Madeleine McCann: Clarence Mitchell For Hire, Richard Desmond And The Guardian Repeats
MADDIE WATCH - Anorak’s at-a-glance guide to press coverage of Madeleine McCann
DAILY TELEGRAPH: “McCann’s spokesman Clarence Mitchell ponders PR move
As Kate and Gerry McCann return from their first family holiday since their daughter Madeleine disappeared 14 months ago, their spokesman Clarence Mitchell is in talks to join a PR agency where he plans to help other parents who have lost children to deal with the media.
Such is the news of the McCann case that the internet traffic-hungry Telegraph is looking at Clarence Mitchell’s career options. An interviwer might ask him what good has come of all the PR and media handling, and point out that not every missing child is the the blonde, photgenic progency of middle-class doctors and thus not deemed to be as newsworthy.
Says Mitchell, the McCanns’ spokesman:
“I’m happy to help anyone in the eye of a media storm, but I need to put myself on a firm financial footing. I should stress, however, that there’s absolutely no question of me abandoning Kate and Gerry McCann.”
Working for the McCanns is a job, and it pays. But when will it end?
THE GUARDIAN: “Fakery fallout hits TV sector”
Deception rows caused several top television figures to slide down the top 100. It’s the MediaGuardian 100, an arbitrary league table of TV shows and staff.
The newspaper sector accounts for three of the top 10 fallers - two editors and a proprietor. Richard Desmond is the second biggest faller, down 20 places to 55, after his newspapers had to make unprecedented front-page apologies and pay £550,000 in damages to the family of Madeleine McCann.
And the Guardian loves to write about Desmond:
55. Richard Desmond
In March, Richard Desmond’s Express Newspapers titles ran unprecedented apologies and paid £550,000 in damages over stories they had run about the family of Madeleine McCann….
It was another blow to the credibility of the papers, credibility that has suffered ever since Desmond bought them in 2000…
Under-resourced and undermined by the McCann apology, Desmond’s newspaper group also saw the first 24-hour national newspaper strike for 18 years in a dispute about pay and outsourcing.
Desmond is Fleet Street’s least-loved proprietor, but as the Observer’s Peter Preston memorably put it: “No one likes him, though (in common with Millwall FC) he doesn’t seem to care.”
No.78 is Peter Wright, editor of the Mail on Sunday.
If Wright is occasionally a controversial figure, then he gained extra credibility this year when he joined the Press Complaints Commission after the Daily Express editor, Peter Hill, stepped down in the wake of Express Newspapers’ £550,000 damages payout to the family of Madeleine McCann.
James Murdoch takes the top spot from his father as other City players suffer a tough year
Richard Desmond, the owner of Express Newspapers, has also had a mixed year, paying out £550,000 in damages to Gerry and Kate McCann for a string of inaccurate articles about their daughter Madeleine’s disappearance, and taking the unprecedented step of publishing front-page apologies in all four Express and Star national titles.
Is the Guardian obsessed with Richard Desmond?

July 14th, 2008 at 7:38 am
1st?
July 14th, 2008 at 8:03 am
2?
July 14th, 2008 at 8:04 am
Good morning, BJ, are we the only ones up?
July 14th, 2008 at 8:06 am
No Jo,
Some of us are just hauling our backsides along the corridor to the new thread……
July 14th, 2008 at 8:09 am
[...I need to put myself on a firm financial footing. [...]
*********************
I thought he was on a firm footing with Kennedy’s double glazing firm……could it have been commission only?
July 14th, 2008 at 8:11 am
Good morning, jo, good morning Carmen,
had a short night with Mr. Babyjane and a sleepover friend returning from the pub at 2 o’clock and telling me jokes till 3.
But the best joke is that from the article above: “I’m happy to help anyone in the eye of a media storm, but I need to put myself on a firm financial footing.”
July 14th, 2008 at 8:18 am
Any juicy stories about clarrie?
Did he go on on THE holidays of the year?
Is he going to be in trouble for being such an arsehole to the PJ?
Do you remember the bad episod when he warned the mccanns were being tipped off?
Has anyone a link for this pathetic story?
Is he thinking of moving on?and why suddenly?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mandrake/2299821/Mandrake-Madeleine-McCanns-spokesman-Clarence-Mitchell-ponders-PR-move.html
July 14th, 2008 at 8:18 am
“I’m happy to help anyone in the eye of a media storm, but I need to put myself on a firm financial footing.”
Like a magician’s desperate job application: Have lots of rabbits, need new hat.
July 14th, 2008 at 8:22 am
It may be a well to state categorically neither Old Mr nor Young Massa Anorak wear pink shirts.
But they both think a firm financial footing is something other than a cloggie team sponsorship from Scholl Sandals.
There is a donate and a subscribe button over there on the right. Go on! Press one.
July 14th, 2008 at 8:24 am
Jo,
Judging by your link, it would be a reasonable assumption that Kennedy is happy to pay him to support the McCanns, but not the parents of other missing children.
Either that or it is the fund that has been supporting Clarrie, and thus can’t support him whilst he is caring for the parents of other missing children.
I don’t know what else you can make of this.
July 14th, 2008 at 8:26 am
Article on SOSMadeleine will be translated later on today
The title is “Helping children who have disappeared becomes an urgent matter” Good man!
The world needs people like him,especially neglectful parents
http://bp0.blogger.com/_3HAnFzHSqqE/R7q1ZNfgLtI/AAAAAAAAAp8/AR56-THwvNw/s1600-h/por_cortesia.jpg
July 14th, 2008 at 8:30 am
10
Carmen
We cant make anything out of this.It is an other spin to fool public attention from the current case as always and he wants to look good
Ludicrous
July 14th, 2008 at 8:31 am
Why does Clarrie think his P.R. is helping? There’s no sign of Madeline, it’s not intimidating the PJs and he still hasn’t managed to get them on Celebrity Big Brother. He’s pants.
July 14th, 2008 at 8:31 am
Morning Mr agw, nice man, Sir,
Could I take my prescribed coffee break early please?
I promise not to ask again this week, and I’m sorry about being late on Friday.
July 14th, 2008 at 8:33 am
agw
I can pay you in badges.
July 14th, 2008 at 8:40 am
Just remembered!!
Its the french best day ever today
About the only correct thing they”ve ever done in their history
“Allons zenfants de la patrie-ie-
Le jour de gloire est arrivé
Contre nous de la tyrannie….pom pom
whoosh….clunk…one head here,one head there…..how many more? that is IF ever……?
July 14th, 2008 at 8:40 am
Karen:
I am opposed to the culling of badges and I think their use as currency is both wicked and inhumane. I shall report you to the SPCA when I have dealt with a staff difficulty. You may stave off prosecution by sending cash in a plain brown envelope marked “bung” to Anorak Towers, EC66 6IMP
Carmen. Rough night or ruff Knight? Some of those local Bastille Day customs can create localised headaches. I would recommend a dextrose drip rather than caffeine.
July 14th, 2008 at 8:45 am
agw
Prepared to take all suggestions, including guillotine this morning.
Hadn’t been in training, that’s the problem.
Back in half an hour.
July 14th, 2008 at 8:47 am
I mean the mccans case is not the best reference is it?
I am worried for him: will he find an other job now or do we have to start a fund???
because
““I’m happy to help anyone in the eye of a media storm, but I need to put myself on a firm financial footing. I should stress, however, that there’s absolutely no question of me abandoning Kate and Gerry McCann.”
He needs to put himself on a firm financial footing? isnt Kennedy paying his fees anymore then? even if the mccanns are charged he is not going to abandon them?awwww
July 14th, 2008 at 8:49 am
Oh the joys of no more hangovers after giving up the booze three years ago! I could still partake of the volume after years of training but the three day hangovers were too much.
Ciggies five year ago…. I suppose the heroin and crack cocaine habit will have to go next…..
July 14th, 2008 at 8:50 am
agw
I can bung you a half a take-away curry, 2p I found down the back of the sofa and a Steps dvd (you can sing along with the band!!!).
July 14th, 2008 at 8:57 am
This why clarrie wants to “help” other parents who have been neglectful of their children
The Saints are speaking on the 1st of may
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7376847.stm
July 14th, 2008 at 9:03 am
Karen:
Steps? Curry? Singalong!
Watch and learn kiddo:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LqsHL2PSiM
That’s my 2p’s worth
July 14th, 2008 at 9:07 am
23

agw
July 14th, 2008 at 9:14 am
AGW………. I have some of those postcards of Eddie C. Sadly the sig is only printed. AND AND I have the Beatles in my autograph book. (1963 saw them sign….. swoon swoon )
July 14th, 2008 at 9:18 am
Same old bollox, ooh to be a moderator eh?
http://www.badgerbadgerbadger.com
July 14th, 2008 at 9:19 am
Did someone mention stuffed mushrooms?
July 14th, 2008 at 9:20 am
GAAAArth!

Buenos dias
July 14th, 2008 at 9:20 am
Just call sid……….. that’ll sort em out!
July 14th, 2008 at 9:21 am
You don’t mean my Beatles autographs do you Garth? (good morning!)