An Independent Jury
A new award announced - The University Association of Contemporary European Studies - is delighted to announce the short-listed nominations for the
‘Reporting
UACE web site says it provides an independent forum for informed debate and discussion of European affairs. Since 1969, UACES has brought together academics involved in researching and teaching on
UACE offers Funding for EU based conferences and events paid for the EU commission it is a conduit for financing student loans paid for by the EU Commission
It is the primary umbrella organisation for British academics researching the European Union. Is financially backed by the EU commission and its members promote a pro-EU integration agenda through university courses.
The term independent seems to be another one of those that the EU has co-opted to mean anything it likes. To me independent means independent from the organisation which one is studying. I cannot get my little head around the idea that someone whose studies are wholly or mostly finance by a political organisation would be considered independent. Anyway I wander off the point.
So the Short-Listed Nominees for 2008 (the first year) made to honour a leading journalist who’s writing and reporting on
As the award acknowledges high quality, informed journalism on any aspect of the EU from either a positive or critical perspective during 2007. It should be interesting to see who has been short listed.
But first I would like to take a squint at the panel, what did the short listing, because I think I noticed an old friend amongst them.
Yes, Yes, I am right, listed amongst those Independent Members of the Jury who are deciding which of our leading practitioners of high quality, informed journalism to acknowledge, it is none other than the Erudite Mole!
This is the same, then plain Mr Erudite Mole, who was the home office mandarin who after spending a life time in the service of his country, in several different high profile posts. Up and went and resigned, just because Tony Blair offered us - the little people -, a referendum on the EU Constitution. Something Mr Mole could not countenance. Oh no not at all, because as he only so freely confessed he has been secretly working behind the scenes in the interest of the European Project and against the best interests of this country for years.
But in the topsy turvy world of the EU where democracy means not democracy, and independence means not independent Mr Mole was knighted for his what can only be called treason, and become Sir Stephen Wall GCMG LVO, Former EU Adviser to Tony Blair and Hon President of UACES, Sir Stephen, is just about certain to pop up anywhere he can continue working for the European Project.
Then we have another totally independent jury person - Dr Martyn Bond who began his career in the BBC. He subsequently taught European Studies in the New University of Ulster before joining the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers in Brussels staying in Brussels to work on overseas aid issues in the Council of Ministers and on relations with the European Parliament Press Office was Head of the European Parliament Office in London, 1989-2000 Director of the Federal Trust, where he is now special advisor on EU Enlargement.
Dr Amelia Hadfield BA (King’s, Halifax), MA (Dalhousie), PhD (Kent) Lecturer in European International Relations
Mr William Horsley was a senior BBC foreign correspondent is Chairman of the Association of European Journalists in the
Mr John Lloyd, a senior Financial Times Journalist and founder of the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at
Mr David Schlesinger, who angered staff in April 2005 when he described Reuters’ editorial output as “having terrible quality problems” in an email mistakenly sent out to the whole company. Journalists called Mr Schlesinger’s position “untenable” and the National Union of Journalists passed a motion that stated: “It’s particularly offensive for him to denigrate his staff at a time when Reuters journalists are risking their lives in many countries to provide outstanding coverage.”
Prof Alex Warleigh-Lack previously Chief of Staff to the Chair of the European Parliament Committee on the Environment, Consumer Protection and Public Health. He is Chair of UACES for the period between September 2006 and September 2009, having been a member of the UACES Committee between 2001-4 and 2005-6.
So there we have it the full list of those will judge independently high quality, informed journalism on any aspect of the EU from either a positive or critical perspective during 2007.
And the short list is……..
Bertrand BENOIT, Berlin Bureau Chief, Financial Times
Whose side are they on? Shifting borders are nothing new. After centuries of Franco-German conflict, modern
Allan LITTLE, BBC World Affairs Correspondent
The Road to
Mark MARDELL, BBC Europe Editor
J Clive MATTHEWS, Writer, Editor, Online Content Consultant
Blog: Nosemonkey’s EUtopia
John PEET,
What is there to say except this is obviously a well balanced independently minded list of independent high quality independent well informed independent journalists who`s independent writing and reporting on Europe has made a real impact. Selected by an independent jury.
That’s the EU for nothing but democratic open and independent we are so, so, so, lucky to be governed by such an independent organisation.
For another view of independence
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