I spent most of my working life as a local journalist, in a county far far away, and moved to Shaftesbury for a quiet retirement. I remain, however, a great believer in local media. We need people covering council meetings, road closures, village events, local businesses, straying cows and the occasional oddly-shaped marrow. Without local journalists, who’s asking the questions? But local journalism comes with a responsibility that, it seems, is easy to forget when everyone is chasing the clicks and attention.
An easy headline
A certain local radio station recently reported that, amid a major West Country bluetongue outbreak, the Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show was going ahead with its cattle and sheep classes, while ‘at least six other West Country shows’ had cancelled theirs. It was a good headline.
What it didn’t say was that plenty of other shows are also going ahead with livestock classes. The Mid-Somerset Show was on AS the article was published.
These decisions were made by show organisers after weeks of veterinary advice, DEFRA guidance, changing restrictions and, I am sure, considerable worry. The G&S Show isn’t an anonymous organisation making a quick buck. They are local people, volunteers, small businesses, farmers, organisers … people who have already spent weeks worrying over a difficult decision, only to find themselves painted as irresponsible when a complicated situation became a simple headline on social media.
I felt immediately for the show team – a good headline lasts a few hours, but the consequences for the people in it can last considerably longer.
Is it journalism?
That doesn’t mean local media should be soft. As a journalist, your literal job is to ask awkward questions – challenge decisions … check what you’re being told. If somebody has got it wrong, say so. Nobody gets immunity just because they’re local.
But also, you don’t get to decide what the story is and then arrange the available facts around it. You make absolutely sure you’ve got the whole picture before you light the blue touchpaper.
It’s not just one volunteer local radio station either. We also have a local paper where ‘news’ consists of little more than police appeals, planning applications and press releases dropped onto a page.
Useful? Sometimes. Journalism? That’s another matter.
Perhaps I’m simply showing my age. Newspapers have changed, newsrooms have vanished and budgets have been slashed.
I know all that.
But the basic job hasn’t changed. We all want our local media to check things. To know their patch. To be asking those awkward questions. Give people a fair hearing. And then tell readers or listeners what is actually going on – even if the truth is considerably less exciting than the headline you had in mind.
So yes, investigate. Challenge. Hold people to account. But they do need to remember there are real people behind the stories, and real consequences when you get the picture wrong.
And if the story really is about a rudely-shaped marrow, then give it everything you’ve got.
The Grumbler – Dorset Life’s open opinion column: the editor knows the identity of contributors, but all pieces are published anonymously. With just a few basic guidelines to ensure legality and respect, we welcome honest, unfiltered views.
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Correction and disclosure – 11th September 2026: An earlier version of this column stated that the radio coverage made no mention of veterinary advice behind the Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show’s decision to continue with its livestock classes. This was incorrect. Alfred did report that the Show’s veterinary team had been directly involved in the decision and detailed the additional veterinary oversight, biosecurity and welfare measures being introduced. Alfred had sought the Show’s response before publication and did not broadcast the report until that response had been received. We are happy to correct the record.
For transparency, Dorset Life is a commercial partner of the Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show. The Grumbler contributor has no connection with the Show and the views expressed are their own.
