Is the Evening Mail being gagged?

Since the original article (below) was posted the Evening Mail has actually started to report some of the issues about the Academy. We have posted comments on the website that have been 'edited' but at least they have been posted.

The facts surrounding the lack of news are starting to become clear. The original survey of 'An Academy for Barrow' was conducted by the CN Group(Owners of the Mail). Is this why they have withheld articles and comments that we know they have? Are they more worried about getting more contracts from the County Council than letting the public know the truth? There is a definite conflict of interests between the owners of the Mail and the news you receive from them. There should be transparency when there is a monopoly news outlet in the local area, this is clearly not the case.

Original article below.

We have had contact surprisingly from a person employed by the Evening Mail. We are told that they are not happy about being ‘gagged’ and that stories ARE being dumbed down.

We knew already that this was probably the case, but this is confirmation. Lets face it, news in the local area is normally pretty ordinary to say the least. When there is something of the slightest interest the Mail will generally sensationalise it, yet on a subject that is close to the hearts of many, there is little or no coverage.

We understand that this subject does not affect everybody and many do not care in the slightest, but what else is in there? There is very little decent content. Nothing that is being debated quite so vigorously so why is it being ignored? 

Our information states that stories on the subject are kept to quotes from prominent people. The comment replies are edited to reduce the impact of the comment or not listed at all to reduce the amount of anti Academy comments, although these far outweigh the pro comments still. On the forum, the Academy debate posts are pushed off the front page to ‘divert people from the issue’. We have asked several people to post comments on a particular story and 80% were not even posted. Some have been posted in full, others have been edited and taken totally out of context without a footnote to say any changes had been made.

We have noticed that since our appearance the link to some of the Academy stories has now been put back on the Mail website, yet there is still nothing new and no real reports. Until the Mail gets its act in to gear we will be there to hound them. It would be good to get acknowleged and slated by them, but then that would publicise us. Until they comment you know they cannot be trusted, even when they do it will be because they have no choice!!