theatre bath meeting with the bath chronicle draft report
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Meeting Report about the Bath Chronicle's New Review Policy. DRAFT Report.TRANSCRIPT
Report of the Theatre Bath open meeting
with the Bath Chronicle with regards to
their new review policy
Held on Monday 8 October 2012,
17:30hrs at
The Mission Theatre, 32 Corn Street,
Bath, BA1 1UF
Report of the Theatre Bath Open Meeting With The Bath Chronicle
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In August 2012, members of the theatre and creative communities in Bath received
emails similar to the one printed below:
From: [email protected]
To: (Name Removed)
Subject: Chronicle reviews
Date: Tue, 14 Aug 2012 09:57:20 +0000
Dear (Name Removed)
I am writing to tell you that the new editor of the Chronicle has decided not to carry any more
theatre or music reviews except for the Theatre Royal. I am writing to say though that if you
can arrange a review yourself for any of your productions that Steve Pope who looks after the
website has agreed to have them in full on line. Just send them to me and I will put them on.
But as regards pre-show publicity it is very much business as usual for the Chronicle.
Best wishes
Christopher
The Bath Chronicle
These emails prompted members of the creative communities to write emails and
letters to Lynne Fernquest, the editor of the Bath Chronicle, expressing their
concerns about the new policy. A copy was forwarded to Theatre Bath who were
asked to help share the information. After conversations between Luke John Emmett
of Theatre Bath and Lynne Fernquest it was agreed that an open meeting would be
held to discuss this policy further. The following pages contain the notes taken at that
meeting and transcribed from the audio recording made on the night.
Report of the Theatre Bath Open Meeting With The Bath Chronicle
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Special meeting called by Theatre Bath on 08/10/2012 at The Mission Theatre,
commencing at 17:30hrs, to discuss The Bath Chronicle’s position on their
decision to stop writing any arts and entertainment reviews, other than
performances taking place in the Theatre Royal Main House. This meeting was
held by Theatre Bath, and the minutes/notes taken by Jazz Hazelwood.
Lennie Almond; The Bathford Players, Colin Barnes; Bath Drama, Jill Bennett;
Engage Project - The Theatre Royal, Joanna Bowman; Next Stage Theatre
Company, Michael Burgess; The Argyle Players, Bob & Sandra Calleja; Trustees of
Andrew Brownsword Charitable Foundation, Sarah Carter; Curtain Up Theatre
Schools, Alan Casse; Next Stage Theatre Company, Chronicle Reviewer & Festivals
Steward, Rob Cottrell; Ruffled Umbrella, Katrina Cowie; Unity Players, Stephen
Curtis; Bath Drama, Cyril Davies; Silver Ring Choir of Bath, Charley Dunlap;
Listomania Bath, Carenza Elhery; Rondo Theatre Company, Andrew Ellison; Mission
Theatre, Luke John Emmett; Theatre Bath, Lindsay Endean; Bath Spa University,
Alison Farina; Butterfly Psyche, Andrew Fletcher; Arts Philanthropist, Mrs. B Ford;
Bath Minerva Choir, Ann Garner; Mission Theatre, George Gent; Next Stage Theatre
Company, Jane Goodwin; Unity Players, David Gosling; Next Stage Theatre
Company, Sally Hardwick; Next Stage Theatre Company, Jazz Hazelwood; Second
Face Theatre Company, Theatre Bath, Steve Henwood; Bath Fringe Ltd, Charlotte
Howard; Bath Drama, Brian Howe; Next Stage Theatre Company, Belinda Kidd;
Bath Festivals, Sarah Larmour; Core Theatre, Nick Lee; Bath Gilbert and Sullivan
Society, Jason Lemoir; Numerous Local Companies, Derek LePage; Bath Drama,
Jon Lloyd Lewis; Bath Gilbert and Sullivan Society, Peter Lloyd Williams; Chronicle
Classical Music Reviewer, Moray MacDonald; Bath Drama, Peter Martin; Bath
Choral Society, Emma McDermott; Press Officer - The Theatre Royal, Ian McGlynn;
Rondo Theatre, Iorwerth Mitchell; Bath Drama, Gill Morrell; Bath Drama,
Shakespeare Live, Matt Nation; Rondo Theatre Company, Darian Nelson; Playing
Up Theatre Company, Anna O’Callaghan; Marketing Manager - The Theatre Royal,
Paul Olding; Bath Drama, Rondo Theatre Company, Alison Paine; Next Stage
Theatre Company, Julie Peacock; Peacock PR, Lindy Platt; Bath Gilbert and Sullivan
Society, Harriet Pocock; Rondo Theatre Company, Martin Pople; Bath Cultural
Report of the Theatre Bath Open Meeting With The Bath Chronicle
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Forum, Felix Renicks; We Love Bath, Jem Roberts; The Unrelated Family, Darren
Rogers; Bath College, Bladud Magazine, Scott Rogers; Zenith Youth Theatre, Mike
Roy; Bath Drama, The Mission Theatre, Peter Salt; Arts Development Officer –
BANES, Graeme Savage; NODA, Merriman, Keynsham Youth Theatre, Petra
Schofield; Freelance Director & Reviewer, Mandy Shaw; Chandos Singers, Daniel
Shearn; Core Theatre, Terry Shirley-Quirk; Bath Philharmonic, Isabel Snowdon;
Ruffled Umbrella, Barbara Suri; Publicity Officer – Bath Minerva Choir, Ken Tatem;
The Bathford Players, Louise Wallace; Bath Drama,Rondo Theatre Company,
Joanna Wiesner MBE; Secretary Bath Minerva Choir & Admin Director South West
Festival Chorus, Marion Wood; Next Stage Theatre Company, Wendy Matthews;
Bath Fringe Ltd, Paul Aubin, Paul & Mrs Brokensha, Val Caren, Lizzie Davies, Dave
Dunn, Kay Francksen, Sally Galsworthy, Caroline & Graham Gromm, Dawn Hooper,
Phillip Horton, Andy Lloyd Williams, James McCormac, Chris & Gill Rudd, Dennis
Simons, Ian Simpson, Mary Simpson, Phillip Paine,
Anne & Trevor Rothwell; Erica Jones; Jan Crane; Simon Marcus, Enlightened; Anne
Roberts, Second Face Theatre Company; Alex Oliviere-Davies, Second Face
Theatre Company & Bath Drama; Mark Bishop, Big State Theatre Company; Tim
Harris; Richard Ingham, Amazing Street Cred Band;
Report of the Theatre Bath Open Meeting With The Bath Chronicle
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This report has been made from the notes taken at the meeting on the night and by
referencing the audio recording which was made. Some of the questions appear in 5
their entirety, some have been edited down so that just the key points remain. For
that reason the report is quite long and therefore a few key points have been listed
below.
NOTE: These are just a few points – More info is contained in the transcripts.
10
Why Only Reviews For The Theatre Royal?
Theatre Royal compared to Bath Rugby. Has the biggest footfall therefore
gets more coverage.
Why Are The Reviews Being Stopped In Print? 15
Lack of reviewers.
Cost – Chronicle a small business
Lack of space available in paper
What Has Been Done To Source More Reviewers? 20
Appeals made – this point was contested quite strongly
How Can User Reviews Be Checked For Impartiality?
Again this point was debated heavily. Agreed by all that reviewers need to be
vetted. 25
Why So Much Sport Coverage & So Little Arts Coverage?
Sports groups submit their own content and reports
Chronicle obliged to print what is sent in.
30
How Will Elderly Readers Be Able To Access Reviews Online?
Concern was raised over potential alienation of older readers who may not be
as computer literate as their contemporaries
35
Report of the Theatre Bath Open Meeting With The Bath Chronicle
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The Meeting Report
Meeting Opened by Luke John Emmett at 17:45hrs, during which he outlined
the purpose and aims of the meeting.
Who Theatre Bath are and what they do.
Health and Safety notice, including fire exits and assembly point. 40
Mobile phone notice.
Disclaimer; the views and opinions expressed at the meeting are that of the
individual and do not represent Theatre Bath as an organisation.
Emails provided are for the use of Theatre Bath only, and solely for the
contents of this meeting. 45
An audio recording of the meeting will be made. No objections were put
forward.
Overview of the situation so far:
The Chronicle sent e-mails to theatre representatives in the community
stating their decision. 50
Theatre Bath contacts Lynne Fernquest.
Official statement made by The Chronicle.
Lynne Fernquest, Editor of The Chronicle, suggests meeting between
herself and Luke John Emmett. Subsequently, members ask to be
involved in said meeting. 55
Theatre Bath contacts Lynne to suggest revised meeting plan.
Meeting organised for 08/10/2012.
Lynne Fernquest will talk without interruptions from the floor; open discussion
will commence afterwards.
Report of the Theatre Bath Open Meeting With The Bath Chronicle
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Lynne Fernquest Addresses The Meeting 60
Bath has a very passionate theatre community, which is to its credit.
Lynne was drafted to help set up The Bath Chronicle Pride Awards three
months ago. This will become an annual event to celebrate outstanding
people within the community; from doctors and teachers to volunteers and 65
carers. The awards wish to celebrate what is good about the community and
people around us.
The Bath Chronicle strives to report local matters in a sensible and non
sensationalistic way to keep readers up-to-date. Taking a more reasoned and
measured approach, checking facts and being intelligent enough to resist 70
knee-jerk reactions.
The Chronicle strives to be at the heart of the community, and reflect the area
it reports on.
In recent years, traditional media has been bypassed by social media like
Facebook and Twitter, forcing The Chronicle to think very seriously about 75
where it stands, both now and in the future.
The Chronicle was the first daily newspaper in the UK to convert to a weekly
publication in 2007 because it was smallest daily newspaper in UK.
The cost of producing The Chronicle is incredibly high, and their market was
beginning to disappear; it lost half of its readership over twenty years. 80
Newspapers, daily or weekly, will only survive if people read them and
advertisers advertise in them.
The Chronicle is owned by the 4th largest newspaper chain in the UK;
Northcliffe media. This makes people think that The Chronicle is rich and
untouchable. The Chronicle is a small business and has to pay its own way 85
and make a profit; it is not subsidised by Northcliffe or any other large
organisation. If people stop shopping at Sainsburys, Greenpark, the shop
would close, despite the fact it is owned by large organisation. The Chronicle
is the same.
As a weekly newspaper, The Chronicle cannot rest on its laurels, and it 90
continues to face many challenges.
24 hour news channels and radio means that the public have more sources to
get their news.
Report of the Theatre Bath Open Meeting With The Bath Chronicle
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The internet is having a greater effect on society – if not for you immediately
then your children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews. The internet is used 95
for socialising, working, and keeping up-to-date.
The Bath Chronicle has two different audiences.
The print audience, 58,000 readers weekly, and
The online audience; up to 140,000 unique visitors monthly.
After switching from daily to weekly, the editorial team had to look in detail at 100
print product and what would be best displayed online.
It is difficult to preview and review every arts performance because of the tiny
editorial team at The Chronicle’s disposal; it has also become increasingly
difficult to find reviewers.
Often, the show has finished before the review is printed – therefore it made 105
more sense to put previews in the paper and reviews online.
Reviews posted by Christopher Hansford on the website this year have been
read more than 9,000 times; this figure could rise considerably if this service
was publicised appropriately.
The Chronicle’s intention was not to upset the theatre community when it 110
made its decision, only to use the paper pages in the best way possible.
Previews will continue to encourage readers to buy tickets for events, making
performances a success.
Report of the Theatre Bath Open Meeting With The Bath Chronicle
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Meeting is opened up to Question & Answer session with LF, PW & CH
Martin Pople; Director, Bath Cultural Forum:
Why are you only going to review shows in the Theatre Royal Main House 115
with the exclusion of other professional & amateur work, which is equally of
interest? And if you have less column space, why cut only the arts and not
other areas like sport – would suggest there is a better balance to be made?
Lynne Fernquest: 120
The sports information comes to The Chronicle, they don’t cover it
themselves. The clubs organise the information to be sent in. The Chronicle
has a small editorial team and cannot get to everything. Two challenges to
Chronicle – one the limited space in print. Two, the number of people they
have to report for them. Need to strike a balance between what they can go 125
out and do and what can be included in the newspaper.
The discussion continued as follows:
Martin Pople: 130
Many people at the meeting would be willing to act as reviewers for The
Chronicle. If it’s reviews you need, the arts community can provide just as
much information as the sports clubs.
Lynne Fernquest: 135
That’s such an interest point because Chris that hasn’t been your experience
really has it? In terms of getting people to review things for us.
Christopher Hansford:
It’s been very difficult to find reviewers within the community. People start with 140
enthusiasm but are not available on given days, and then only want to review
certain things. When the review policy was changed, there were three very
strong reviewers, one for music and two for drama, but no one else has come
forward, despite asking various drama groups for volunteers.
145
Report of the Theatre Bath Open Meeting With The Bath Chronicle
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Petra Schofield; Freelance Director & Reviewer:
Petra reviewed for The Chronicle in June and was taken on as a freelance
reviewer. When she came back to Chris he said The Chronicle could not take
on any more reviewers due to funds. All of her details are with Northcliffe
media, and she had put herself forward several times but never been offered 150
the chance to review again.
Lynne Fernquest:
The Chronicle is a small business and cannot afford to pay reviewers.
155
The discussion continued as follows:
Petra Schofield:
The Chronicle is asking for people to be interested in reviewing for them; she
is, and is not paid by any other company for which she reviews. She was paid 160
for the review she submitted in June but she has since made it clear that she
would be interested in reviewing for The Chronicle free of charge. She has not
been aware of The Chronicle asking for reviewers. What worries her is The
Chronicle, who pride themselves on their editorial, would accept reviews from
anyone; this means opening yourselves to badly written pieces submitted by 165
cast members, giving an inaccurate reflection of the show.
Christopher Hansford:
Petra’s review was submitted a few days before the decision was taken to
stop reviewing, Christopher had not got around to getting back to her, so she 170
was never asked to do another one despite the fact that she was available. It
might have been a different story had they heard about her six months before.
At the time, reviewers were being paid £20 per review and reviews were not
being accepted unless The Chronicle paid for them.
175
Petra Schofield:
She was under the impression that now reviews are not being printed, the
online reviews would be accepted from anyone who wanted to write one.
Report of the Theatre Bath Open Meeting With The Bath Chronicle
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Christopher Hansford: 180
The reviews that are submitted will go through CH so a relationship could be
established with the people writing them, ensuring only legitimate reviews
were published online.
Lynne Fernquest: 185
Only certain things can be monitored online; but The Chronicle tries their best
to ensure that things which can be monitored are well managed.
Alison Farina; Butterfly Psyche:
How would you approach credibility when it came to the online reviews? How 190
would you know about the person reviewing, and how would you monitor
them?
Christopher Hansford:
The reviewer would need to get in touch with CH, by phone or e-mail, and 195
outline what they plan to review. Once a conversation has been had it
becomes obvious that the person will give a proper review.
The discussion continues as follows:
200
Alison Farina:
The person on the phone could give a false name. How could you tell if this
was the case?
Christopher Hansford: 205
It is impossible to tell who is genuine and who is not.
Martin Pople; Bath Cultural Forum:
Who posts the reviews online?
210
Christopher Hansford:
All reviews go through CH who reads them through.
Report of the Theatre Bath Open Meeting With The Bath Chronicle
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Martin Pople:
Does that mean you act as an editor, editing in the same way as you would a 215
print review?
Christopher Hansford:
Not in exactly the same way, no. The piece would be read through to make sure
it was legal, had all of the information, and that the spelling was correct. 220
However, space wouldn’t be a problem so it could run as a longer piece.
Ann Garner; Artistic Director Of Next Stage & The Mission Theatre:
Why is the Theatre Royal continuing to be reviewed while the other events are
not? 225
Lynne Fernquest:
For the same reason Bath Rugby gets more coverage than other sports teams; it
is the larger organisation with the greater foot-fall. The Chronicle must be careful
not to turn off readers. 230
The discussion continued as follows:
Ann Garner:
The changes that have been made make it look like a two-tier system. The 235
productions at the Theatre Royal have been reviewed for the most part; usually
they’ve been opened in London. There are already many reviews online. Theatre
Royal is a receiving house, productions are only there for a week and not local
people performing at the Theatre Royal. There are a number of other theatres in
Bath who perform a range of different performing arts. Ann has no objections to 240
no reviews at all in the paper, just lots of previews and every review online or
maintaining the status quo, but it is not right to review only the Theatre Royal and
no one else.
Crowd respond by clapping. 245
Report of the Theatre Bath Open Meeting With The Bath Chronicle
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Lynne Fernquest:
The Chronicle cannot review everyone, so a decision must be made about what
they’re able to cover with the resources available to them. Like the rugby makes 250
sense for them to cover the largest foot-fall.
Andrew Ellison; Mission Theatre:
You mentioned that you’re a business and that you need readers and advertisers.
However, a large number of people who visit the Theatre Royal are outside of 255
your readership; they travel to see the shows. They do not see the Bath
Chronicle or buy it. The people who come to watch amateur shows in and around
Bath care about the city and The Chronicle – and buy it. There are more sales to
be had from everybody who appears in a theatre review at a local theatre; the
entire cast, their family, their friends. You will get more sales if you attend to 260
reviewing productions that are happening in the amateur sphere. Within the
community, within the community you are serving.
Lynne Fernquest:
The Chronicle cannot possibly attend everything that’s happening. If reviews are 265
supplied by the theatre community, as many as possible will be printed in the
newspaper, but reviews that are out of date will be put online.
Emma McDermott; Press Officer – Theatre Royal:
A number of shows do open at the Theatre Royal and have never been seen 270
anywhere else before. If Chronicle are reviewing some of these shows it will be
the first time those reviews have appeared. The Theatre Royal has its own
production company, Theatre Royal Bath Productions, and their productions
appear every season at the Theatre Royal. As many as 8,000 people come to the
Theatre Royal every week; from our Box Office system we know that the majority 275
of those people are from Bath and the surrounding area, approx a thirty mile
radius. The majority of them are local. The Chronicle is as important to us, as it is
to everyone else, which is why we advertise in the Chronicle as well. The
changes are affecting us too; the Chronicle no longer review shows in the Ustinov
Studio or the Egg. The Ustinov is producing productions which are only shown in 280
Report of the Theatre Bath Open Meeting With The Bath Chronicle
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Bath and we are getting four or five star reviews of those. But the Chronicle is not
able to print a review of those productions so it is effecting us too.
Paul Wiltshire
The system that was being used before was not fair because The Chronicle could 285
not get to every production. In danger of replacing one controversial reviewing
system with another. How many people would be willing to review shows here?
SHOW OF HANDS – BETWEEN 15 & 20. It makes sense to form a community,
peer reviewing team and for one group to review another’s productions. There
could be some obvious pitfalls with that though. 290
The discussion continues as follows:
Ann Garner:
Would those reviews be printed? 295
Paul Wiltshire:
The Chronicle would print as many as possible, but the printing is restrained by
the timing of the production. If the production is finished before The Chronicle
comes to press then it’s more likely to be posted online. 300
Lynne Fernquest:
There is also limited space in print, while those limits do not apply online.
Unknown Voice: 305
You could always get rid of some of the 17 pages of sports.
Lynne Fernquest:
There are 17 pages of arts as well.
310
Voice:
No, only 5.
Report of the Theatre Bath Open Meeting With The Bath Chronicle
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Ian McGlynn; Rondo Theatre, Larkhall: 315
Reviews are not just used for current publicity; they are needed for funding. Over
the last year, 34 shows have come through the Rondo that has been their first
run anywhere; 14 of those have had their world premier at the Rondo. Reviews of
those shows help the company’s reputation. Will help readers of the Chronicle to
have an appreciation of what the Rondo does. Some figures for amateur 320
companies that have worked with the Rondo over the last year, 22 shows have
been performed at the Rondo; that equates to approximately 90 performances,
7,500 people coming through the doors and 250 active participants of the shows.
Those are the people who read and buy The Chronicle. As someone who runs a
venue I would be incredibly sceptical of the idea of community reviewers. You 325
could not guarantee impartiality if community members reviewed shows; to think
that you can is naive. As a local newspaper you have a responsibility to provide a
disinterested, professional service to the people of this city.
Applause from the crowd. 330
Christopher Hansford:
20 years ago there were a small number of amateur and professional companies,
so it was easy to maintain a balance in terms of reviews. However recently, there
has been a large increase in the number of theatres and theatre companies. The 335
Chronicle had a small number of reviewers and it was the people who shouted
the loudest who had their productions reviewed; other companies were forgotten.
The discussion continued as follows:
340
Ian McGlynn
There is a vast increase of demand in a certain sector, so what The Chronicle is
saying is that because they can’t fulfil all of the demand, they will not fulfil any. It
is like saying there are lots of people who want to buy yoghurt next week, we
cannot supply them all so we won’t supply any. That’s not business. That’s just 345
giving up.
Report of the Theatre Bath Open Meeting With The Bath Chronicle
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Lynne Fernquest:
The Chronicle carried out some research looking at, over the last year, what it 350
would cost organisations to advertise in The Chronicle. It would cost
organisations like the Rondo, who are being covered free of charge, nearly
£8,000 to advertise. The Chronicle is not asking for organisations to pay for the
service, but it costs The Chronicle a lot to publicise events. We want to carry on
publicising the events. But we are a tiny team and we cannot possibly be 355
everywhere in the city to cover these events. I have figures for all the other
theatre groups as well. But it’s just to give you an idea of what we are doing and
what we want to continue doing.
Ian McGlynn: 360
Do you have figures for cinemas and the food distribution chains that you cover?
No response.
Martin Pople: 365
Does this policy apply to other art forms or is it just theatre?
Paul Wiltshire:
The policy The Chronicle is pursuing will apply to all art forms.
370
Christopher Hansford:
Other music events like the Bath International Music Festival will not be reviewed
in the paper; but they will be online.
Martin Pople: 375
So it’s just the Theatre Royal. That’s the only cultural event within the city you are
going to include in the newspaper?
Lynne, Paul & Christopher: NO (lots of disagreement).
380
Report of the Theatre Bath Open Meeting With The Bath Chronicle
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Christopher Hansford:
No. We are going to cover as many different events as you let us have details for.
385
Martin Pople:
No. Reviews. Reviews! This meeting is about reviews. Are you going to review
music events?
Lynne Fernquest: 390
No. We cannot get to all the events.
Martin Pople:
Are you going to review music events?
395
Lynne Fernquest:
How can we when we can’t get to all of them.
Unknown Voice:
I don’t think you’ve got your pulse on the feeling of this city at all. We’ve got major 400
interest in arts generally. You’re a local paper and you just don’t understand what
this city is about.
Darian Nelson; Head of Drama Hayesfield School & Playing Up Theatre
Company: 405
A lot of the students I teach work in music and theatre. Ian pointed out the
supermarket analogy, it is nonsense I’m sorry. If you don’t like Sainsbury’s you
shop online at Asda. If they allowed us to have an Asda in the city I would shop
there rather than online. Mentioned two things in your speech Lynne, local and
heart of everything. There are over eighty people that have come out on a 410
Monday night. Are you going to cut us out? That’s not the heart of everything is
it? Put your hand up if you have bought a paper in the last four weeks.
MAJORITY OF ROOM RAISE HAND.
Put your hand up if you have bought more than one copy because there was a
review in it. 415
ALMOST EQUAL AMOUNT RAISE THEIR HANDS.
Report of the Theatre Bath Open Meeting With The Bath Chronicle
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There’s some sales figures for you.
Applause.
Rather than become confrontational, we all want to work together. As a teacher,
tickets for the Theatre Royal main house are booked in advance, so reviews have to 420
be read beforehand. I am taking 15 students along to the show because of a review I
read. People will go to see performances in the Main House because of the name,
not because of a review. In this room are a massive amount of people who read you
paper, who represent old people, young people, amateur and professional. This
venue for example, I’ve read your reviews of this place Christopher. You’ve have 425
helped other people go “yeah, let’s go there”. Touring companies look at venues and
then look at the reviews before considering touring there. We do not want a battle,
we either want the status quo put back or we want a compromise. You need vetted
reviewers; we don’t care if the review comes out the week after the show, or if it
comes out online. I don’t think you’ve been honest about this! There are many 430
professional, independent reviewers who are prepared to review for The Chronicle
without pay. The theatre companies provide the tickets so that they get something in
the press. It benefits us. It benefits you.
Applause. 435
Gill Morrell; Bath Drama & Shakespeare Live:
If people from the theatre community review other shows, we’re likely to end up
with reports. What we see for the sports fixtures is a report. Is The Chronicle
looking for a report or a review? We cannot have reviews done by people from 440
within the same theatre company; many people also belong to more than one
company which will cause problems.
Joanna Wiesner MBE; Bath Minerva Choir & South West Festival Chorus.
There are hundreds of people involved in music events. Represent Bath Minerva 445
Choir which has 150 members and also South West Festival Chorus which has
about 400 members. Every singer wants to see themselves reviewed; most have
friends and relatives coming to watch performances – they also want to see
reviews. A lot of our audience members are not computer literate, and to assume
that everyone is happy to look online is very optimistic. You have a duty to 450
Report of the Theatre Bath Open Meeting With The Bath Chronicle
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support performers in Bath and their audiences in Bath; these are the people who
have supported your paper all their lives. Give a little back.
Applause.
Peter Martin; Bath Choral: 455
If we want independent reviews. How much money would it cost to pay for
reviews covering everything?
Lynne Fernquest:
That’s not something we could afford to do. 460
Peter Martin:
If the money were made available to you, would you pay for them? We want
independent reviews and the barrier for doing this is probably a few thousand
pounds. There may be ways of addressing this. At the end of it you have some 465
money to pay independent reviewers.
Lynne Fernquest:
As long as they are available, yes.
470
Matt Nation; Rondo Theatre Company:
How have you gone about trying to find independent reviewers? There are lots of
social media outlets that can be used to contact people. There are lots of people
who write well but have no interest to perform on-stage. Why not advertise on
The Chronicle website which as you say is viewed by thousands of people. It 475
wouldn’t take much to put a banner on there advertising for reviewers. “How
would you like free tickets for theatre events across the city?” They send the
details and you get hold of them. Get them to do a test one for free. If it’s no good
then you don’t use it or them again, but if it is good you have a reviewer. The
Rondo Theatre is manned on performance nights – front of house and the bar – 480
by unpaid volunteers. The perk is that they get to watch the show for free. This
could work for reviewers in exactly the same way.
Report of the Theatre Bath Open Meeting With The Bath Chronicle
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Paul Wiltshire: 485
I think we could do with getting some clarity. There are some interesting views,
and lots of food for thought at the meeting. The Chronicle needs to look further
afield than the people in the room for reviewers, but if there’s a willingness to help
them find reviewers who could be vetted then there may be a way forward. Part
of Christopher’s problem is they have to be reliable and go where they say they 490
will go and turn up and write what we want them to write. If you can help us find
those people, and I appreciate we have to do a lot more ourselves to find them.
Then we might be in business. However, The Chronicle may be part of a big
group but it is a small business with tight margins. We’re not some faceless
media that has massive pockets. We are a small organisation and we have this 495
problem of supply and demand. You’re absolutely right, we need to be business
like about it. If people here are prepared to work with us and help us find
reviewers then it is something that we can give some thought. There is a financial
impact to it but the main stumbling block to us operating the system that we
previously thought was fair is that there was a lot of events, and we could only 500
cover a very small percentage of those, and the way that we chose them wasn’t
ideal. Christopher was spending a lot of time trying to find people to review all
these different plays and musicals and productions etc. So if we can find a way of
tapping into a resource of more people then I think we might make some
progress. and the previous system wasn’t fair. 505
Alison Farina:
Sounds very much like the model that they use at Venue magazine. They still go
out and still do reviews. Steve Wright who is the arts editor has a collection of
people who go out and do reviews. They go out, get free tickets, have a nice 510
night out. They don’t get paid any more to do it. But there is a whole group of
people and some are based in Bath who are very good reviewers and want to do
this. Also on Twitter, that is the perfect place to start putting this info out. There
are loads of people out there who are literate and are interested in the arts. That
would be the first place to start. 515
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Andrew Fletcher, Numerous Arts Organisations
Just to encourage this idea. It has been done already by the Bath Chronicle,
when David Gledhill was editor, they had a team of local correspondents. Who 520
were trained and vetted. You have Bath Spa University up the road – you
probably have students doing journalism.
Paul Wiltshire:
You’re absolutely right. I remember the days of correspondents and they started
with thousands of names of people who said “yes we’ll do something for you”. 525
There was a hardcore of about ten, even in the early days who wrote regularly.
We need those people to be reliable and consistent and to have some longevity
about it. It was a system that kind-of-worked but needed a lot of investment of
our time.
Harriet Pocock, Rondo Theatre Company 530
There’s two universities who both run courses in creative writing. The students
are broke, so don’t have much money to see shows. They also need practical
experience. A degree is not enough now. You need to be able to show your
reviews. There is probably a large proportion of those students who would be
willing to get that experience and a free night out. 535
Secondly, I also work in a care home. You are not just shutting us out but you are
shutting out a whole generation of elderly people who do not have skills on a
computer and whose only link to the theatre, now is those reviews. Lots of my
residents cannot get to the theatre any more and they absolutely value being able
to read and stay in touch with what is happening. It’s not just about us, it’s about 540
a generation who has supported you and brought your magazine for as long as
they’ve been living in Bath and now they can’t read any reviews.
Christopher Hansford:
Firstly, it’s a newspaper not a magazine. We have a system of work experience,
and we are usually booked up with somebody – very often from Bath Spa 545
University who are on the writing courses. I thought when they first started
arriving, there would be an answer to my prayers and it wasn’t. One or two of
Report of the Theatre Bath Open Meeting With The Bath Chronicle
Page 22 of 30
them did express and interest and did do reviews. But then it didn’t work out for
various reasons. It isn’t that we haven’t looked. Maybe with modern technology I
haven’t looked as well as I could have done. We have in the past advertised for 550
people in the What’s On Section.
Harriet Pocock:
And the other point. The elderly?
Christopher Hansford:
I don’t know... 555
Lynne Fernquest:
That’s a very interesting point. We’re no saying that we would only carry
information online. Certainly we don’t want to exclude anyone from the
newspaper. Of course we don’t’. The difficulty is we can’t do everything. We’re
looking for a way to move forwards and do the best we possibly can. 560
Gill Morrell:
So because you get lots of sports articles sent to you you’re happy to print lots of
pages of sport. So if there was a system that was evolved that meant there was a
group of reviewers. You would be prepared to have more pages of printed
reviews on a regular basis? 565
Lynne Fernquest:
I think with sport... Sport is a different subject. There aren’t lots and lots of pages
of sport. A lot of children and a lot of adults take part in sport. In the same way a
lot of...
General Noise and talking. 570
Peter Lloyd Williams:
Older people not having access online. People who can’t read it in the paper.
Concerned about the Mid-Somerset Festival & Bath Young Musician of the Year.
Young people able to access it easy but what about elderly relatives.
Report of the Theatre Bath Open Meeting With The Bath Chronicle
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Paul Wiltshire: 575
Even if we had stuck to the original policy we were considering, which I think
we’re evolving some new thoughts on. But even if we stuck to that – it would not
effect our coverage of the Mid-Somerset Festival and would not effect our
coverage of young musician of the year.
Unknown Voice: 580
Thanked the Chronicle team for responding and attending the meeting. Made the
point that Bath Rugby results tend to be in the National Papers and are less
important late in the Chronicle – whereas the previews are interesting.
Belinda Kidd, Bath Festivals:
We issue over 200,000 tickets a year. We directly sell about 90,000 tickets. That 585
roughly translates as about 70 or 80 thousand people. So it’s a large number of
people who are in Bath and are interested in the arts. We sell for 120 different
organisations around Bath. It is just an indication of the sector in and around
Bath. We as festivals really value the preview coverage. That really helps us sell
tickets. We run a young reviewers scheme from ages 5 to 18. With support of 590
festivals staff – this could perhaps be mirrored with adults. There is a culture now
of reviewing online.
Alison Paine, Next Stage:
I think it’s an extraordinary commercial decision for a local paper to make in a
city like Bath which is a major cultural city. There is still some confusion as to 595
whether it is because there isn’t enough reviewers. Whether it was to do with the
circulation figures for print and online. Whether it was to do with the size of your
team or whether it was to do with money.
Lynne Fernquest:
It’s a combination of the whole lot. 600
Report of the Theatre Bath Open Meeting With The Bath Chronicle
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Alison Paine:
I am absolutely certain that the print circulation will drop dramatically. If you
cease providing the local arts coverage, that you have been providing. 605
Lynne Fernquest:
It isn’t the arts coverage. It’s the reviews. We haven’t stopped the coverage.
Alison Paine:
I think this meeting shows that it’s a pity you didn’t consult on this before the
decision was made. I think what you need is a policy, and a plan and some kind 610
of intention to get the resources that you need. I think if you had presented the
community with the problem we may have been able to come up with a solution.
David Gosling, Next Stage:
You answered the narrow question, without looking at how you might best
support, with the help of the community, the arts in Bath. 615
Darren Rogers, Bath College & Bladud Magazine:
We have a monthly page in the Chronicle called Bladud Magazine. We need
theatre reviewers. We are interested in promoting youth theatre. We urge anyone
who is interested in youth theatre to get in touch with ourselves or Paul. We will
help promote youth theatre. That is one part of the solution to your problem. 620
Charley Dunlap, Listomania Bath:
Our website contains listings and reviews. We are possibly the second biggest
website after the Chronicle. The solution may not be with the Chronicle. If they
leave a vacuum it will be filled. We list everything and we review everything. We
have a growing review staff. So maybe that is the future. We’re just a website. 625
Sally, The Mission Theatre:
Have you looked in areas outside Bath for reviewers or have you limited the
search just to Bath?
Report of the Theatre Bath Open Meeting With The Bath Chronicle
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Lynne Fernquest: 630
Of course we accept reviewers from outside of Bath.
Paul Wiltshire:
I think we are all agreed, that there are perhaps options that we can explore to
find more people. Don’t forget though that our unique selling point is Bath. We
don’t cover other areas. 635
Jane Goodwin, Bath Unity Players:
17 years ago the College Theatre closed. We started the Bath Community
Theatre Project to try and get a new venue in Bath. Sadly it didn’t work. But the
Chronicle were absolutely amazing. Not a day went by without there being
something in the paper about the need of an arts centre in Bath. That proves it 640
was such a community newspaper. I don’t think we should lose sight of the fact
that the Chronicle should be our newspaper. Therefore it should be reporting on
the things that we want to hear. Not we, as drama people but as people of Bath. I
think they want to see reviews in print, online as well. It must stay a community
newspaper otherwise you’ll lose it completely. 645
Lynne Fernquest:
That’s a really good point. But the only way we will stay is if people read the
newspaper and advertise in the newspaper.
Paul Wiltshire:
Really grateful that you’ve said such wonderful things about what we’ve done in 650
the past. I hope that people here don’t regard the Chronicle like a church, or a
Post Office or a pub. Something which is nice. They love it to exist and they like
to dictate what goes into it but they don’t actually buy it. So they don’t have any
business relationship with it whatever. I was gratified when we did a show of
hands how many of you appear to be regular readers of the Chronicle. What 655
actually sticks in our throat is, this is what we want you to be doing but we’re not
actually going to buy your paper. The only way we can solve this is through team
Report of the Theatre Bath Open Meeting With The Bath Chronicle
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work. If we all work together. If we can meet somewhere half way then we’ve got
something to talk about.
Julie Peacock, Peacock PR: 660
I just wanted to say thank you. I think it is a really good thing that you have turned
up tonight. It hasn’t been easy. I have agreed with most of the things most of the
people have said. The important thing is that we find a solution. It seems to me
that you’re willing to do that and willing to re-think in some ways. It’s up to us.
Thank you for not just going ahead with you plans and consulting the people of 665
the community. People like us.
Derek LePage, Chairman, Bath Drama:
I am worried that reducing the coverage, in anyway, is the thin end of the wedge.
I still believe that Sam Holliday was bought in to do away with the daily paper and
create a weekly one. I am now worried that you are here to do away with the 670
printed paper and put it all online. How long do you think the printed paper will
last?
Lynne Fernquest:
I have no idea! But to say I’ve been brought in to close down the product I work
on, well that doesn’t seem like a very good career move to me. 675
Paul Wiltshire:
I think you quite understandably criticize some of our business decisions. But that
would be the most ludicrous business decision ever. I think we’ve got quite
enough to worry about without worrying about that.
Scott Rogers, Zenith Youth Theatre: 680
The Chronicle has a responsibility for recording the social history of Bath. Having
just created a new website to celebrate 50 years of Zenith, it’s absolutely
incredible. There has been a review for every show. Which is an incredible
historical reference of what Bath is all about. We’re all a part of that cultural
history. And for me it’s part of the Chronicle’s job to record that cultural history. 685
And to make sure that it is there in a place most people will go to. Websites will
Report of the Theatre Bath Open Meeting With The Bath Chronicle
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come and the Chronicle has bee around for 250 years. I think that is also an
important responsibility from your point of view as well.
Ann Garner:
Wondered whether Christopher thought there was any mileage in a working party 690
coming out of this meeting. We still don’t quite understand what it will take even if
we find the reviewers and funding and you can provide the pages.
Christopher Hansford:
The three of us need to go back, having listened to everything that everybody
has said, and see what we can do within the confines of what Lynne has 695
decided.
Lynne Fernquest:
And what we can quantify for you Ann.
Christopher Hansford:
Maybe that is the way. To get a small group together. When Lynne has said what 700
she can do. What she can provide. What we can provide as a paper. To come
back with some key people to see how it might move forward. I sense that what
we were doing before roughly met with everyone else’s approval.
General Sounds Of Agreement.
It didn’t look like that when you saw all the arts events that were taking place. I 705
was always worried that we weren’t reflecting a cross section of everything.
Ann Garner:
I don’t think there would have been this reaction if you had said no reviews. I
want to read the reviews of the Theatre Royal. But I also want to read the reviews
of everywhere else as well. 710
Paul Wiltshire:
I think one of the most useful things to come out of this, Luke, when you email out
your minutes. Is that if everyone can come back to us with “I want to be a
Report of the Theatre Bath Open Meeting With The Bath Chronicle
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reviewer”, or “I know this person who would love to be a reviewer”. It’s stuff that
we need to do as well. This would give us a better idea of people who would be 715
committed to the cause. There might be room for little chats but what we can’t do
is run the Chronicle by committee. But there might be a chance to come back to a
few people with some of our thoughts.
Alan Casse, Former Chronicle Reviewer
When I started we got trained to review. Important to learn how to do it the 720
Chronicle way.
Paul Wiltshire:
I think we need you Luke, to send out emails to everyone here and find out who’s
out there and what they are willing to do. If we can satisfy ourselves that there
are people out there we can begin thinking about making different decisions. Until 725
we have that information and we’ve done out other bits of research I don’t think
we can commit to much more really.
Luke John Emmett, Theatre Bath:
Can we get a promise, in front of everybody here that you will actively look into it
and this is not going to be forgotten about. 730
Paul Wiltshire:
We’re not going to stand here and pretend to you. That would be suicide. The
difference between the national press and local. If we do something wrong, I will
bump into you in street and have to look you in the eye. We will of course look
into it. 735
Luke John Emmett, Theatre Bath:
Is everyone here happy that this is the way we move this forwards?
Sally Galsworthy:
No! Actually I would like to propose we have a vote. Let’s go back to where we
started. Let’s see what people think. You just want to review the Theatre Royal. 740
We want everything reviewed. Let’s have a vote on that. A show of hands.
Report of the Theatre Bath Open Meeting With The Bath Chronicle
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Luke John Emmett:
So what are we voting on?
Iorwerth Mitchell, Bath Drama:
Now I don’t think that would really be fair. There are the best part of 100 people 745
here and we all want the same or similar things. There are 3 people at the front.
There is no point having a vote when you know what the outcome is going to be.
They’ve come here. They’ve talked to us. They’ve relented a little bit. They’ve
quite happily agreed to think it over. They’ve listened to what we’ve had to say. I
think we need to call it an evening. 750
Andrew Ellison, Mission Theatre:
I would like to thank you. I do feel there has been some movement. For which
I’m very grateful. You haven’t come here with closed minds. I understand Paul’s
need to know what resources are out here to help you. I think we also need to
understand what resources you need. So if those two bits of information can 755
cross over. We would all be in a position to better understand each others issues
and maybe find a resolution that satisfies everyone.
Luke John Emmett:
Is everyone happy with that?
General Indication of Yes. 760
Good. Well I’d like to thank the Chronicle Team for turning up and all of you for
coming. Thank you.
The meeting was closed by Luke John Emmett at 19.45hrs.
765
Report of the Theatre Bath Open Meeting With The Bath Chronicle
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This report, (which should be seen as a first draft), has been
put together by Jazz Hazelwood and edited by Luke John
Emmett of Theatre Bath.
Whilst every attempt has been made to ensure that they reflect
an accurate representation of the meeting, mistakes may have
occured. Please contact us with corrections or suggestions.
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