Simon Macdowell, Director General of Corporate Communications, MOD.

(available from the web).

I'm assuming he's still in post, but then you lot can't confirm or deny it as it may be a defence matter.

Last edited by Mr_Bridger on Thu Aug 09, 2007 9:14 am; edited 1 time in total

Thanks Viro , seen.

I've not seen so many contradictions in a document for some time, and I'm still on page 1



I can't remember the last DIN on this exaclty, but haven't the terms been broadened significantly?

Last edited by PartTimePongo on Thu Aug 09, 2007 9:19 am; edited 1 time in total

LONDON - Britain's defence chiefs are spending millions of pounds on more than 1,000 spin doctors to improve the public image of the armed forces, but admit that they have no idea who these PRs are or whether they are having an impact.

Simon MacDowall, the Ministry of Defence's director general of media and communications, oversaw the report, which he described as an attempt to reduce the bureaucracy in the department's PR operations

well Mr. Macdowell it looks like someone isn't really firing on all cylinders then are they...

But will it stand up in court when they find the body.

Only if you lash a broom handle firmly down the length of the body.

www.thefirstpost.co.uk...47&p=2

The MoD's communications department, including their chiefs Simon MacDowell and James Clark, have serious questions to answer. They claimed that the 'exceptional circumstances' necessitated a breach in the Queen's regulations. But what about the young paratrooper who lost both his legs in Helmand and has endured less than ideal and hygienic conditions in Selly Oak hospital, about which he is allowed to say nothing? Obviously for the MoD and the Navy there is a new Orwellian tariff about the meaning of the term 'exceptional'.

A few thoughts leap to mind.

"We are all equal - but some are more equal than others"
Lead by example Macdowell.

Last edited by Mr_Bridger on Thu Aug 09, 2007 9:23 am; edited 1 time in total

Setting in a block of formaldehyde. At a later date should you wish to exhibit said article, it could be neatly sawn in half and sold as art.

Yep I've seen that, the statue of the chick with no arms or legs in Trafalgar square

news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk...247000.stm

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Last edited by MoistVelvet on Thu Aug 09, 2007 9:36 am; edited 1 time in total

It's time for a poll methinks...

It does not seem to apply to us retired ex serving old folk. Send the dirt to me I'll publish . Bugger my docs say I could still be covered by the Official Secrets catch all act bugger.

Last edited by elovabloke on Thu Aug 09, 2007 9:45 am; edited 1 time in total

Following on from this thread:

www.arrse.co.uk/cpgn2/...74553.html

(DIN 2007DIN03-006 - thou shalt not speak to anyone , by any means about anything.....at anytime and we're really really serious this time)

Time for change and a little downsizing at DGMC. This strikes me more like a man trying to empire build his 107 people up, but before this happens he's increasing yet more admin and paperwork with his new DIN.

www.telegraph.co.uk/ne...mod122.xml

On the subject of equipment, Mr MacDowall adds: "There is a growing perception that - particularly on operations - our Armed Forces are not as well equipped as they should be and that we do not look after our people as well as we should."

Despite the large number of staff employed to improve the MoD's public image, and the high cost, there is no evidence as to whether or not the strategy is working. The report states: "We need to be able to measure the impact of our communications effort both internally and externally."

The document was published in February, a month before two members of the Royal Navy were held captive by Iran and later sold their stories to the media.

Patrick Mercer, the Tory MP and former infantry commander, claimed that it was "utterly ridiculous" and a "disgrace" that the MoD was spending millions on public relations when soldiers were still having to buy their own kit.

He said: "War on two fronts has meant that defence budgets are stretched like never before. With fighting troops needing everything they can, we can't have this sort of nonsense and spin going on inside the MoD."


His report states: "We have no clear idea of the number of people involved in defence communications work or their costs. Over 1,000 people in MoD have a media/communications job code. This excludes many military personnel involved in communications work. Of this, 107 work to Director General Media Communications."

According to the Office for National Statistics, the average salary for an MoD public relations official is approximately £39,000 - equating to an annual pay bill of £39 million for the 1,000 staff.

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39 million. enough said.

Double bugga, as an ex serving old folk apparently we can't talk to you about such things!

How on earth will the RBL aquire new members from serving soldiers if they are no longer permmited to swing the lantern over stories of Aden to Afghanistan!

I'm fairly sure under the new rules you can't talk about that which can't talked about... ooops.

Thanks, MV. It hasn't been written that well and the content is pretty turgid but it is definitely out to catch every single possibility of engaging with the new media streams, and it even covers friends and family!

And, of course, I have just broken it by commenting here... damn!

Litotes

Plan B

Send me the stuff that is not to be discussed and in my MOD area when it is discussed I will inform the appropriate authorities that the relevant info has been deleted to ensure no discussion took place. Are you sure the tit who came up with this is not an arrser?

Does the ban on not using 'sharing technologies' mean that if I email DGMC, he can't send me a reply because he isn't allowed to since I'm a civilian and not in any of the groups to whom this risible document applies?

On a much more serious note, I imagine that anyone planning to give a eulogy at a Service funeral, for example, will now need official permission to speak, and will presumably have to have his words checked and possibly censored by some MOD creature. On the other hand, that utterly flaccid worm Twigg can continue to spout drivel without limit. Very distasteful.

Last edited by ViroBono on Thu Aug 09, 2007 9:55 am; edited 1 time in total

Poll Done :

www.arrse.co.uk/cpgn2/...74564.html

I thought I'd give them a helping hand, though I'll save it for the truly bone posts.

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Stolen for possible future use.

Well, the goon, you have an ISP and an IP address...

If you become interesting enough in what you say, then people will start looking and they will find your ISP and that will run straight to your name and address... under certain circumstances the RMP and or the Int Corps can come after you with or without the help of CivPol.

It has been done before and will be done in the future.

I vaguely remember one ARRSER deregestering from ARRSE after a quiet whisp into an ear and another chap (an RLC AT) desisting from posting on ARRSE as.... you gorrit - he got caught out and the CoC wanted to know who this chappie was - that's roughly a year and a bit ago.... So no, the net and ARRSE are really not safe places at all - just make sure that you have the bottle and the proof to back anything up....we know who you are !!!!