Home Office snub to student journalists
An investigation by The Oxford Student has revealed that, alone amongst government departments, the Home Office press department refuses to take calls and handle queries from student journalists. When contacted by The Oxford Student, a spokesman for the Home Office explained the policy was “due to demand” adding: “We get so many calls a day it's difficult to keep up with them.
However, all other government departments contacted by this newspaper, including the Foreign Office, the Department of Education and the Department of Trade and Industry, confirmed they would be happy to deal with any queries a student journalist may have. Criticism of the Home Office's stance has been fierce.
Deputy Editor of The Times, Ben Preston, expressed his dismay to The Oxford Student: “I'm surprised and disappointed - government press offices are paid to answer journalists' questions and to discriminate against student newspapers is ridiculous.
Secretary of the National Union of Students James Lloyd agreed: "As we've seen recently with the government's decision to increase visa charges for overseas students, the Home Office routinely makes decisions that have a direct impact on the student population. It's disappointing that this key governmental office has failed to make use of the key communication tool that student media provides.
Press officer for the National Union of Journalists Tim Gopsill was similarly incredulous: “If the Home Office want to be reported as uncooperative and obstructive then that is up to them but they will get a very bad press.” Other student newspapers expressed their disappointment at the Home Office's policy, which has been in place for over two years .
Ruth Barnett, editor of The Cambridge Student, said: “Given the significant effect Home Office decisions have on students, coupled with the role the student media plays in communicating news and information, it seems ridiculous that they refuse to deal with student journalists.
It's refreshing to see that a former Cambridge Student Union President remains so committed to communicating with students now that he is Home Secretary!” Matt Sandy, News Editor of the Warwick Boar, described the move as “pretty typical of the disdain that many institutions show towards the student media.” However, Nick May of The National Student told this newspaper that he empathised with the Home Office's problems: “I can understand that it is a logistical difficulty to answer everybody.
May suggested the problem could be solved by appointing a student press officer who would act as a link between student publications and the department's full-time press officers.
24th Feb 2005