If you spotted a sudden flood of turquoise newspaper covers this month, don’t panic – it’s not an optician’s test, and you haven’t accidentally joined a cult. Publishers across the country have united behind the Make It Fair campaign, a rather polite way of saying: “Listen, AI, if you’re going to feast on our work, at least buy us dinner first.” The issue isn’t the technology itself – it’s making sure that the writers, artists and creatives whose work feeds AI models are credited, valued and (radical thought) actually paid.
Because AI is just a tool. Ignoring it now would be like refusing to learn about the internet in the 90s – pointless, short-sighted and vaguely reminiscent of that one uncle who still insists email is ‘newfangled’ (it’s been THIRTY YEARS Uncle Ron). But like any tool, it needs to be used responsibly. The real debate isn’t about what AI can do (which, let’s face it, is increasingly impressive), but what it should do – and how we, as the actual humans, set the limits.
Which brings me to this month’s issue – proudly powered by real, breathing people. The stunning photos of a healing Eddy Scott in Ukraine? Sent over by Fermín Torrano after we chatted on Instagram. Karen at Folde rescued me with a picture too. And Dave, the Museum of East Dorset volunteer who, with heroic last-minute efficiency, dug through the archives to find the exact image? I still owe him biscuits. Desperate Kate – still without a landline – has been at the mercy of an ever-rotating cast of BT customer support staff, all valiantly attempting to reconnect her to civilisation. Rachael’s interviews with air ambulance patients, Carole Jones finding time in launch week for a private tour of the new Vale Family Hub … this issue exists because people took the time to share, help and connect. Humans are what make us us.
But that doesn’t mean I don’t have a pet name for my ChatGPT bot (Brian). Or that it isn’t a lifesaver when the sub eds are on holiday and I can’t remember the rules on capitalising plant names.
Laura x
On when the last bank leaves town
(The BV, Feb 25)
I am happy with my iPad – obviosuly, or else I would not read The BV! – but I do not, and will not, do my banking on an app. I like to speak to a real person when dealing with my money, not tap away on a screen and hope for the best.
But with the last bank in town gone, what choice do I have? Not everyone wants or trusts online banking, and cash is still king in many parts of rural Dorset. Closing branches might be convenient for the banks, but it’s a disaster for those of us who rely on them.
Arthur Jennings, Sherborne
The closure of our last local bank is more than an inconvenience; it’s a severance of community ties. Not everyone is comfortable or capable with online banking, particularly the elderly. We must find solutions that include everyone, ensuring no one is left behind in this digital shift.
Margaret Thomspon, by email
As a small business owner, the loss of our local bank branch is a significant blow. Daily cash deposits and face-to-face consultations were vital. While digital banking is useful, it cannot replace the personal service that understood our community’s unique needs.
James Carter, address supplied
Elderly drivers
I recently had the unnerving experience of driving behind my 80-year-old mother at dusk. What should have been a short journey quickly became a white-knuckle ride – braking erratically at every oncoming car, struggling to reverse in a single-track lane, alternating between too fast and too slow, and entirely unaware of an approaching junction. It was painfully clear: she shouldn’t be driving in the dark.
But here’s the problem – how do we broach that conversation? In rural Dorset where there’s little to no public transport, cars are lifelines for the elderly. Taking away the keys is taking away their independence. But safety has to be paramount – for them and for every other road user.
Watching her falter on the road, I knew the conversation couldn’t be avoided, and for now we have a halfway house where she will only drive in daylight. We need more awareness, support and alternatives for older drivers in rural areas.
And perhaps a driving test for over 75s? We wouldn’t let a 16 year old drive if they weren’t competent at reversing, after all.
Joanna Spencer, Sherborne
On the Grumbler’s greenwashing land grabs
(The BV, Feb 25)
As a young farmer, I found the Dorset Insider’s column on greenwashing land grabs refreshingly honest. Too often, developers use buzzwords like ‘rewilding’ and ‘sustainability’ to justify carving up farmland for projects that do little for the environment – or the rural communities they displace.
True sustainability means protecting working farms, supporting local food production, and ensuring that so-called ‘green’ initiatives don’t just serve as a front for profit-driven land grabs. If we lose productive land under the guise of environmentalism, who benefits? Certainly not farmers, wildlife, or future generations.
Thank you for calling it out. More people need to.
HC, Sturminster Newton
That photo competition
I was excited to see the North Dorset photography competition—until I read the terms. Do entrants realise they’re handing over the rights to their images for free, in perpetuity, for Dorset Council to use however it sees fit?
Professional photographers get paid for this kind of work, yet the Council has found a clever way to build a marketing library at no cost. It’s particularly galling coming from a county that claims to support the arts. Photography is a skill, an art form, and – crucially – a profession. By taking advantage of enthusiastic amateurs, the Council undermines those trying to make a living from their craft.
If North Dorset’s beauty is worth promoting, it’s worth paying for. Instead of exploiting local talent, Dorset Council should invest in it.
Tom Harding, Shaftesbury
Beware the dead cat on the table
My very-politically-aware granddaughter recently gasped in horror when I declaimed something as a ‘dead cat’. It transpired she’d never heard of the dead cat strategy: given the times we live in, I think more people should.
The idea is simple: when you’re an authority in trouble, throw a metaphorical ‘dead cat’ on the table – something so outrageous that everyone talks about it instead. While they’re gasping at the spectacle, the real issue quietly slips by unnoticed.
Next time a politician says something scandalous or a headline seems designed to provoke, don’t just react – look around. What else has been announced? What policies, cuts or controversies are being buried beneath the noise?
It’s an old trick, but one that works best when people don’t see it coming. So let’s make sure we do.
Geoffrey Markham, Beaminster
On Four horses
Jess Rimmer’s Four Horses, Eight Tests had me laughing into my coffee. Anyone who’s ever sat on a horse (or fallen off one) knows the chaos she so brilliantly captured. The mix of determination, disaster and sheer equestrian lunacy was spot on. More of this, please – Dorset’s riders need the laughs!
Emily H, Nr Stur
On George H and the beavers
I read with interest George Hosford’s recent column on flood management strategies, particularly his cautious stance on beaver reintroduction. While I appreciate his concerns about potential tree damage and unpredictable flooding, it’s important to note that beavers have been shown to create natural infrastructures that can mitigate flood risks by slowing water flow and enhancing wetland ecosystems. With appropriate management and strategic planning, the benefits of beaver activity can be harnessed to complement traditional flood defences.
Given the increasing frequency of extreme weather events, integrating some nature-based solutions like beaver reintroduction could bolster our resilience against flooding.
Alexandra Green, Dorchester
On Mike H
I read last month’s letters page with equal parts joy and frustration. What business does your correspondent Mike H have in teasing us so? A lifetime of music, world-class orchestras, and a trip to La Scala – then he leaves us hanging!
Please, I implore you, go back to Mr H and request – most strongly – that he tells us more. Where else has he played? What were the highlights? Which performances sent shivers down his spine? And, most importantly, what did he love to play?
A Dorset gem like this must not be left to retire quietly into nature-watching without sharing more of his remarkable story.
Caroline Foster, by email
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