Club ban on Echo journalists gains national exposure on Twitter (From Bournemouth Echo)

Club ban on Echo journalists gains national exposure on Twitter

7:00am Thursday 22nd March 2012 in Sport

Cherries’ ban on Echo reporters and photographers gained national exposure yesterday thanks to social networking website Twitter.

While football fans had their say on the shut-out via the Echo website and other Internet forums, journalists and broadcasters were commenting on our editorial in yesterday’s edition.

Daily Telegraph chief sports writer Paul Hayward tweeted: “Great fightback from the Bournemouth Echo. Congratulations to the authors.”

BBC Sport online chief football writer Phil McNulty, meanwhile, added: “Now this is what you call a robust response from Bournemouth Daily Echo.”

Boston Standard sports editor Duncan Browne said: “Absolutely brilliant stuff from the Bournemouth Echo.”

Press Association sports writer Damian Spellman also questioned the club’s decision, adding: “The Bournemouth Echo refusing to be bullied by their football club. Good on you.”

Daily Mail football writer Ian Ladyman and Sun cricket correspondent Paul Newman also joined the debate, while former Echo journalist and ITV News frontman Mark Austin tweeted: “My old paper hits back at the club I supported as a kid. Good on ‘em.”

Football fan James Coleman said on Twitter: “The club banning the local paper is a sorry state of affairs. All the money in the world can’t buy grace and style.”

However, Cherries fan ‘Adrian’ tweeted: “Immature headline, another twist. Bradders said lads were immature for first 10 minutes. They were. Echo twist.”

And fellow fan ‘Leona’ added: “Afcb and the Echo should both grow up.”

Meanwhile, Cherries media executive Max Fitzgerald released a statement to fans’ website Up The Cherries last night.

It read: “The Bournemouth Daily Echo has been asked to cease attendance at AFC Bournemouth home matches for the foreseeable future. This is in response to their persistent negative stance on all matters involving the club, and the undermining and unsettling of our players and staff members.

“I’d like to make supporters aware that the current sanctions are not just in response to articles featured on the back pages, but also the level of trust we once shared with the paper diminishing substantially and relationships with its journalists hitting a new low.

“Communications have been – and continue to be – ongoing between both parties and I can reassure supporters that the club would like to find a resolution and work side by side with our local paper once more.

“Unfortunately this will not happen overnight and their journalist’s (sic) attitude must change before we can work closely with the Daily Echo again.”