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PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL
MEDIA COVERAGE OF THE POST OFFICE TRIAL
1. This note summarises media coverage of the trial involving Post Office and 557
claimants.
2. The opening week of the trial saw the most coverage, with 16 pieces of coverage;
mostly in top-tier publications (this included a number of articles previewing the
trial).
3. Most articles were neutral to negative in sentiment, and largely covered historic
allegations. Most journalists characterised the legal proceedings as a chance for
individuals to claim justice against the Post Office. Tabloid journalists tended to focus
hard on the ‘human interest’ angle of the story, as well as the costs of the hearing
and the number of claimants.
4. Allarticles carried some form of the Post Office’s statement, and in the most
influential outlets this featured prominently. The message of 0.01 percent of affected
users since the year 2000 was well carried.
5. The FT reported on the Post Office claim that legal proceedings could have a
‘material’ impact.
6. There was a significant decrease in coverage in the second week of the trial, with
only four articles and only one in a leading outlet (the Financial Times). The
remainder were published in Computer Weekly.
7. The third week saw a slight increase in coverage, with nine articles published which
mentioned the hearing.
10.
11.
12.
13,
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Most notably, the case of former Postmaster, Seema Misra, was featured as part of a
three-minute segment on ITV News. The item included the Post Office’s statement
but was negative in tone. This has not, however, led to much pick-up on social media
or elsewhere. The Daily Mail published a lengthy article on the same case in print and
online (https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6403711/Mother-jailed-stealing-74-
000-Post-Office-bosses-hushed-error.html), and Private Eye also covered the story. It
is not the first time Ms Misra’s case has been featured in the media.
Other than the ITV feature, there has been very limited broadcast coverage: the trial
has featured once in the BBC radio news headlines. BBC Wales Online has covered
the case of ex-postmaster Noel Thomas https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-
46110905
In the trade and regional media there has been sustained low-level interest. The
Shropshire Star published an article on the case of a Shrewsbury-based Postmaster.
Computer Weekly and the website www.postofficetrial.com, created by journalist
Nick Wallis, covering the trial on a daily basis, with the latter live Tweeting from the
Courtroom, as well as writing extensive daily blog posts. Both Mr Wallis and
Computer Weekly have covered the issue regularly for a number of years.
There has been some activity on social media during the trial, but this has largely
been confined to campaigners.
Post Office continues to actively monitor media and social media coverage and will
update colleagues after the closing arguments in the trial (w/c 3°° December).
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ANNEX - selection of coverage in the main media outlets plus dedicated outlets that are
reporting daily from court (Computer Weekly and journalist Nick Wallis’ blog)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2018/11/07/post-office-taken-court-system-
blamed-causing-health-criminals/
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6352691/Post-Office-legal-battle-former-branch-
managers-claim-wrongly-accused-theft.html
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6403711/Mother-jailed-stealing-74-000-Post-
Office-bosses-hushed-error.html
https://www.pressreader.com/uk/daily-mail/20181105/281874414415425
https://www.computerweekly.com/news/252452444/Post-Office-trial-throws-up-more-
known-computer-problems
https://www.ft.com/content/OdScd8f8-e82e-11¢8-8a85-04b8afeabea3
https://www.ft.com/content/23ba0376-e2ae-11e8-8e70-5e22a430clad
www.postofficetrial.com
Private Eye Article (scanned separately)