Jan Moir
Encyclopedia
Jan Moir is a British journalist
, columnist and restaurant reviewer.
She currently writes for the Daily Mail
, having previously worked for The Daily Telegraph
and The Guardian
newspapers. Until late 2008, she also ran "Are You Ready To Order?", a blog
of restaurant reviews.In 2005, she won the Society of Women Writers' "Lynda Lee-Potter
award" for the outstanding woman journalist of the year.
In October 2009, Moir wrote in an article in the Daily Mail criticising aspects of the death of Boyzone
singer Stephen Gately
in the context of same-sex civil partnerships. The article provoked much criticism, and after receiving a record number of complaints, the Press Complaints Commission
announced that it would investigate. A campaign that emerged through social media
led to advertisers withdrawing from association with Moir's column, and the newspaper removing all advertisements from the online version of the article. Moir wrote an article in the newspaper a week later entitled "The truth about my views on the tragic death of Stephen Gately".
On 6 November 2009, Moir was awarded the Stonewall Bigot of the Year Award
jointly with Father John Owen..
On 17 February 2010, the Press Complaints Commission confirmed that although it was "uncomfortable with the tenor of the columnist's remarks", it would not uphold the complaints made. The Crown Prosecution Service
also concluded that there was insufficient evidence that the article had breached the law. In an interview on the BBC Today programme, PCC chairwoman Baroness Buscombe said the commission found the article "in many areas extremely distasteful" but that the Daily Mail had escaped censure because it "just failed to cross the line".
Stewart Lee
, whose live show included a direct reference to Jan Moir's behaviour in relation to the relatives of Stephen Gately
, later accused her of writing intentionally misleading or ignorant attacks on him and other comedians, in particular referring to an article she wrote claiming Lee and other comedians "bully" Michael McIntyre. The article was taken apart by Lee and Moir was revealed to have made false claims and taken quotes greatly out of context in order to sensationalize the story.
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, columnist and restaurant reviewer.
She currently writes for the Daily Mail
Daily Mail
The Daily Mail is a British daily middle-market tabloid newspaper owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust. First published in 1896 by Lord Northcliffe, it is the United Kingdom's second biggest-selling daily newspaper after The Sun. Its sister paper The Mail on Sunday was launched in 1982...
, having previously worked for The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
and The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
newspapers. Until late 2008, she also ran "Are You Ready To Order?", a blog
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
of restaurant reviews.In 2005, she won the Society of Women Writers' "Lynda Lee-Potter
Lynda Lee-Potter
Lynda Lee-Potter OBE was a columnist for the British newspaper the Daily Mail.-Early years:...
award" for the outstanding woman journalist of the year.
In October 2009, Moir wrote in an article in the Daily Mail criticising aspects of the death of Boyzone
Boyzone
Boyzone are an Irish boy band comprising Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham, Ronan Keating,Shane Lynch, and formerly Stephen Gately. Boyzone have 19 singles in the top 40 UK charts and 21 singles in the Ire charts. The group currently have 6 UK number one singles and 9 number one singles in Ireland with 12...
singer Stephen Gately
Stephen Gately
Stephen Patrick David Gately was an Irish pop singer–songwriter, actor, dancer, musician and author, who, with Ronan Keating, was one of two lead singers of the pop group Boyzone. All of Boyzone's studio albums hit number one in the United Kingdom, their third being their most successful...
in the context of same-sex civil partnerships. The article provoked much criticism, and after receiving a record number of complaints, the Press Complaints Commission
Press Complaints Commission
The Press Complaints Commission is a voluntary regulatory body for British printed newspapers and magazines, consisting of representatives of the major publishers. The PCC is funded by the annual levy it charges newspapers and magazines...
announced that it would investigate. A campaign that emerged through social media
Social media
The term Social Media refers to the use of web-based and mobile technologies to turn communication into an interactive dialogue. Andreas Kaplan and Michael Haenlein define social media as "a group of Internet-based applications that build on the ideological and technological foundations of Web 2.0,...
led to advertisers withdrawing from association with Moir's column, and the newspaper removing all advertisements from the online version of the article. Moir wrote an article in the newspaper a week later entitled "The truth about my views on the tragic death of Stephen Gately".
On 6 November 2009, Moir was awarded the Stonewall Bigot of the Year Award
Stonewall Awards
The Stonewall Awards is an annual event to celebrate people who have had a positive impact on the lives of British LGBT people. The event was first held in 2006 at the Royal Academy of Arts and from 2007 were held at the Victoria and Albert Museum.-2006:...
jointly with Father John Owen..
On 17 February 2010, the Press Complaints Commission confirmed that although it was "uncomfortable with the tenor of the columnist's remarks", it would not uphold the complaints made. The Crown Prosecution Service
Crown Prosecution Service
The Crown Prosecution Service, or CPS, is a non-ministerial department of the Government of the United Kingdom responsible for public prosecutions of people charged with criminal offences in England and Wales. Its role is similar to that of the longer-established Crown Office in Scotland, and the...
also concluded that there was insufficient evidence that the article had breached the law. In an interview on the BBC Today programme, PCC chairwoman Baroness Buscombe said the commission found the article "in many areas extremely distasteful" but that the Daily Mail had escaped censure because it "just failed to cross the line".
Stewart Lee
Stewart Lee
Stewart Lee is an English stand-up comedian, writer and director known for being one half of the 1990s comedy duo Lee and Herring, and for co-writing and directing the critically acclaimed and controversial stage show Jerry Springer - The Opera...
, whose live show included a direct reference to Jan Moir's behaviour in relation to the relatives of Stephen Gately
Stephen Gately
Stephen Patrick David Gately was an Irish pop singer–songwriter, actor, dancer, musician and author, who, with Ronan Keating, was one of two lead singers of the pop group Boyzone. All of Boyzone's studio albums hit number one in the United Kingdom, their third being their most successful...
, later accused her of writing intentionally misleading or ignorant attacks on him and other comedians, in particular referring to an article she wrote claiming Lee and other comedians "bully" Michael McIntyre. The article was taken apart by Lee and Moir was revealed to have made false claims and taken quotes greatly out of context in order to sensationalize the story.