was the straightforward, if shocking, fact that 130 women had been hired as “hostesses” – even the word has a sordid, 1960s ring to it – to serve the needs of 360 men. What, in 2018? Second, there were those claims of sexual misbehaviour at previous events. | First, there was the straightforward, if shocking, fact that 130 women had been hired as “hostesses” – even the word has a sordid, 1960s ring to it – to serve the needs of 360 men. What, in 2018? Second, there were those claims of sexual misbehaviour at previous events. |
| We are keen to hear from people who work in hospitality and have worked at this or similar events about what it’s like. We are also keen to hear from those who work in the city and in major businesses about whether this behaviour is widespread. | We are keen to hear from people who work in hospitality and have worked at this or similar events about what it’s like. We are also keen to hear from those who work in the city and in major businesses about whether this behaviour is widespread. |
| You can share your story by using our encrypted form here. | You can share your story by using our encrypted form here. |
| We will feature some of your contributions in our reporting. | We will feature some of your contributions in our reporting. |
| My hunch is that in times of yore, when the culture of male entitlement meant such issues were considered unremarkable by both men and women, the allegations would have merited no more than a paragraph in a business diary. What larks, eh? Nudge-nudge, wink-wink. | My hunch is that in times of yore, when the culture of male entitlement meant such issues were considered unremarkable by both men and women, the allegations would have merited no more than a paragraph in a business diary. What larks, eh? Nudge-nudge, wink-wink. |
| But the FT’s investigations editor, Paul Murphy, was experienced enough to know that many men continue to think they still live in that former climate of male chauvinism. He therefore realised that, without proof, all the claims would have been denied. Sorry old boy, way off beam. Look away, nothing here to bother with. Haven’t you got proper stories to worry about? By the way, my lawyer will be in touch. | But the FT’s investigations editor, Paul Murphy, was experienced enough to know that many men continue to think they still live in that former climate of male chauvinism. He therefore realised that, without proof, all the claims would have been denied. Sorry old boy, way off beam. Look away, nothing here to bother with. Haven’t you got proper stories to worry about? By the way, my lawyer will be in touch. |
| So, in order to obtain hard evidence, it would be necessary for Marriage to apply for work as a hostess and conceal her real job. Covert filming and discreet photography would, in such circumstances, not only be justified but necessary. | So, in order to obtain hard evidence, it would be necessary for Marriage to apply for work as a hostess and conceal her real job. Covert filming and discreet photography would, in such circumstances, not only be justified but necessary. |
| Just as Murphy forecast, prior to publication, when FT staff began calling people who had attended, there were bland denials. Worse was the legal pressure. There was said to have been “a blizzard of threats from company lawyers”. | Just as Murphy forecast, prior to publication, when FT staff began calling people who had attended, there were bland denials. Worse was the legal pressure. There was said to have been “a blizzard of threats from company lawyers”. |
| The FT was looking at catastrophic repercussions … until publication, which was followed that evening by a BBC Newsnight interview with Marriage. Social media exploded with indignation. | The FT was looking at catastrophic repercussions … until publication, which was followed that evening by a BBC Newsnight interview with Marriage. Social media exploded with indignation. |
| Suddenly, the party deniers became party denouncers. Disgraceful. I don’t know why I went. Did I go? I can’t remember. If I did, I left early. I wouldn’t go to another one. I saw nothing. | Suddenly, the party deniers became party denouncers. Disgraceful. I don’t know why I went. Did I go? I can’t remember. If I did, I left early. I wouldn’t go to another one. I saw nothing. |
| The greatest sign of the change in attitudes was clear from some tabloids, which once would have seen it all as harmless fun. “Sleaze ball” and “Upper-class whore house”, said two headlines in the Sun. “The wealthy gropers deserve public shame,” said the Daily Mirror, calling it “grotesque predatory sexual harassment”. | The greatest sign of the change in attitudes was clear from some tabloids, which once would have seen it all as harmless fun. “Sleaze ball” and “Upper-class whore house”, said two headlines in the Sun. “The wealthy gropers deserve public shame,” said the Daily Mirror, calling it “grotesque predatory sexual harassment”. |
| Not the Daily Mail, however. After three pages in which it reported all manner of unsavoury details, its leading article decried the loss of funds for Great Ormond Street children’s hospital, claiming it was the victim of “virtue signalling”. | Not the Daily Mail, however. After three pages in which it reported all manner of unsavoury details, its leading article decried the loss of funds for Great Ormond Street children’s hospital, claiming it was the victim of “virtue signalling”. |
| Given its championing of press freedom, the paper might instead have asked a pertinent question about one of the conditions demanded of the women that denied them the freedom to speak: the signing of a non-disclosure form. | Given its championing of press freedom, the paper might instead have asked a pertinent question about one of the conditions demanded of the women that denied them the freedom to speak: the signing of a non-disclosure form. |
| Did the organisers shut the women up on the grounds that they might pass on high-level business secrets? I think not. | Did the organisers shut the women up on the grounds that they might pass on high-level business secrets? I think not. |
| The Parole Board’s decisions should be public | The Parole Board’s decisions should be public |
| There is a belief that open justice is good for society. Judges, lawyers, politicians, even civil servants, pay lip service to the concept. Oh, but the practice, the real test of transparency, is a different matter. The lips quiver. The silence is deafening. | There is a belief that open justice is good for society. Judges, lawyers, politicians, even civil servants, pay lip service to the concept. Oh, but the practice, the real test of transparency, is a different matter. The lips quiver. The silence is deafening. |
| There is so much in Britain that is concealed. Unlike Americans, we have to struggle to know so much that happens in our name. As journalists know only too well, when we request information, the default position is “no”. Relatively trivial data is rarely available. Important stuff, with public service implications, is protected as if it were gold. | There is so much in Britain that is concealed. Unlike Americans, we have to struggle to know so much that happens in our name. As journalists know only too well, when we request information, the default position is “no”. Relatively trivial data is rarely available. Important stuff, with public service implications, is protected as if it were gold. |
| So I find myself in sympathy with the campaign by the Sun and Daily Mail to obtain the Parole Board’s report on the release of John Worboys, the taxi driver convicted in 2009 of sex attacks on 12 women. | So I find myself in sympathy with the campaign by the Sun and Daily Mail to obtain the Parole Board’s report on the release of John Worboys, the taxi driver convicted in 2009 of sex attacks on 12 women. |
| The board, which deals with cases in England and Wales, has a rule that states decisions taken to release prisoners “must not be made public”. Is that open justice? | The board, which deals with cases in England and Wales, has a rule that states decisions taken to release prisoners “must not be made public”. Is that open justice? |
| We are able to know why they went to prison because we can report what happens in courts. Yet we are not able to know why they are released. Does that not seem, well, unjust? Unjust, incidentally, not just for those released but also for those denied parole. | We are able to know why they went to prison because we can report what happens in courts. Yet we are not able to know why they are released. Does that not seem, well, unjust? Unjust, incidentally, not just for those released but also for those denied parole. |
| The Parole Board argues that it has followed normal procedure and done everything by the book. Fine, up to a point. And that point is public proof. Let’s see what you did and why you did it. | The Parole Board argues that it has followed normal procedure and done everything by the book. Fine, up to a point. And that point is public proof. Let’s see what you did and why you did it. |
| Sure, there may be a need for redaction, although that is often performed with unnecessary zeal. But here is a case in which there is obvious public disquiet and simply accepting the word of this board has failed, in such disturbing circumstances, to quell the concern. | Sure, there may be a need for redaction, although that is often performed with unnecessary zeal. But here is a case in which there is obvious public disquiet and simply accepting the word of this board has failed, in such disturbing circumstances, to quell the concern. |
| I found myself nodding in agreement when I read the Sun’s letter, sent to the board and to David Gauke, as both the justice secretary and lord chancellor. It said the board’s report was “integral to the debate on a matter of profound public interest”. That strikes me as unarguable. | I found myself nodding in agreement when I read the Sun’s letter, sent to the board and to David Gauke, as both the justice secretary and lord chancellor. It said the board’s report was “integral to the debate on a matter of profound public interest”. That strikes me as unarguable. |
| What happens if Trinity buys Desmond’s titles? | What happens if Trinity buys Desmond’s titles? |
| Is Trinity Mirror’s attempt to acquire Richard Desmond’s publications wise? It makes business sense because, as any City analyst will tell you, growing by acquisition is a jolly good idea. | Is Trinity Mirror’s attempt to acquire Richard Desmond’s publications wise? It makes business sense because, as any City analyst will tell you, growing by acquisition is a jolly good idea. |
| Consolidation in the newspaper industry has a long history. Now, in the face of a declining market, it has taken on a new urgency. Revenue continues to fall because of decreasing print sales and the flight of advertising to the net. Size matters more than ever and, as Trinity Mirror’s chief executive, Simon Fox, knows, a great deal can also be achieved through cost savings. Synergies is the strategic watchword. | Consolidation in the newspaper industry has a long history. Now, in the face of a declining market, it has taken on a new urgency. Revenue continues to fall because of decreasing print sales and the flight of advertising to the net. Size matters more than ever and, as Trinity Mirror’s chief executive, Simon Fox, knows, a great deal can also be achieved through cost savings. Synergies is the strategic watchword. |
| Even so, there have been reports suggesting that two leading Trinity Mirror shareholders are not overly keen on seeing the group that publishes the Daily Mirror being merged with the one that produces the Daily Express and the Daily Star. They are said to be ready to oppose the takeover in the belief that Fox is willing to pay Desmond too high a price, a reputed £130m. | Even so, there have been reports suggesting that two leading Trinity Mirror shareholders are not overly keen on seeing the group that publishes the Daily Mirror being merged with the one that produces the Daily Express and the Daily Star. They are said to be ready to oppose the takeover in the belief that Fox is willing to pay Desmond too high a price, a reputed £130m. |
| I imagine they will come into line. What journalists, as distinct from analysts, are wondering is what will happen to the titles. Surely Trinity Mirror will not publish three redtops on a Sunday? Will the Sunday People be merged with the Daily Star Sunday and, if so, which staff will get the chop? For synergies, read redundancies. | I imagine they will come into line. What journalists, as distinct from analysts, are wondering is what will happen to the titles. Surely Trinity Mirror will not publish three redtops on a Sunday? Will the Sunday People be merged with the Daily Star Sunday and, if so, which staff will get the chop? For synergies, read redundancies. |
| Presidents Club scandal | Presidents Club scandal |
| Media blog | Media blog |
| Financial Times | Financial Times |
| Newspapers & magazines | Newspapers & magazines |
| Newspapers | Newspapers |
| National newspapers | National newspapers |
| Sexual harassment | Sexual harassment |
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