Soil Association -- latest

Thanks to those who responded to the last blog.

I've now had a response from Hugh Raven. I've pasted it below, and my subsequent response to him.

Enjoy!



Dear Joe

Thanks for your e-mail.

I was responding to an accusation from Andrew. I didn't mention you at all. I'm sorry you've taken this personally.

Over the last forty years, I don't think there's any doubt that the balance of coverage has been strongly against organic farming. In the last few years, things have changed - the last three or four years particularly. I know you've played a big part in prividing coverage of organic food and farming in Scotland (which is one reason we respond to articles in the P & J - because we think we'll get a fair hearing).

For you to accuse me of attacking your personal integrity is absurd.

I'm very sorry and surprised that your calls have not been returned. They were not brought to my attention. I shall make enquiries of the press office in Bristol. My telephone number - which I insist on the office making available for the media when I am out and about - is 07775 521789. Our press officer in Scotland, Indira Mann, is available on 0131 66 2474 - and when she is out of the office, calls will be passed on to me.

It would be good to talk this over, and shall give you a ring.

Yours

Hugh



And the response ...




The damage is done. You made sweeping accusations about all agricultural journalists in Scotland, and that you can't deny. You collectively accused Scottish agricultural journalists of pursuing rentless, remorseless and corrosive criticism for 40 years. That is exactly what your letter says. I'm a Scottish agricultural journalist so therefore I fall within your remarks.

If you didn't mean it, then why write it in the way you did? Where is the evidence of the relentless, remorseless and corrosive criticism that in your sweeping accusation you accuse me, as being part of the collective of Scottish agricultural journalists, of over the last 11 years that I have been at the P&J? It's far from absurd, as you maintain; it is real and very sore criticism of someone who has over the last 11 years gone the extra mile for organic farmers in Scotland, rather than pursue what you claim is relentless, remorseless and corrosive criticism.

I don't bear grudges, but I do take considerable exception to your remarks; just as my members and colleagues across Scotland do.

That they will unquestionably look on you and the Soil Association in Scotland in a new light is entirely your own fault, and I don't blame them for that.

What is the benefit in talking about something when you clearly meant what you said in your letter to Andrew, himself a member of the Guild of Agricultural Journalists of Great Britain and which is why the correspondence has been passed on to all agri hacks.

Personally, I think it better to move on than to discuss the foolish throwaway remarks that you have made. As I say I don't bear grudges – I'm a journalist and am used to criticism, but would never let that stand in the way of what I do.

What I will say is that I am deeply disappointed in you and the remarks you have made. You have merely stooped to the sloppy standards that I have come to expect from the Soil Association and its masters; when they don't like what is written or broadcast about them they blame the media, rather than the people we are reporting on. It's very easy to shoot the messenger, but often very difficult to attack someone or something who can easily challenge you.

Your press office is useless. It can't respond to issues on the day comments are needed. Call back next week, or we'll come back to you when we can find someone to speak to you is the response I often get. What's the point of them being there when they can't speak for the issues that matter to organic farmers. The only purpose of your communication officers seems to be to respond when organic farming hits the headlines for the wrong reasons, or when the organisation has something to tout.

Frankly I'd rather speak directly to an organic farmer than go to what supposedly is the lead organisation on organic farming in the UK. That it doesn't seem to be able to organise itself into providing a comments on issues that are of relevance is serious. As I say my eyes were opened earlier in the year on the shortage of organic feed and in trying to get a response from the SA on the problem, and on Europe's decision to change organic feed standards. The response did come, but two weeks after I asked for it.


Joe Watson