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parkrun thread

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paulcook Jan 2023 10:48am, 13 Jan 2023 2,217 posts	Quote Pin paulcook Haha, I hear you there Joopsy.
Dibble Jan 2023 11:00am, 13 Jan 2023 973 posts	Quote Pin Dibble Having seen yesterday's letter, I have resigned from my role as a parkrun ambassador. I believe that parkrun have shown very poor judgement in the appointment of David Dinsmore as a trustee. I was very disappointed to read that the Chairman believes that his values align with Mr Dinsmore's as from all that I have read he is someone whose values are totally opposite to mine. With him as a trustee I can no longer, as the parkrun ambassador volunteer agreement requires, represent parkrun with pride, positivity and respectability. However I still believe parkrun is a great thing at a local level and I will carry on participating and volunteering as an RD.
sprouty76 Jan 2023 11:06am, 13 Jan 2023 4,535 posts	Quote Pin sprouty76 "I have absolutely no doubt that, should you take the time to meet with David (I am sure he would welcome the opportunity to join you at a parkrun) you will find that his values absolutely match those of parkrun and that the two of you will agree on the things that matter." Not sure if that says more about the 2014 Sexist of the Year, or parkrun, an organisation supposedly dedicated to inclusivity.
larkim Jan 2023 11:09am, 13 Jan 2023 19,988 posts	Quote Pin larkim That's sad to hear, and of course that's entirely your decision. I'm interested though in how you came to conclude that what you could read about Dinsmore trumped what the Trustees at parkrun had time to explore directly with him. I guess I just have faith in their ability to get behind the detail and test him out for his values that impact parkrun. But we each do have to make our own judgements and we all have different personal values and outlooks which inform our own perspectives. I might feel irreconcilably conflicted if parkrun appointed someone from the royal family as a trustee for example. I'm assuming this is the David Dinsmore we're discussing, by the way. parkrun.org.uk
Dibble Jan 2023 11:27am, 13 Jan 2023 974 posts	Quote Pin Dibble Very well put larkim . I totally accept that it is possible that if I (or anyone else) sat down with Dinsmore for an hour or so I might end up with a different viewpoint, but ultimately it's a decision (possibly a subjective as much as an objective one) based on what I have read.
larkim Jan 2023 11:42am, 13 Jan 2023 19,989 posts	Quote Pin larkim Thanks Dibble, I'm relieved I managed (for once!) to find a way of expressing myself that didn't give unintended offence!!
Neal Jan 2023 11:49am, 13 Jan 2023 210 posts	Quote Pin Neal I have absolutely no doubt that, should you ... meet with David ... you will find that his values absolutely match those of parkrun Even if this is true, those values to me seem very different to those of his employer, where he holds a senior position. I'm not sure that someone who is willing to put their own values to one side to work for someone actively spreading the opposite values is someone I'd want as a trustee.
larkim Jan 2023 1:20pm, 13 Jan 2023 19,990 posts	Quote Pin larkim I'd draw a distinction between the value espoused by the journalism vs those as an employer. As hateful as I find The Sun in particular, News Corp is a massive business which requires talented people to lead and coordinate. The stable that he oversees includes more reputable outlets like The Times / Sunday Times and others. Tarring him with The Sun brush when his role is much much more varied than that seems a somewhat narrow view of his career and capabilities. ("David is responsible for Group Operations and Platform relationships, developing News UK's partnerships with tech platforms including Google, Apple and Facebook, as well as furthering strategic client relationships with the UK's biggest advertisers. He also oversees our Data operations, including News UK's award-winning first-party personalisation tool, Nucleus: providing a decluttered, high quality experience for our digital consumers, encouraging them to view more articles and driving more advertising revenues. David is also responsible for the efficient running of our retail, print and supply chain operations, overseeing Newsprinters, our industry-leading publishing services providers for The Sun, The Times and The Sunday Times as well as, amongst others, The Daily Telegraph, Financial Times, Daily Mail, Metro and Evening Standard. He is also responsible for developing our licensing business, and growing the potential of our live events business, News Live.") He's also made somewhat more +ve statements on Hillsborough ("“It was a terrible mistake,” he says. “I would love to find a solution to it – I would love to find some reconciliation.”" scotsman.com ) He was editor of The Sun for 2 years only, and during that time he both defended the Page 3 publication and oversaw the final edition of a Page 3. Two sides of the coin there to be at least examined. If you wanted to play spin you could say he was the editor who successfully removed Page 3 from the newspaper... (Or you could say he was forced into it by successful campaigns etc. Both are likely true). The Sexual Offences Act conviction, whilst "spent" and whilst in context definitely a situation where the boss takes responsibility (rightly) for the criminal mistake of others, is a big difficulty for parkrun to get past and may have been an area where if I'd been on the Board I would have said was simply a red line that reputationally parkrun would struggle to get beyond. But that said, I'm also strongly in favour of allowing our judicial system to apply penalties and then also allow individuals to move on in their lives at an appropriate time after the conviction. I'm not trying to go in to bat for Dinsmore (as much as it might look like it). But so far nothing that parkrun has said or done since the announcement makes me more concerned that they've appointed someone who will tangibly harm parkrun.
HappyG(rrr) Jan 2023 1:24pm, 13 Jan 2023 45,240 posts	Quote Pin HappyG(rrr) Wow larkim, that's a comprehensive assessment. And as always, very well articulated. G
larkim Jan 2023 1:30pm, 13 Jan 2023 19,991 posts	Quote Pin larkim 😳