Do people think that I ought to accept advertising on the blog, as so many others do?
Musings and Snippets from a recently retired JP. I served for 31 years, mostly in west London. I was Chairman of my Bench for some years, and a member of the National Bench Chairmen's Forum All cases are based on real ones, but anonymised and composited. All opinions are those of one or more individuals. JPs swear to enforce the law of the land, whether or not they approve of it. Nothing on here constitutes legal advice.
You are in the difficult position of being a visible representative of "the common weal".
ReplyDeleteYet the service you provide is invaluable as insight into how things "really work".
As a rule, the hoi polloi do not have access to that insight. As well, you serve to help introduce a dose of reality to new members of your craft who care to tune in.
Yet why should you be expected to shoulder the financial burden of that by yourself?
I don't know how blog adverts work in practice, but if you can filter the prospects to exclude those of questionable association with someone of your stature, then I'd vote yes. Otherwise no.
My main concern is that the perceived commerciality would serve as another excuse to force the plug to be pulled.
I personally would rather a team in reduced circumstances than no team at all.
That's a difficult decision. It might leave you open to accusations of influence (although personally I believe that's nonsense), but if you've been approached by advertisers or agents, it's a sign that your readership is growing and the blog is appearing "above the radar". If it makes life and/or the budget a little easier, give it a try. You can always revert after a trial. It won't stop me reading the blog.
ReplyDeleteIf you do, it would be very hard to argue against regulation, to start with, and secondly I'm not sure that the SPJ (Senior Presiding Judge) would take a very positive view of a JP seeking to make commercial gain out of being a lay magistrate. It would almost certainly be in breach not only of the guidance on the use of the suffix JP, which is one of the most common reasons for reprimands, but potentially too of that on blogging, and an argument could certainly be made that such a move would be of a nature to bring the judiciary in general and the magistracy in particular into disrepute. Some of your more trenchant views attract a fair degree of attention, and - on occasion - sail fairly close to the wind, moreover.
ReplyDeleteIt's up to you :-)
ReplyDeleteIf the costs of hosting it are getting out of control, then yes.
ReplyDeleteI'd strongly recommend you use Google AdSense if anything as you have some control over the type and intrusiveness of the ads shown.
Bear in mind though that many of us use ad blocking software so will never see the ads, they should still have some effect though...
I access your writings via an RSS reader 90+% of the time, I only access you blog proper for things like leaving a comment, makes me pretty much indifferent to adverts.
ReplyDeleteThis link may help:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.empowernetwork.com/bizzbim/blog/blog-advertising-the-pros-and-cons/
If it were I and the decsion was based on defraying the costs, then I would say yes go for it, you won't make loads, keep any profit at arms lengh such that pofit over time defrays costs over time. Excess profit should it occur could be donated to charity.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely yes. As above, go for Google AdSense so that all your adverts are safe for work. Update your website terms & conditions of use accordingly. Keep your visitor stats & AdSense revenue information to yourself. None of our business.
ReplyDeleteby all means carry a few banners but don't expect your advertsiers to make their fortune.......
ReplyDeleteThe site is hosted in Blogger so as I understand it has no hosting costs. The only costs therefore are the time of its 'staff'. It would be rather odd for a JP who gives his time freely on the bench to wish to exploit that position to make a profit from his ramblings about that experience. The only sensible way to do it would be via google adwords - which would give you some control, but would I expect include a large number of criminal defence lawyer ads - which I am not sure you would want to be associated with. I don't think I would agree with much of the content of the empowernetwork link - although it may be valid it need not be the approach you adopt. However their are downsides of ads which apply to ALL blogs, and I would suggest people should only Advertise if they need to.
ReplyDeleteCan you make any money>?
ReplyDeleteA tricky one. I think MoVG has a valid point regarding JP's using their role to promote what might be seen as a commerical enterprise if ads were allowed. I counsel caution on this. I'd rather this blog continued to exist adless if possible than run the risk of it being closed down by an overzelous minion of the MoJ or Advisory Committee
ReplyDeleteBefore I left the UK I too used to blog about my work as a mag, and took adverts. The problem was lack of control over the algorithm used to determine what appeared, which led to the irritating and embarrassing situation that, for instance, I would write, "Sat in the traffic court this week, and.....", only to find this flanked by an ad for lawyers who would get you off for a fat fee. With big brother peering suspiciously over your shoulder, it might prove counterproductive.
ReplyDeleteI think Man on the Village Green has it right.
ReplyDeleteThe team can't make a business out of being magistrates. (Not that they necessarily are of course!).
The value of this Blog lies in its insight into the magistracy; and that should not be commercialised, even to cover costs.
No. If the cost of hosting is debilitating you, I can recommend a cheaper hoster.
ReplyDeleteThat's an easy decision. Go for it.
ReplyDeleteMy gut feeling is no. Initially I didn't see it as much of an issue becuase I tend to ignore the adverts that various sites present. However it 'sort of' questions your independence.
ReplyDeleteIf the costs of servicing this blog are beginning to out-weigh the benefits to any one individual on the team then may be adopt the approach taken by a couple of my hobby blogs or that of the Cranmer blog - ask for donations.
Clicking through to the poll, I came across a pretty representative sample of the sort of adverts that this site might attract, and to be frank, found them fairly off-putting!
ReplyDeleteKate Caveat
No, not unless you just can't avoid it.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it is any big matter of principle. No-one you need to concern yourself with would ever think that the content ws in any way advert-led.
ReplyDeletePersonally, when I have blogged I didn't accept adverts because I put effort into my blog design. I didn't want to mess it up and the prospective income wasn't anywhere near enough to save it. But this is your blog, do what you want and good luck
Please no!
ReplyDeleteYou should accept adverts in order to help defray your costs.
ReplyDeleteNo. I can see wedges and thin ends.
ReplyDeleteUp to you - I wouldn't.
ReplyDeleteInteresting question. I have been pondering the possibility of adverts for my own blog (and I do not have the judicial office holder constraint to worry about). There seem to be as many cons as there are pros.
ReplyDeleteIn my case, although now of retirement age, I am still in practice in my profession. So advertising could in theory cut across the commercial interests of my own firm. It's a conundrum.
I use Blogger myself, so I am aware that there are no hosting costs. But I suppose when one gets to retirement age, one tends to look for ways of supplementing one's meagre pension.
Sadly there are those who would like to see this blog shut down.
ReplyDeleteWere you to accept advertising, I fear you would be handing them a stick to beat you with. Sooner or later, something would come up that they would use against you.
I'm with Nerd on this. Sound advice. Mog
ReplyDeletePlease no - easier on the eye without and I fear all the comebacks to which others have referred.
ReplyDeleteyou cant live on fresh air - I would
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't. You aren't doing this as a commercial enterprise (think why you started it) so:
ReplyDeletea) it lowers the tone
b) unless you spend a lot of time managing the ads you will get get inappropriate ones
c) Do you really want to spend a lot of time managing the ads?
d) it makes you vulnerable to criticism from MoJ etc (see points already made)
Personally I would prefer that you didn't. However, the costs are not coming out of MY pocket. Maybe you could put a paypal contributions button on the site. That way you might get a little bit of help with the costs.
ReplyDelete