Tina’s take…
Hello!
Welcome to my second newsletter, since launching my new website.
As you know, the main reason I’ve decided to start this is to try and help our understanding of what’s driving distrust of organisations, institutions and leaders, so we’re better equipped to turn things around.
Feedback and comments are much appreciated – as this newsletter will always be work-in-progress…
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Press Freedom means free from government control 💡
This week saw the House of Lords put in place the final piece of the new legal framework that prevents foreign states from owning, controlling or influencing British newspapers and news sites, whilst supporting the news industry’s financial sustainability. I first got involved in this nearly two years ago when it became apparent that our existing laws would not have prevented an acquisition of Telegraph newspapers and the Spectator magazine by a UAE fund which would have amounted to a foreign government taking control of those titles. (Whilst Parliament introduced the legal block in May 2024, establishing a limited ‘carve-out’ for access to state-owned investors such as sovereign or pension funds – which is important for the news industry’s financial sustainability – has been more complex.) You can read my speech from the Lords debate this week here if you’re interested in the details.
Why does preventing foreign states or governments owning British newspapers matter? For me, the answer is simple: the ability of a free press to hold the powerful to account is an essential part of democracy, which is why we don’t allow our own Government to control it, never mind a foreign one. Furthermore, at a time when people’s trust in Parliament and Government is so low, it’s hard to reason why politicians would allow foreign governments to undermine the independence of news organisations whose job it is to scrutinise and expose what goes on in Westminster and Whitehall and in other governments around the world. People might not always approve of or like what they see or read in newspapers, but the independence of the press from government control is important to them – as was demonstrated by a Lord Ashcroft poll last year.
Anyway, I’m pleased that nearly two years after I started down this track, a new legal framework which protects editorial independence and provides for financial sustainability is finally in place. Frustratingly, however,ownership of the Telegraph remains unresolved – although there’s hope the situation may soon change.
Who’s in charge of Zipcar’s decision to leave? 🧑✈️
Zipcar’s decision to pull out of the UK came out of the blue, and their departure from London especially is a big loss. For non-car owners, easy access to a car for a couple of hours has been a godsend. Most of the time it worked well, and the helpdesk was brilliantly responsive if there was a problem with the car (and on occasions when I couldn’t work out how to use the hand-break or just turn the engine on!). The only problem with Zipcar was when a driver received a parking penalty or other kind of violation – where the lack of transparency was unfair (they just recovered charges direct from a member’s account at full cost – ie, never the discount charge available for prompt payment, with an admin fee on top and no ability to challenge). But overall, Zipcar’s departure from major cities is a serious loss. The London Mayor, TFL, and the Dept for Transport must examine where their policies and lack of support has led to the withdrawal of a service valued by a wide range of citizens and of benefit to local communities and change. It may be too late for Zipcar, but we need something like it in major UK cities (like they do elsewhere around the world) for our roads not to get more congested and our public transport system to advance. As things stand, we’re going backwards.
Tips and Recommendations: 📺 👩💻🎧
Website to visit: 👩💻
More in Common UK’s report on Disillusioned Men is worth your time. Although aimed at politicians, it’s insightful reading for anyone in a leadership position or providing services used by men. MinC’s Director, Luke Tryl says:
“…[Disillusioned] men feel politicians don’t respect them or understand their lives, and they’ve lost faith in the social contract – the idea that hard work can lead to a decent life in Britain. The encouraging finding is that rebuilding trust is possible, but winning it back requires more than delivery alone. It means demonstrating respect for men’ s contributions and restoring their sense of agency over their own lives.”
This X thread from Luke covers the headlines.
Podcast to listen: 🎧
Staying on the topic of men and boys, I’d recommend “Lucky Boy” from Tortoise Media Investigates by Chloe Hadjimatheou. The story of Gareth, now a man in his 50s who had a sexual relationship with his teacher when he was a young teenage boy, really challenges assumptions – and made me question just how much attitudes have changed in the last 40 years.
Drama NOT to enjoy: 🎭 📺
I hadn’t intended this newsletter to be all about men, but now I’ve started, I might as well go for a hatrick. I’ve enjoyed much telly in recent weeks which I’ll report on in future newsletters, but “The Death of Bunny Munro”, a tragic father-and-son tail, is a drama I did not enjoy and would recommend you avoid. It’s been in Sky’s Top 10 watched shows for the last couple of weeks, has had great reviews, and the acting is excellent – which is why I kept watching hoping it would get better (it’s only 6 episodes and some of them are less than 40mins). Anyway, I’ve just found this scathing review from Anita Singh in the Telegraph with which I wholeheartedly agree!
Music video to watch: 🎤📺
To leave you on a cheerier note – let me recommend you watch this fabulous cover of Radiohead’s Creep by Scary Pockets. Not only are the vocals brilliant, watching the musicians having the time of their lives whilst playing the track is a treat – especially the wonderfully enthusiastic bass guitarist. I just love it.
Thanks again for reading.
I’ll post this on LinkedIn too – and look forward to your comments there, or if you sign-up to receive the newsletter straight to your inbox, you can reply directly by email.
Wishing you a great couple of weeks ahead and, as it’s likely I won’t issue my next edition until after, wishing you a great Christmas too.
