Spin doctors: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 10:11, 12 July 2012

1) Grunge Band. 2) Name for media advisors (because they are apt at doctoring a story and giving it a certain spin).

Masters of presentation

The most detailed explanation for the term "spin doctors" is given in the book Soundbites and Spin Doctors, written by BBC journalist and political correspondent Nicholas Jones: "Political spin doctors are usually fairly open about much of their work. Their natural habitat is around Westminster and at party conferences. They give advice on the content of speeches and the likely implication of votes and decisions. Their busiest times are immediately after major political developments, when journalists are often desperate to speak to authoritative sources capable of giving them instant interpretation of what has happened and also background guidance on the likely consequences. This can be a decisive moment, because the spin doctor is acting as a sounding board: if reporters have got the wrong impression, or their story- lines look like being damaging the party, then considerable powers of persuasion can be called for. The most manipulative conversations tend to take place in private." [source??]

Spin doctors became very popular in the days of Tony Blair as a Prime Minister. Tony Blair was the first British Prime Minister to broadcast regularly on the world wide web. He was also the first to have a strategic communications unit in addition to his press office. With this the Labour Party adapted to the era of modern communication technologies (Seldon 3). In this way the role of image-makers and media advisors was more than significant for his political career. The Labour Party became the brand "New Labour", Britannia was branded as "Cool Britannia".

Alastair Campbell

Alastair Campbell known as a chief spin doctor of the New Labour era is the best example. He went a long way, building his career, first as a spokesman of Tony Blair, then a leader of the opposition and at last the Downing Street press secretary from 1997 until 2000. His working day, starting at 6 in the morning was long: listening to the news, first call with Tony Blair, preparing for the meeting with the officials of No. 10, briefing to the lobby journalists, then sending a transcript of the meeting to all government departments etc. (http://news.bbc.co.uk).

Mass Media called him "a man who became a story" or even "the UK´s second most powerful man" (http://news.bbc.co.uk). As a master of presentation he was also hoist by his own petard, and all the information about him was used against him in the media. His pornographical writings, homosexual experiences, alcohol problems appeared on the surface and threw a big shadow on the reputation of the party. The last point was a scandal because of Campbell´s personal financies, when he bought a smart town house in London more suitable for entertaining the jet set than his modest apartment. It embarrassed Blair seriously. Campbell had to step down and to leave his office. Blair and his spin doctors lacked conviction. They were all spin and presentation, saying and doing things to please people, but not because they believed them (Seldon 3).

Sources

Jones, Nicholas. Soundbites and Spin Doctors. London: Cassell, 1995.
Seldon, Antony. The Blair Effect. London: Little Brown and Company, 2001.
Sully, Melanie A. The New Politics of Tony Blair. New York: Columbia University Press, 2000.
http://news.bbc.co.uk

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 ) Grunge Band.
 ) Name for media advisors (because they are apt at doctoring a story and giving it a certain spin).
-    '''Masters of presentation'''
-     Spin doctors became very popular in the days of Tony Blair as a Prime Minister. Tony Blair was the first British Prime Minister to broadcast regularly on the world wide web. He was also the first to have in addition to his press office a strategic communications unit. His Party was simply adopted to the era of modern communication technologies. In this way the role of image-makers and media advisors was more than significant for his political career. Tha Labour party became "New Labour", Britannia became "Cool Britannia". Now "New Labour" was a brand.
-    '''Alastair Campbell'''
-     Alastair Campbell known as a chief spin doctor of the New Labour era is the best example. He went a long way, building his career, first as a spokesman of Tony Blair, then a leader of the opposition and at last the Downing Street press secretary from 1997 till 2000. His working day, starting at 6 in the morning was long: listening to the news, first call with Mr. Blair, prepairing for the meeting with the officials of No. 10, briefing to the lobby journalists, then sending a transcript of the meeting to all government departments etc.
-     Mass Media called him "a man who became a story" or even "the UK´s second most powerful man". As a master of presentation he was also hoist by his own petard, and all the information about him was used against him in the media. His pornographical writings, homosexual experiences, alcohol problems appeared on the surface and threw a big shadow  on the reputation of the party. The last point was a scandal because of Campbell´s  personal financies, when he bought a smart town house in London more suitable for entertaining the jet set than his modest apartment. It embarrassed Blair seriously. Campbell had to move downstairs.
-      Blair and his spin doctors lacked conviction. They were all spin and presentation, saying and doing things to please pople, but not because they believed them.
-Seldon, Antony. ''The Blair Effect''.Little Brown and Company.London,2001
+'''Masters of presentation'''
-Sully, Melanie A. ''The New Politics of Tony Blair''Columbia University Press. New York, 2000
-http://news.bbc.co.uk
+The most detailed explanation for the term "spin doctors" is given in the book ''Soundbites and Spin Doctors'', written by BBC journalist and political correspondent Nicholas Jones: "Political spin doctors are usually fairly open about much of their work. Their natural habitat is around Westminster and at party conferences. They give advice on the content of speeches and the likely implication of votes and decisions. Their busiest times are immediately after major political developments, when journalists are often desperate to speak to authoritative sources capable of giving them instant interpretation of what has happened and also background guidance on the likely consequences. This can be a decisive moment, because the spin doctor is acting as a sounding board: if reporters have got the wrong impression, or their story- lines look like being damaging the party, then considerable powers of persuasion can be called for. The most manipulative conversations tend to take place in private." [source??]
+Spin doctors became very popular in the days of [[Tony Blair]] as a Prime Minister. Tony Blair was the first British Prime Minister to broadcast regularly on the world wide web. He was also the first to have a strategic communications unit in addition to his press office. With this the Labour Party adapted to the era of modern communication technologies (Seldon 3). In this way the role of image-makers and media advisors was more than significant for his political career. The [[Labour Party]] became the brand "[[New Labour]]", Britannia was branded as "[[Cool Britannia]]".
+'''Alastair Campbell'''
-[[Category:Expansion]]
+[[Alastair Campbell]] known as a chief spin doctor of the New Labour era is the best example. He went a long way, building his career, first as a spokesman of Tony Blair, then a leader of the opposition and at last the Downing Street press secretary from 1997 until 2000. His working day, starting at 6 in the morning was long: listening to the news, first call with Tony Blair, preparing for the meeting with the officials of No. 10, briefing to the lobby journalists, then sending a transcript of the meeting to all government departments etc. (http://news.bbc.co.uk).
+Mass Media called him "a man who became a story" or even "the UK´s second most powerful man" (http://news.bbc.co.uk). As a master of presentation he was also hoist by his own petard, and all the information about him was used against him in the media. His pornographical writings, homosexual experiences, alcohol problems appeared on the surface and threw a big shadow  on the reputation of the party. The last point was a scandal because of Campbell´s  personal financies, when he bought a smart town house in London more suitable for entertaining the jet set than his modest apartment. It embarrassed Blair seriously. Campbell had to step down and to leave his office. Blair and his spin doctors lacked conviction. They were all spin and presentation, saying and doing things to please people, but not because they believed them (Seldon 3).
+== Sources ==
+* Jones, Nicholas. ''Soundbites and Spin Doctors''. London: Cassell, 1995.
+* Seldon, Antony. ''The Blair Effect''. London: Little Brown and Company, 2001.
+* Sully, Melanie A. ''The New Politics of Tony Blair''. New York: Columbia University Press, 2000.
+* http://news.bbc.co.uk