Well said.

Didn't the announcement come from the club then?

It's gone into detail about how LCTV will move on - isn't that what we wanted to hear?

I wouldn't waste your breath Alan

Reading the announcement,is a conversation between Mike Latham and D Parky.Four students left without a mentor and recently appointed Head of Performance Analysis Ste Mills being put forward to assist.

Why the need for the double increase in subscription? Do you really think Parky would give the chance up of commentating on SL to do Lancashire ARL..A announcement it is,detailed it is not.

One of the most disappointing aspects of recent developments is the fallout at the Leigh Observer. I used to look forward to reading detailed articles of Derek and Parky on the club. Now all we get is the latest news on the back page a la the pathetic Leigh Journal. All we got last week from Parky was basically Leigh East/Lancashire ARL, with no mention of the club whatsoever, while Derek's column has been replaced by Martin Gleeson.- WHO???!!!!!

Perhaps Dave is looking for something different to do in the Game, and not 'just' commentating on Lancashire ARL and Leigh East? Dave has ambitions (and rightly so) to move on in the media world of RL - yes, even beyond LCTV! He has chosen to enhance his skillsets and 'move backwards to move forwards'. He is also a journalist and hospital radio broadcaster and has plenty to do, outside LCTV. However you interpret it, that is a lengthy and informative statement from Leigh Centurions Communications Director, incorporating a statement from Dave.

I don't know the reasons for the price hike, although I think the service was priced very cheaply to start with. Why shouldn't the club make money from LCTV, as they do from other schemes? The four students are intelligent, ambitious guys too. It must be daunting for them, losing Dave, but I guess this is a good way for them to find their own feet. You never know, there may be another Dave Parky in that group! And they won't be on their own - they will have Steve Mills and Mike Latham helping them. I don't know Steve, but Mike has been a highly accomplished and well respected journalist and broadcaster - with even more experience than Dave.

I would suggest that anyone who feels that the statement doesn't answer their questions or unease, should do what I did - and ask Mike and Dave directly what was/is going on. Personally, I had concerns about the inactivity of LCTV, but a dialogue with Mike and Dave, along with the statement, has answered those concerns.

Any breakdown with a media outlet is disappointing - it becomes a missed opportunity for the club. The Journal aslo took th decision to pare down their Centurions coverage - a strange decision by both papers, given the publicity the club has generated and will generate this coming season.

DB's lengthy news updates at least now appear on the Club website, so they are still available to read - but be warned, you need to set aside an hour or so, because they are lengthy articles.

Perhaps the Observer didn't have enough space?!



Personally I enjoy the articles, which are usually full of interesting insights into the Centurions.

If I recall correctly Derek was unhappy with how his articles were being edited without his approval, which we all know can dramatically change the context.
LCRLFC needs all the media exposure it can get and both rags need something their readers are interested in, surely a solution is to specify number of words and agree any edit needs approval before print

Well, I can certainly identify with that!

I believe the full content of DB's articles where placed in full after them being challenged by DB. I really don't think it's in the clubs interest to be gaining enemies media wise and seriously needs looking at,image is everything.
Also as I stated I have re-subscribed to LCTV. Although it wasn't made clear on the increase in subscription,obviously the departure of Parky left the students shy on equipment.What should have happened was clarification of this at the time of the increase.

Best of luck Dave.

It was corrected on the website only but the damage was already done. If a media outlet is editing someone else's work then that someone should be given the opportunity to OK the edit. The Observer is a paid for paper and would have been using the mass of Leigh Centurions coverage as a selling point. If things they publish damage the club reputation due to awful editing then they have to accept the consequences.

Seems like one of the numerous reasons for the increase was to fund Dave's salary over the two months of his contract. Perhaps that will now be invested in other members of the commentary team? leighrl.co.uk/wp/blog/2016/07/26/2253/

Seems like one of the numerous reasons for the increase was to fund Dave's salary over the two months of his contract. Perhaps that will now be invested in other members of the commentary team? leighrl.co.uk/wp/blog/2016/07/26/2253/

All newspapers, and all other forms of media for that matter, have always reserved the right to publish whatever they like. They have steadfastly refused to be contrained in this regard.

Part of their excuse is that they often need to shorten or lengthen submitted text to fit the news sheet, often at the last minute, dependent upon late and emerging news stories. The media also of course conduct interviews and write their own interpretation of what has been said. What they feel is their right to edit also extends to video and radio interviews.

I fully understand Derek Beaumont's choice to have his own words published in full to avoid the risk of anything being taken out of context or his opinions being distorted as a result of a journalist's interpretation.

It is a pity that the parties could not reach a compromise as clearly the more media exposure the Club receives the better. I am equally confident that Derek's comprehensive updates, now published on the Club website are quickly becoming a must read for the fans.

I fear the loser in this case is likely to have been the press because I feel sure Derek's Column would have been selling newspapers.

Very well put

Unfortunately there are still people who do not have access to the internet.

My old mucker Arthur has no immediate plans to join the ever increasing digital world and I doubt he ever will. He used to enjoy reading My Beaumont's weekly column in the Leigh Observer.

I think we lose sight of that sometimes. As an aside I went to the picture house the other day and watched 'I Daniel Blake', a film by Ken Loach, a very sad film that highlights all to well the pitfalls for people not exactly au fait with computers or modern technology in todays world.

Sad to see you leave Dave but my very best wishes go with you in any way your career proceeds. Your commentries and interview skill will be missed.

A very waffley version of my post above

but very well put all the same.

I have been called much worse than 'waffley' but the fact is Demon that the media virtually never seek approval for their scripts or allow anyone to "OK the edit". In my view they have no intention of changing the habit. This does not just apply to a local newspaper in Leigh but to all news media right through to the national daily's, TV, radio etc.

Speaking generally, if the media are shown to have got a story factually incorrect then, on rare occasions, they may issue a "correction" hidden away in very few words in a corner somewhere. Apologies tend to be as rare as rocking horse manure and the majority of readers would generally be hard pressed to find them.

I agree with your final point - Derek had a choice of accepting the way the media operate or use his Club Official Website in order to preserve the absolute accuracy and detail of his reports. He clearly felt strongly enough to choose the latter. I guess most of us don't have a problem with his choice.

We may or may not be alienating the media over this but, for me, one thing's for sure - the local papers will be missing out big time by choosing not to focus on Leigh Centurions, who ARE the big story in our town, at the moment!

Less of a gamble these days, alienating the media that is, SM will hit most fans/interested folk either directly or second hand much quicker than print

Not only SM,most carry digital editions which are read before the printed versions hit the shops.I like DB's column,its his own personal views and opinions without being questioned? The bigger picture comes about when those views and opinions are questioned and thats sadly missing in the media at present.

What's [iSM[/i Mozza ?
*I am having a blonde day & can't think reet*

I know what [iS&M[/i is, after you invited me to .......


[iThat Party !!![/i

I was wondering the same, Social Media perhaps

Ste Mills, I think.

Well done..