Once upon a time I worked for the Leeds Student – the once highly acclaimed Leeds University newspaper.
This week I am ashamed to have that stain on my CV.
Admittedly my involvement with the paper was occasional, and mainly limited to reporting on uni football and writing a column on darts, wrestling and rugby league during my three years at the university.
Knowing that I wanted to be a journalist I was keen to get involved with the paper as soon as I could after starting my degree. But after just a couple of brief visits to their newsroom I had my doubts as to how heavily involved I wanted to be with the editorial team. Despite desperately wanting to be a news reporter I had, frankly, little desire to mix socially or professionally with the other staff.
It’s hard now, nine years down the line, to explain why. I just felt there were differences in our views on life which would have made it difficult to get on with them. I may, of course, have been wrong, but I took the decision to limit my efforts to sport and thus not need to be heavily involved in the Alan Rusbridger-wannabes’ editorial process.
There were some journalists there with great potential and genuine talent – indeed, Leeds Student is a breeding ground for journalistic promise. Previous editors include Paul Dacre and Nicholas Witchell. Dozens of other alumni have gone on to work for national newspapers and broadcasters.
Sadly the editor’s position is now sullied by Virginia Newman, and is apparently soon to be taken up by Laura Mackenzie, the reporter who 'interviewed' Sameh Habeeb last week.
The entire kerfuffle over Mr Habeeb’s comments during that interview – in which he seemed to suggest Jews run the media (a charge he vehemently denies) – was entirely avoidable.
Ms Mackenzie could, and indeed should, have followed up by asking Mr Habeeb to explain what he meant when he said “I think you have to ask yourself who controls the media”.
Frankly, any half-decent, impartial journalist who heard those words come from his mouth would have known they were on to a bit of a scoop and pushed Mr Habeeb for clarification.
Instead, Ms Mackenzie, and then Ms Newman swallowed his claims hook, line and sinker.
When the inevitable happened and the paper hit the streets there was uproar.
After the Union took the decision, rightly or wrongly, to censor the paper and remove copies, Ms Newman went on the offensive.
Rather than accept that, as an amateur, she may have made a professional error, she had the chutzpah to email the JC, following our initial web report of the situation, to complain. She was disgusted at our “very poor journalism”. She would, of course, be taking her concerns to the Press Complaints Commission.
Yet when I spoke to her on Tuesday to ask why Mr Habeeb had not been pushed on his claims she had few answers.
“I answer to the students,” she proclaimed defiantly.
But why, I asked, can’t you see the potential harm of his comments and acknowledge that to run them in that fashion was offensive and careless?
Her response? To put the phone down on me. Classy.
I can understand her disappointment at seeing the paper pulled from the shelves. It must be devastating for any editor to see their paper treated in such a way, especially when the situation was avoidable. It must be a sad indictment on your editorial skills.
Yes, of course there should be freedom of the press, but that freedom must be met by responsible publishing and the ability to make mature decisions while considering the consequences of what you are printing. Clearly Ms Newman and her team were found lacking in this respect.
She could have held her hands up, said an editorial mistake had been made, and rectified the situation. Instead she attempted to claim some sort of moral high ground.
Almost unbelievably the newspaper’s website is now directing readers to a petition which encourages students to complain about the censorship.
The petition includes the following remarkable lines: ”It is our firm belief that an apology should be sent to the editor of Leeds Student newspaper. The person in question has been badly treated by LUU and deserves an apology.”
Really? It is Ms Newman who now deserves the apology? What an utter disgrace. Who do these people think they are?
In her official statement to the wider media (as opposed to her phone-putting-down tantrum) Ms Newman apparently prejudges the outcome of the Union’s investigation, claiming: “We are confident that the result will prove that we acted correctly and appropriately in the publication of this article.”
What vile arrogance. Perhaps even more disappointing than allowing the article to appear in its original state is her belief now, despite all the controversy, that she did the right thing and defiantly stands by the story.
Ms Newman, and her supporters, just don’t get it.
Sadly she and they will probably be proved right. The Union may well excuse Mr Habeeb’s unchallenged comments in order to maintain some bastardised view of campus cohesion and student happiness.
All the while Jewish students at Leeds are forced to pick up ‘their’ paper and see Mr Habeeb’s slurs. In addition they are now all too clear how the editorial staff on ‘their’ paper approach and tackle the issues of hate speech and antisemitism.
Ms Newman is adamant that this week’s paper will redress the balance by carrying “responses from all angles”. It should prove interesting reading.
All too often students are happy to play grown-up, pretend they are professionals and expect to be treated as such. All too often they fail.
When the tables are turned and the hard questions come back in response they don’t want to know. They put the phone down, they cry foul, they claim they deserve an apology.
It may well be the case that they don’t like it up ‘em, but they absolutely desperately need a reality check before they step out into the big wide world.
