Comment posted Good appointment to council press office by newsroom.
Our job is calling to account so the answer to your ‘how long?’ questions is as soon as she puts a foot wrong, as with everyone. We’re only ‘for’ Argyll.
Recent comments by newsroom
- Radically new council group changes all the dynamics: party politics dead in Argyll
An interesting and pertinent contribution.
However, one has to hope that, should an administration emerge today led by this new group, there is no political pressure placed on Audit Scotland to accelerate any possible intervention until such a new group has had a modest but fair amount of time to show what it can or cannot do.
It contains a healthy percentage of councillors from its founding member groups who are experienced in local government – so cannot reasonably be expected to be incapable. It deserves its chance – and particularly in the light of the chaos of the last year. - Radically new council group changes all the dynamics: party politics dead in Argyll
You forget that the SNP was given and possessed the leadership of an administration; became its own internal opposition – and a highly destructive one; and then sabotaged itself – all with the energetic promotion and assistance of the party hierarchy.
We have been saying all along that, as well as the lack of integrity, there was a shocking lack of political intelligence in the intervention in the local party that has brought this situation about.
And the situation is that it actually doesn’t matter very much now what the SNP does.
It has taken itself from the lead in a new administration in whom many of us non-tribalists had invested a great deal of hope – to creating the most shambolic ever year in local government – all by itself, damaged by itself alone; and now to producing a situation where it is an irrelevance.
This has unarguably been THE most stupid, irresponsible, self-mutilating – and unnecessary – episode in modern politics at any level. - Radically new council group changes all the dynamics: party politics dead in Argyll
The SNP have made themselves – entirely avoidably – a toxic brand. Such a partnership would therefore inherit damage and would have its contradictions. - Radically new council group changes all the dynamics: party politics dead in Argyll
You’re quite rignt and sub-headings are now in place.
We were working to get this out quickly last night.
Frankly we had not believed it to be possible when we were passed the facsimile of the email.
Hence we had had it for hours and were in no hurry – before our veracity checks returned a surprise confirmation.
This move is likely to prove much more of everyone’s type of politics. - Peace Pilgrimage going through Crinan Canal now, en route for Faslane
Done. Thank you for the prompt.
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Congratulations on your appointment Aileen.
May I on behalf of the Museum thank you for your interest and assistance in our activities.
A new opportunity for you with which I wish you every success.
Kindest regards.
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Congratulation Aileen. I wish you well in your new post.
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Quite why Argyll & Bute Council employ an army of well paid spin doctors when we are told there is no money for essential services is a mystery to me .
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Newsie, is that the same Dunoon Observer that you exclusively revealed was due to close before Xmas last year??
“bunker mentality and dubious practices”? Pffft.
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Now that we have a new appointee to the press office, do we need to continue paying for the absentee, Jo Smith?
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Is this also the same Dunoon Observer that doesn’t report on fatal accidents and never seems to follow up on stories that do not involve ferries?
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Well said JimB. You’re not the only one who notices that the Observer never follows up on reported stories. Most frustrating. This weeks paper was all police reports and courts, golf and bowls ! Then again baybe nothing happened……….
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Good appointment. Aileen is a well known and respected journalist in Argyll, big loss for the Dunoon Observer but ABC needs the quality in these positions. Don’t imagine this administration will give her the same amount of fire fighting the last lot created.
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When the Jo Smith saga eventually comes to some conclusion does this mean everybody who was abused by the press office under the various councillors and officials orders will get their day in court.Anything else is a complete waste of time.
As a interested bystander what exactly does A&B,s press office actually do.
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I can’t say specifically what the A&B press office do but more generally a council press office’s duties will include the likes of:
Dealing with media enquiries.
Producing internal and external communications including things like staff magazines, and also keeping people like MSPs, us punters, other partners etc informed about services and issues.
Maintaining the council website.
Managing the ‘brand’ of the council to ensure consistency.
It is actually an important part of a council and effective if managed well.
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Whilst I wish this lady success in her new appointment, I can’t help thinking that this indeed is a very safe appointment by the council. The Observer’s lack of criticism of A&B over the past few years has been obvious to all, no doubt guided by the fear that they may lose local government advertising (something that should have happened years ago!). Still, looking on the bright side, one less member of staff should help their dire finances.. and probably increase the coverage of golf and bowls!
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Yes newsie, you are welcoming her now, but i wonder how long it will be before you turn on her when she doesn’t want to deal with you. Never mind, no doubt you can make up something and add a gate to the end of it. I wish the woman all the luck in the world, she will need it.
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Our job is calling to account so the answer to your ‘how long?’ questions is as soon as she puts a foot wrong, as with everyone. We’re only ‘for’ Argyll.
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Indeed, but who calls you to account?
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Simon
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Maybe Simon could point out some of the errors in this piece then. I will leave it to him.
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By the look of this site she’s got her work cut out. What few on here seem to have twigged is that Ms McNicol will be required to protect the council’s reputation, just the same as her predecessors will have tried to do. From what I’ve read of Argyll & Bute Council, it has been its own worst enemy, conducting some kind of witch hunt until it had nobody in place to prevent the complete car crash that was the Martha Payne/NeverSeconds fiasco. Ms McNicol is no longer a journalist, she has been employed to act as gamekeeper rather than poacher. No doubt, in due course, she will fall foul of the self-righteous vitriol all too apparent in this blog. Best of luck to her, I wouldn’t have touched the post with a barge pole.
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