So you think the tabloids are terrible?

Then think again!

Last week I spent a day in the Daily Mirror newsroom and found nothing but a solid commitment to professionalism and integrity among all the editorial staff I met. They were all brilliant at their jobs; had a staggering combined general knowledge; were great fun to be with and displayed none of the sleazy, ‘Lunchtime O’Booze’ hackery too often associated with the Fleet Street red tops. Well, not until I had gone home anyway…

No, seriously, it was a sobering lesson in how not to judge a tabloid newspaper by its reputation among the broadsheet readers. That said, I think I know for sure I might have had a very different experience had I been visiting the Daily Star rather than the Mirror, wouldn’t I?

I would certainly have liked to have been a fly on the wall on October 18th. On that day, according to NUJ magazine, The Journalist, the Star’s editor, Dawn Neesom, and proprietor Richard Desmond (who also has such titles as Asian Babes and Big Ones to his ‘credit’) gave the go-ahead for a page 6 feature headlined ‘THE DAILY FATWA.’

It is alleged the page was intended to be an outrageous spoof of ‘Islamic attitudes,’ featuring a ‘Page 3 Burkha Babe’ (who was actually wearing a niqab) and the slogan ‘We put the ‘fun’ into fundamentalism.’

However, concerned staff journalists and NUJ members (who had earlier expressed their concern but had been over-ruled) approached the Father of the NUJ Chapel, arguing that it would offend the Muslim community – possibly leading to violent reprisals - and affect the future of the paper. He called an emergency meeting; the vote expressing deep concern was carried and, eventually – with only minutes to spare before the paper went to print - the editor decided to pull the page.

So there you go: even journalists on the Daily Star have morals. Isn’t it just a shame that senior management take no notice until it is pointed out that their life and livelihood might be at risk?