Argus threatens to sue for being called "local rag"

[DTES]

Not sure if this has been on here yet, but this is just ridiculous, and a little bit childish.

Argus editor consults lawyers after paper described as ‘local rag’

A dispute between The Argus and Brighton and Hove City Council has taken a farcical turn with editor Michael Beard threatening legal action after the council’s communications chief John Shewell described the paper as a ‘local rag’.

It follows Monday’s publication of a story discussing the creation of a tourist tax in Brighton and Hove, which the council rejected through a press release and various tweets, while Councillor Geoffrey Bowden described it as ‘nonsense’. The Argus has stressed their article was merely raising the subject for debate and was not suggesting the idea was being considered by the council.

One of the tweets from John Shewell said yesterday: “Local rag runs ridiculous line that [MENTION=3357]brighton[/MENTION]hovecc thinking of introducing “tourist tax” er…no we’re not!”

A ‘local rag’ is usually considered a colloquial term for a local newspaper rather than its official derogatory definition. However, in response Mr Beard has emailed Mr Shewell and said: “As to your comment describing the Argus as a “local rag”, the advice from our company lawyer is that the tweet as a whole is defamatory in that it characterises The Argus (and therefore the Editor and individual members of staff) as a “rag” that carelessly or incompetently publishes false or misleading information and is not to be relied on.”

The letter has been repeated in full by Michael Taggart, who is a local marketing and social media expert, on his blog.

Mr Shewell has also written on Twitter about the email from the Argus’ editor, which he has described as ‘bullying tactics’.

The topic has already been commented on by Guardian writer Roy Greenslade, who occasionally writes for The Argus, who suggests he agrees with the paper’s original dispute, but is not in favour of using libel as a threat and nor does he think ‘local rag’ can be taken as an insult.

Source: http://newsfrombrighton.co.uk/brighton-and-hove-news/argus-editor-threatens-libel-action-in-dispute-with-council/

Edit - The title should perhaps be amended to "threatens to sue", or I might face similar myself... - Thanks Hiney

 

[Gary Leeds]

Probably will win as Southampton is hardly local. Should have called it "a rag produced 66 miles away" to be factually correct

 

[deletebeepbeepbeep]

Wrong to a sue a man for talking the truth.

 

[Westdene Seagull]

But the Argus IS a local rag !!!! The news it publishes is often factually incorrect, poor or irrelevant or all three.

 

[Was not Was]

How pompous does that make them sound.

Rarely has the facepalm smiley been more appropriate, so ...

 

[Seagull1967]

Its all very sad!! Can it get any worse?

 

[jmsc]

But the arsegas is a local rag! Go on, sue me!

 

[Poyetry In Motion]

Dear The Argus,
Grow up you bunch of idiots
lots of love
Eees complicated
x

 

[DTES]

More here, including the full text of Michael Beard's letter:

http://michael-taggart.com/2011/06/15/local-rag-threatens-council-spinner-with-libel-for-calling-it-a-local-rag/

 

[Eastbourne]

Mental.

 

[seagullsovergrimsby]

The Argus should take it as a compliment , a local newspaper for local people.

 

[The Large One]

Would being called 'contraband bogroll' be more appropriate then?

 

[seagullondon]

the argus is so much of a rag i use it clean my bottom

 

[desprateseagull]

all this 'treatening to sue' seems like handbags at dawn.. you either sue, send the boys round, or get on with your life.. geesh.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

I like this twit.




RichardMorris81 6 hours ago

From twitter

Editor threatens council PR with libel for calling it a “local rag"? Local rag threatens council spinner with libel for calling it | Michael Taggart Interesting blog. [MENTION=15497]hastings[/MENTION]Obs gets called worse...

 

[The Merry Prankster]

It's not exactly a quality product though, is it Mr. Beard (is that a made up name)? Go on, be honest......

 

[Mr Burns]

I think the Arsegas is shit. Just a personal view, and not worth the 42p imo. Stopped buying it years ago.

 

[The Large One]

I think the Arsegas is shit. Just a personal view, and not worth the 42p imo. Stopped buying it years ago.

See, when is NSC going to get sued for allowing 'Arsegas' (a far more insulting, though more commonly-used sobriquet) to be published?

I dunno, you give 10 monkey 10 typewriters, and in 10 minutes, they'll complete the works of The Argus.

 

[matt_32510]

I've heard it been called a lot worse than "local rag".

 

[sten_super]

That'd be a bit like me suing someone for saying I was a 'fat bastard'. I think the legal defence is called 'fair comment' (at least in the US).