Further to the posting below about Newsquest newspapers calling for a return of capital punishment, the London group editor has now broken cover to explain that it was "just a bit of fun".
Andrew Parkes told Journalism.co.uk that I had blown the publication of the editorial out of all proportion. It was not company policy, merely an offbeat piece of whimsy written with his tongue firmly in his cheek.
He refused to confirm or deny to Journalism.co.uk whether he was the author, saying only: "You can put my name to it".
In fact, I now understand that Parkes's name was originally appended to the piece but it was dropped "in the production process."
In an email to me, Parkes said: "I must admit I didn't expect one short, ironic piece would create quite this interest."
But will readers, in print or on screen, realise that Parkes was indulging in fun? Given the serious nature of the story that engendered the comment, it was surely an unwise initiative.
I frankly admit that I didn't see the joke, despite the obvious weirdness of the content.
The editorial was published in print in the Wimbledon Guardian and the Streatham Guardian only. But it appeared also on a clutch of other Newsquest websites, as I mentioned in my posting.
Having been sent proof of its publication in two print issues, I misguidedly assumed that it had therefore appeared in the print editions of all the titles carrying it online.
It appears that the Newsquest system is set up in such a way that content generated in one London site is syndicated automatically to many other of the group's sites. In view of this incident, the company may now address this technical problem.
Sources: Journalism.co.uk/Private communication
If you wish to comment on this, please go to the original posting below.
