mumsnet supporters begin an avalanche of coverage

08 Aug 2006

mumsnet supporters begin an avalanche of coverage

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When Gina Ford instructed her solicitors to send a letter to the ISP hosting mumsnet, threatening to sue them for libel if they didn’t cease hosting the community site for moms and expectant moms, she probably had no idea how much attention it would get in the newspapers. The story even made the news in Qatar. And let’s not underestimate the power of blog posts and digg votes.

In fact, coverage of the story is going ballistic.

Like thousands of others, I’d never heard until Ford or her sometimes controversial parenting books until yesterday when I heard about the predicament mumsnet found itself in. Now her name has been in every major UK newspaper website and the story has reportedly run on Channel 4 News (TV), LBC Radio, BBC Radio 2′s Jeremy Vine, the ITV lunchtime news (and now on their website), BBC1 News (video). I’ve also heard that it was mentioned on BBC Radio 4′s Today programme and may appear on Radio 4′s Women’s Hour at lunchtime.

…and I was just interviewed by BBC 5Live’s Victoria Derbyshire (using the listen again feature for Tuesday, I was on at 11.25am for seven minutes).

(Update 19 September: I have removed a link to the page at http://www.badmothersclub.co.uk/jsp/index.jsp?lnk=302&id=66633&last=0 from this post after concerns about the accuracy of information held on that page were brought to my attention. I cannot confirm what the contents were because the page has itself been removed.)

With over 13 years of professional experience in the digital and social media industry, and a client portfolio that includes some of the World's most recognisable brands and organisations, I've built a reputation internationally as a leading practitioner in the industry.

3 Comments:

By Martin Belam / 08 Aug 2006 /

There was a lengthy report on the BBC News at One as well, with Sophie talking to a media lawyer about it all – however his basic point was that Gina was within her rights as the web is treated like TV and the newspaper as far as libel is concerned
By RobinH / 09 Aug 2006 /

Thanks for the comment Martin. I posted up a paper I wrote on internet libel and would welcome any comments you might have on it. Have a look at http://www.cybersoc.com/2006/08/user_generated__1.html
By substantial years uncertain / 12 Sep 2010 /

substantial years uncertain

occur thermohaline back

About Robin Hamman

With 14 years of professional experience in the digital and social media industry, and a client portfolio that includes some of the World's most recognisable brands and organisations, I've built a reputation internationally as a leading practitioner in the industry.

I'm currently the Director of Edelman Digital, London. Previously, I've held a variety of roles including Head of Social Media at Dachis Group Europe, Acting Editor of the BBC Blogs, and Executive Producer at ITV.

I hold a BA in Education, MA in Sociology, MPhil in Communication Studies and a PgDip in Law. I've also been a Non-Residential Fellow at Stanford University Law School and a Visiting Fellow of Journalism at City University, London.

Why cybersoc.com? In 1995, I tried to register, for the purposes of researching "ordinary users", the username Cybersociologist on AOL. They truncated my name and I stuck with it....

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08 Aug 2006