Monday 13 July 2009

Exams, dissertation and jobs update

I have again neglected this poor blog as my course at Sheffield drew to a close: June passed in a flurry of deadlines for coursework, portfolios and exams.

There is one last deadline to meet: my dissertation is due at the end of August. I'm producing an 8,000 word feature on youth politics and government, so if anyone has useful contacts please let me know!

My apparently never-ending stream of job applications paid off and I've just started training as a production journalist. I'm very aware of just how lucky I am to have a job at the moment, so I won't bang on about it, but because I have had to move house I now have no internet access.

So the blog probably won't be updated very often until I get fully connected once more.

Just, you know, if anyone was wondering. :D

Friday 22 May 2009

Vanity publishing

A council story I covered for my course is the front page splash at the Gainsborough Standard!

Oh, the giddy heights! I am particularly chuffed because this is the first West Lindsey District Council story I've written: my previous council stories were generated by Gainsborough Town Council.

For non-Gainsborough residents, basically the district council wants to knock down the Guildhall, a prominent town building.

Pictured is Cllr Chris Underwood-Frost signalling his vehement intention to demolish the Guildhall.

Monday 11 May 2009

Old-fashioned American reporting: cigarettes and beer chasers


Wasting time reading film reviews (I want to take my brother to see Coraline in 3D, but only if its good) I stumbled across film critic Roger Ebert's blog via his quantum physics analysis of Watchmen.

I was particularly taken with a reminiscing entry about his early years as a reporter on the Chicago Sun-Times.

Ebert says journalism is 'the best job in the world', but what he describes is a world apart from modern newsrooms - almost mythical in its antiquity. Having seen so much change and remained on top of his game - I wonder how he feels about the current crisis American newspapers are struggling to deal with.

Sunday 10 May 2009

'Fat' Beyonce: puppy fat or sheer stupidity?

I don't usually care about celebrity news/gossip, but some things irritate me enough to make me comment.

Apparently, Beyonce Knowles used to be so fat it took four people to get her jeans closed.

Now I don't know about anyone else, but to me that screams BUY BIGGER JEANS.

Lets face it, Bee probably isn't talking about having her familly force her into size 22 trousers, is she? Most girls get puppy fat, especially around 10-11, so my immediate mental image is a normal kid trying to squeeze into size six jeans.

It's all overblown nonsense, I'm sure.

Thursday 7 May 2009

The Importance of Shorthand

I took my second shorthand exam today: and failed to pass the 100wpm test for the second time.

It's incredibly frustrating, because outside exam conditions I can write at 100wpm. More importantly, I can transcribe at 100wpm too. I've done it over and over.

But in the exam, both this time and last, I just couldn't perform under pressure.

I had adrenalin rushing through my bloodstream, my hands shook, and although I knew I could write faster, was willing my pen to move across the page and keep up, I could only scream inside my head as I lost track of what the reader was saying.

So I submitted another 90wpm transcription, muttering darkly to myself and feeling utterly useless.

Perhaps it's how men feel when the worst happens?

The problem is I'm not used to failure. I passed my driving test first time, never failed an exam in my life and before this year only had one job rejection. I'm usually confident in exams, secure in my ability to succeed - not necessarily with flying colours, but always to pass.

I don't need 100wpm to pass Sheffield's course, but I do to take the NCE when I get a job in regional press. Damnit, I need 100wpm to have a fighting chance at getting a job in the regional press. And I need to prove I can do it - my word is nothing to an editor compared to a certificate.

So I'll try again next week, of course. But I can't stop thinking about the waste of £11.24...

Tuesday 5 May 2009

The long wait for NCTJ journalism qualifications


When I started applying for masters degrees in late 2007, one of the key requirements was National Council for the Training of Journalists accreditation.

Only certain institutions can afford (and can be bothered to jump through strict hoops) to achieve NCTJ accreditation, but I was certain that without an industry-recognised course I might as well not bother postgraduate study.

What I didn't realise when I started at Sheffield was how slow the NCTJ is with its marking. I sat two Media Law exams in January 09, and still, four months on, do not know if I passed or failed.

The wait is ridiculous.

Not only do students not know whether revision is needed for a resit, we are now applying for jobs for the summer: we need to prove our legal knowledge to prospective employers - we need the certification!

To add to my frustration, it is only the law results which take so long. I took shorthand exams earlier in the year and knew the result within a week. Today, I got my grade for the NCTJ Newswriting exam I sat in March (I passed :D).

For journalists sitting their NCEs (the second stage of qualification, for journos actually working) the waiting time is seven long weeks. Listening to reporters agonise over the wait during work experience, I thought that was long enough - but I am now on my fourteenth week of waiting!

Sheffield's law tutor, Mark Hanna, assured us that results will be with us by Friday. The reason is, apparently, that there are not enough markers in the country to get the results back any faster. In that case, perhaps the NCTJ should hire some more staff?

Thursday 30 April 2009

Gainsborough mum 'cracks' at Severn Trent

My work experience story about a single mum trying to get compensation from Severn Trent after outside seage works caused cracks all over her living room appeared on the Gainsborough Standard website.

I was amazed at how evasive press officers can be: it took me the best part of three days to get such a bland quote!

Other stories include a GP text messaging service, a local charity car wash and parents worried about an absent lollipop lady.

Gotta love local journalism!

Thursday 23 April 2009

Standard stories and complaints about my research skills


A story I wrote about the Gainsborough District Scouts St Georges Day parade appeared online today.

Also, a one about fundraising runners presenting a cheque to a Reading MS society.

Over at Sam Ellis' blog, the chairman of Retford Model Flying Club attacked my research skills for a critical comment I made about the club's objection to Cottam Wind Farm proposals.

I particularly like the polite address to Sam: "It's so easy to say 'they could easily find another flying site' before you make comments like that you should do your research."

As opposed to the, erm, less polite address to myself: "Suggest you get your facts right, then again I suppose journalists are notorious for getting it WRONG!"

It's taught me that, as a journalist, even when voicing my own opinion and not attempting to report facts, I must still expect to be thought wrong. Useful to know!

Encourging jobless journalists

I subscribe to many mailing lists (too many really, they clutter up my inbox) but I was particularly taken with the subject line of today's journalism.co.uk emailshot.

Celebrate! Your new journalism job is here it boomed jovially as my inbox loaded.

Indulging its marketing lure, I clicked the email open. Unsurprisingly, my new journalism job was not there. I didn't have an offer from any of the many jobs I've applied for, nor was there news of a miraculous new training scheme.

The only actual jobs in the email were the financial reporter in Frankfurt gig they've been pushing all week and managing editor for Singapore magazine Flight.

J.co.uk often have come-hither subject lines: Your new journalism career starts here and Journalism job du jour regularly crop up.

But the order to Celebrate! made me wonder why recruitment agencies and middlemen like j.co.uk feel they need to generate enthusiasm for jobs.

Yes, the industry is struggling, but that doesn't mean that jobs aren't being filled - quite the opposite. Students on my course scan j.co.uk and holdthefrontpage daily for new vacancies, as well as trawling media guardian and countless agencies. Demand is most certainly not the issue.

Are they trying to lift our spirits? Or do they really think we are gullible enough to believe a personally tailored job is waiting just behind a weblink?

Tuesday 21 April 2009

Self-justification for Newsbeat's tabloid behaviour


At the BBC's The Editors blog, Newsbeat's Rod McKenzie defended his decision to constantly refer to Britain's Got Talent contestant Susan Boyle as a virgin.

He said:

"This is not some salacious reporting of sex lives or lack of them. It's a crucial part of her back story and one she herself has highlighted on many media interviews. She's never had a boyfriend and these details are unusual and interesting. Worth reporting, I would argue."

Cue vitriolic comments about Mr McKenzie's "fatuous self-serving nonsense", "peice[sic] of pathetic drivel" and "constant pandering to the salacious, vain and vacuous elements of our culture".

One poster, Dotconnect, said:

"Absolute rubbish Rod. You're not fooling anyone, other than perhaps yourself. She's not had a boyfriend, so rather than referring to her as a singleton, you hone in on the 'lack of sex' angle? What's wrong with just saying "who's never been kissed", which is how others are more respectfully describing her, and how she described herself? Please don't tell me time constraints mean you have to be more succinct than that.

Just be honest. This has everything to do with "virgin" being a more direct statement of her sexual history, and that being more "sensational" to a youthful, more sex-obsessed audience. Absolutely no different to kids brought up on Skins, insecure of themselves, and laughing at "the virgin" in the playground."

The commentators are genuinely angry, seemingly more so by Mr McKenzie's blogpost than the orginal sexual definition.

I have very little interest in the private lives of contestants on any reality TV show, but it's true to say that without an interesting background they get far less airtime. Newsbeat was capitalising on this, as they often do, to get the attention of Radio 1's 'young' audience. I wonder how old all the commentators are?

Work experience with award-winning journalists

For the last three weeks I've been work-exing at three different news organisations: INS News agency, the Reading Evening Post and Gainsborough Standard.

The Post's investigative reporter Anna Roberts has been shortlisted for Press Gazette's Regional Young Journalist of the Year. Over at the Standard, Chantal Spittles won the NCTJ's Best News Interview Paper Award for her NCEs. So depsite all the doom and gloom, some journos are still recognised for their good work!

A couple of my humble offerings (sans bylines) have appeared on the Evening Post's website: a call to landlords to quiz the council and notice of a photo exhibition. Not sure the subs properly read this story about a fundraising Midnight Walk for Sue Ryder Care though! It gives some idea of how far the Post trusts their work experience students with 'real' news...

Monday 20 April 2009

Print vs web journalism: ink, blogs and COPY!

Just found The Landline's Print media gets a lifeline video on YouTube.

As a up-and-coming, multimedia-trained and web-savvy journo, I can't relate to it at all.





...COPY!

Moonlighting as a professional: graduate media blog

I've got a new blog running over at TopEmployers about different graduate media roles.

New post contemplates the changing role of journalism in the face of UGC and citizen journalism.

Just thought I should spread the word. Go on, take a look. What harm could it do? Disagree with me and lets get a dialogue going! ;P

Thursday 16 April 2009

Lush Cosmetics cameo on Apprentice episode 4

In such dark times as these, we turn to the media for entertainment, and for me that means switching the box to BBC1 at 9pm on Wednesdays.

I'm an unashamed, diehard follower of the Apprentice, even though I claim to despise 'reality TV'. I won't try to defend my passion by claiming the Apprentice promotes business, or introduces a younger audience to entreprenurism, or even has a sensible premise. It's as fake and constructed as Big Brother and the X factor, but there is something alluring about the format.

Every time Surallan walks through the studio 'Boardroom'/toilet door, I'm gripped by what (scripted?) acidic putdown he will utter. I adore Margaret's expressive eyebrows and Nick's incredulous glances. I lap up the Apprentices' (Apprentici?) bullsy self-sales pitch with glee (Noorul's "I look posh and I sound posh" is the best so far, although Kimberly's "rough, tough, cream puff" line is a close second.)

In short, I laugh and snort and make derisive comments about a group of overconfident attention-seekers who only prove that their bullsy self-sales pitches are complete nonsense. I cringe at their mistakes (series 4 kosher chicken corker springs to mind) and feel vindictive glee when they inevitably turn on each other in the Boardroom.

Most tellingly of all, I'm usually on annap's live Guardian blog, reading snarky comments as the action unfolds.

But last night was even better. My other great passion, since my student days in Reading, is Lush. You know, the shops you can smell a mile away because they make their products from fruit and ten tonnes of essential oil?

Imagine my delight when, tasked with creating a new soap, the Apprentici arrive at Poole, Dorset. There was a glimpse of the telling green logo, the familiar font on essential oil bottles, and then to top it all the lovely Simon Constantine turned up. I was squeeing like a H/H shipper.

The cedarwood/sandalwood debacle was so bad Nick had to warn them before the boardroom showdown: against the rules but only humane in the circumstances. Team leader Paula and crony Yasmina mistook 3% for 3 grams, and thought £700-worth of sandalwood oil would only cost a fiver. Mistake that cost them the task. But what struck me was not the money - an abstract figure - but the difference in volume. Okay, they thought they were paying for 3 grams, fair enough. But shouldn't something have clicked when they poured a huge tub of oil into the mix? How much did they think 3 grams WAS?

Lush obviously cashed in to the exposure, sending out a special Apprentice-themed email and splashing it all over their website.

What I particularly like is the promotion of -you guessed it- Sandalwood oil and Honey Waffle soap - yes Ignite, you can make successful soap with a honeycomb centre!

Wednesday 15 April 2009

The spiralling dilemma of journalism students: class of 2009

It seemed too good to be true - a media organisation running two graduate schemes?
In the middle of a credit crunch? Seriously?

But it was not to last. The Press Association has officially cancelled its Multimedia Journalist Traineeship for 2009.

Now, according to the Guardian, applicants were sent a letter last week. As I'm on work experience at Reading I haven't seen mine, but I'm sure it's waiting for me on the doormat. I found out about the whole thing from Journalism.co.uk yesterday.

This leaves only the Times and PA's production journalist scheme left for those hoping to get onto the nationals.

As another door slams shut, the chances of finding meaningful employment in this sector I so dearly want to work in seem slim. Already this year, the Telegraph and Guardian have cancelled their schemes, and Trinity Mirror froze their trainee recruitment last year, although interestingly their website doesn't mention this. I guess Dianne Reilly had a lot of students to disappoint.

The Daily Mail, while apprently keeping its traineeship, was so swamped with applicants that most were rejected immediately to get the numbers down.

So what is left? Ben Spencer tries to keep upbeat and positive but basically for new starters, fresh out of university with few contacts and no money, the future looks grim.

I almost feel sorry for the Times HR department.

Thursday 9 April 2009

A jigsaw of information: news agencies, national and local press

I'm nearly at the end of my week with INS News Agency, and it's been something of an eye-opener.

INS is quite large and supplies copy for the national tabloids (amongst others), focusing on court reporting and quirky stories in the South East of England.

As with all media organisations there is a lot of office work, but I'm encouraged by the amount of time journalists spend away from their desks, whether in court or door knocking as the case may be.

What this week hammered home to me is the fierce inter-connectivity of media. The nationals take stories from the locals, the locals trace national stories back to their area, and the agencies float between the two, harvesting information from one and passing it to the other, and vice versa. While the pressure is still on to find original stories and sell them to the nationals, a large part of agency work seems to be getting information across as quickly as possible, regardless of where that information orignally came from.

Editorially the week's been a real lesson in audience understanding. The demands of writing for national dailies are completely at odds with local audiences, and my carefully written NCTJ-style copy has been shredded into INS style, which amuses me no end.

Sunday 5 April 2009

Holiday? What holiday?

Easter holiday has descended, and Sheffield University students are free of responsiblity for the next three weeks in recognition of this holy festival. Sheffield Journalism Postgrads, however, shall not be relaxing, as we are all on Work Experience.

I've just arrived in Reading to start one week with with INS News agency and a second at the Evening Post, which should be interesting given GMG's plans to cut jobs at the paper.

I have high hopes for the next fortnight, as I feel I know far more than last year when I workexed at the Reading Chronicle for a fortnight. This time I'll be a useful addition to the newsroom, rather than a nervous presence hovering in the background.

Monday 30 March 2009

The nature of blogs

I have been thinking about the evolution of blogs for some time now.

When I started my first blog on Livejournal way back in 2003, they were considered the preserve of the young, the bored and the geeky. The majority of blogs were highly personal, more like an online diary chronicling feelings, hopes and events in everyday life. Because of the aforementioned user groups, there was a lot of angst, memes and unintelligible waffle about computer developments.

My old blog dwindled away. There were many reasons (my third year dissertation was a definite factor) but the main one was that blogs had lost their appeal for me. The new kid on the block, Facebook, was more exciting, more accessible, more exclusive. Facebook used elements of blogging in its Notes application, but the interactivity was shortened by speeding the process up. Facebook was about groups, and photos, and automatic updates. Myspace became the new place for emo kids, Facebook distracted the bored (and sometimes got them fired) and geeks had already moved on from both anyway.

Now, Twitter is website de jour. No space for long, reflective posts there, oh no. It's short, sharp, shite, every minute, every day. Sometimes it seems if you aren't on Twitter you aren't worth listening to.

So what has happened to the humble weblog? Has it been discarded as outdated technology, like chatrooms and automatic messengers. It has grown up. Like all technology that once was new and now is old, it suddenly seems much easier to understand. The boundaries between news and opinion blur on blogs - bloggers are rarely objective, but are a valuable source of information. Bloggers tend to be serious professionals seeking genuine debate, and a blog's interactivity - its hyperlinks and comments - makes it an ideal place for discussion of any subject.

Now, politicians and businesses are blogging, with agendas naturally but also with genuine desire to get in touch with their constituents and consumers.

The media adopted blogs to save their credibility: trust us, say bloggers, we are here and we are answerable to your views. You can disagree with us and we can reply directly to you - isn't that better than a letter to the editor? Journalists no longer control the news - they are fighting to stay one step ahead of the man on the street. Blogs give them to the chance to get the next story first.

Of course, the real question is: where do blogs go from here?

Sunday 29 March 2009

Return to the Blogosphere

I am guilty of a terrible, heinous crime. In today's digital, global world - where information is currency and speed is power - I have not updated my blog for weeks. Not just a couple of days - weeks.

My defence? Well, real life has been pretty hectic. There are many demands on my time, my brain and my body, and it is difficult to find the time to sit and pontificate to the world. Not only am I working at weekends, studying during the week, applying for jobs and work experience and schemes, I am an ad hoc babysitter and waste three hours a day just driving to and from Sheffield.

No excuse! I hear you cry. We live in an age of communication, and the way to communicate is through web. How dare you neglect your duties to inform and provoke thought for your selfish personal obligations? You are a journalist - your time is not your own! Get with the programme!

And with my defence shredded by logic and practice, I can only hang my head in shame and accept due punishment: the instruction to update every other day with a lucid, thoughtful and well-researched topic for discussion. Guilty as charged.

Tuesday 10 March 2009

Instructions for a better you - student detoxing

An article I wrote for Sheffield's ForgePress Lifestyle has appeared online.

Take a look. Who knows, it could change your life!

Sunday 15 February 2009

The Alfie Patten story goes on.

My last blog contained my initial response to the Sun's 'boy-dad' story.

Over the weekend, the story has (predictably) escalated, with two older boys cashing in by claiming paternity and an alleged row between Alfie's divorced parents about who has neogtiated the highest payout for their story.

Columnists and politicans alike have spewed out lamentations about 'Broken Britain', suggestions for improvement, and the all-important blame, and everyone on the web has an opinion. Sam Ellis points out that Maisie and her parents need support but I repeat my opinion - Alfie has been used to sell his story, nothing more. He has been treated appallingly, his naivete exploited. How is that ethical?

The only reason this story has impact is because Alfie looks so young. If he looked his age, then there would be nothing exceptional to write about.

Friday 13 February 2009

The Sun's 'boy-dad' revelation


Browsing the newsstands this morning on the way to uni, my eye was caught by the Sun's glaring headline 'Dad at 13'. The 'exclusive' story is also on the Sun's website, and the basic gist is a 13 year old boy called Alfie Patten has become a father despite the fact he looks about ten and his voice hasn't broken.

The Sun has done its best to sound neutral and non-judgemental, reporting how the fifteen year old mother, Chantelle Steadman, conceived after having sex once with Alfie. They decided to keep the baby but didn't tell anyone until Chantelle's mother guessed.

The pictures of Alfie cradling a child a third his size are disarming, as is the family photo including the much-older-looking Chantelle next to her young boyfriend.

The online readers of the Sun were less broadminded, with 232 comments at 13.40 today, mostly expressing disbelief, anger, blaming the government and occasionally leaping to the couple's defence. It's a sensational story.

But is it an ethical one?

The Press Complaints Commission Code of Practice states that victims of sexual assault should not be identified, and as Chantelle was under sixteen she has technically been raped, regardless of her consent. Victims of sex offences are given automatic anonymity under the Sexual Offences Act, but this can be passed over with the victim's written consent.
It seems that there will be no legal case brought for this offence, so there is no legal restriction on identifying Alfie and Chantelle. But I wonder how much the Sun thought about the impact of their story?

Alfie's video interview on the Sun website shows a boy who has no idea what he has got himself into. Lucy Hagan's closed questions give him little opportunity to express his true feelings, but seem to deliberately enhance his naivety.

His story will bring in revenue for the paper, and I would be surprised if Alfie and Chantelle don't get some money of out this too, despite the PCC Code of Practice also stating that people under 18 should not be paid for their stories unless it is in their interest. But their faces are now known across the country - a cautionary tale for unruly children. The trials of fatherhood (for Alfie insists he will be a 'good dad' and 'care' for his daughter Maisie, the question 'how' has not satisfactorily been addressed) will seem nothing compared to the treatment he gets at school, in the street, anywhere he goes.

It will follow him forever - yes nationally he will be forgotten when the next big story breaks - but living in Eastbourne will be a nightmare. He has lost his privacy before he is old enough to understand what that means. Both families will have to cope with constant neighbourly scrutiny, remarks and gossip, exaggerated across Eastbourne, and Maisie will grow up with the whole community knowing the circumstances of her conception and birth.

It might be an 'exclusive' story; it isn't an ethical one. I don't think newspapers should be in the business of destroying lives before they have even started.

I wonder how long it will be before Alfie and Chantelle regret speaking to the press.

Thursday 12 February 2009

My story on last night's signal box fire


To my delight, the Gainsborough Standard have published my story on the signal box fire at Gainsborough Lea Road station last night on their website, validating the entire evening.

As they are appreciative of free journalism, I have even been credited with a byline.

Excellent :)

Also, if you look at the picture gallery, the final two photos are mine. This has served to underline the fact I need to buy a better camera.

Wednesday 11 February 2009

Signal box fire in Gainsborough

I was able to put my journalism skills to the test in a proper environment tonight, not just hypothetical situations in class. When driving home from uni I was overtaken by a fire engine and it turned out that the train station on my road had a signal box fire. Taking the opportunity, I parked up, grabbed my camera and notepad and headed onto the platform.

I learned some valuable lessons about practical journalism as a result.

One is that no matter how many people are involved in an incident like this, no one can talk to you. I was told about eight times that someone (a sergeant, a spokesman, an incident officer) would be along soon, but 90 minutes later I was still waiting.

Another is that (because of point one) you can learn more by ringing people from an office than actually being on the scene.

Thirdly, tidy shorthand is absolutely vital. This was hammered home during the twenty minutes it took me to decipher my hasty scrawl once I had managed to get someone to tell me what was happening.

Fingers crossed I got enough information to warrant the Gainsborough Standard publishing my copy on their website. If not, well, I shall chalk the hour and a half up as frostbitten experience.

I'll be a seasoned hack in no time.

Vox pop on banker's bonuses

As part of Convergence Week at Uni, we print journalists are learning some multimedia skills. One of these was how to use a Marantz and Adobe Audible to make sound bites.

So I hit the streets and the student union to discover public opinion about huge bonuses for bank bosses, despite the government bail-out.

I shall tidy this up as soon as I figure out how blogger lets us access audio files directly, rather than linking to an external site.

Gainsborough residents in a Wii workout

A new fitness class using Nintendo Wiis has started in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire. Conceived by Age Concern, co-ordinator Blaise Thomas hopes to enocourage more elderly gentlemen to excercise and socialise together. The full story is available on the Gainsborough Standard's website.

Tuesday 10 February 2009

Links to my online work

For my own reference as much as anything, this is an updated list of stories published online.

http://www.gainsboroughstandard.co.uk/news/Hundreds-turnout-for-Gainsborough-light.4725960.jp
http://www.gainsboroughstandard.co.uk/news/Gainsborough-train-station-signal-box.4971575.jp
http://www.gainsboroughstandard.co.uk/news/St-Georges-Day-fun-for.5193196.jp
http://www.gainsboroughstandard.co.uk/Register.aspx?ReturnURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gainsboroughstandard.co.uk%2Fnews%2FChance-to-get-39Fit-as.4851868.jp
http://www.gainsboroughstandard.co.uk/news/Chance-to-get-39Fit-as.4851868.jp
http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/s/2049409_runners_net_3720_for_ms_charity
http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/s/2049409_runners_net_3720_for_ms_charity
http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/s/2049316_landlords_given_tips_on_how_to_be_green
http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/s/2049320_pub_shows_lighter_side_of_oxford_life
http://www.gainsboroughstandard.co.uk/news/Mum-angry-at-damage.5216575.jp
http://www.gainsboroughstandard.co.uk/news/Parents39-fears-as-school-lollipop.5216525.jp
http://www.gainsboroughstandard.co.uk/news/GAPA-to-be-boosted-by.5216903.jp
http://www.gainsboroughstandard.co.uk/news/Doctors-text-patients-a-39don39t.5216976.jp
PA
http://www.mediapoint.press.net/business/article.jsp?id=5876957
http://www.mediapoint.press.net/business/article.jsp?id=5877575
http://www.mediapoint.press.net/business/article.jsp?id=5877418
http://www.mediapoint.press.net/business/article.jsp?id=5880426
http://www.mediapoint.press.net/business/article.jsp?id=5881176
http://www.mediapoint.press.net/business/article.jsp?id=5881332
http://www.mediapoint.press.net/business/article.jsp?id=5884527
http://www.pa-mediapoint.press.net/article.jsp?id=5887093
http://www.pa-mediapoint.press.net/article.jsp?id=5887229
PA 2
http://www.communitynewswire.press.net/article.jsp?id=6031709
http://www.communitynewswire.press.net/article.jsp?id=6031710
http://www.communitynewswire.press.net/article.jsp?id=6032156
http://www.communitynewswire.press.net/article.jsp?id=6032315
http://www.communitynewswire.press.net/article.jsp?id=6034414
http://www.communitynewswire.press.net/article.jsp?id=6034487
http://www.communitynewswire.press.net/article.jsp?id=6035125
http://www.communitynewswire.press.net/article.jsp?id=6037359
http://www.communitynewswire.press.net/article.jsp?id=6037403
http://www.communitynewswire.press.net/article.jsp?id=6037798
http://www.communitynewswire.press.net/article.jsp?id=6038176
http://www.communitynewswire.press.net/article.jsp?id=6038457
http://www.communitynewswire.press.net/article.jsp?id=6039970
http://www.communitynewswire.press.net/article.jsp?id=6046380
http://www.communitynewswire.press.net/article.jsp?id=6046160
http://www.communitynewswire.press.net/article.jsp?id=6046936
http://www.communitynewswire.press.net/article.jsp?id=6047068
http://www.communitynewswire.press.net/article.jsp?id=6048536
http://www.communitynewswire.press.net/article.jsp?id=6049025
http://www.communitynewswire.press.net/article.jsp?id=6049150
http://www.communitynewswire.press.net/article.jsp?id=6049426
http://www.communitynewswire.press.net/article.jsp?id=6049771
http://www.communitynewswire.press.net/article.jsp?id=6049891
http://www.acceleratedfreefall.com/blog/adam-yuill-inspires-us-all-to-live-our-lives-to-the-full.html
http://www.communitynewswire.press.net/article.jsp?id=6052356
http://www.communitynewswire.press.net/article.jsp?id=6052654
http://www.communitynewswire.press.net/article.jsp?id=6052860
http://www.communitynewswire.press.net/article.jsp?id=6052887
http://www.communitynewswire.press.net/article.jsp?id=6054748
http://www.communitynewswire.press.net/article.jsp?id=6055148
http://www.communitynewswire.press.net/article.jsp?id=6055235
http://www.communitynewswire.press.net/article.jsp?id=6055305

It's not just newspapers with declining audiences

On my postgraduate journalism course we are constantly reminded that traditional news media is in trouble - newspaper circulation figures are falling year on year, the advertisers are going elsewhere and experienced journalists are being laid off by the dozen.

Yet despite the uncertainty of print journalism as a career, I was particularly saddened to read about the 40% decline in viewing figures for BBC Newsround.

Newsround was one of my biggest motivations for becoming a journalist. I watched diligently every evening before Neighbours, and the Press Pack pass was an honoured possession, on a par with a Blue Peter badge (which I never owned).

Not only was it inspirational to me as a youngster, seeing the old presenters work in 'proper, grown-up' news was encouraging as I matured, as it proved that Newsround was 'proper' journalism, not just kids stuff. Seeing Lizo on the six o'clock news was a life-affirming moment, as before I had previously associated him as little more than a Harry Potter enthusiast.

Moving Newsround to CBeebies was no doubt seen as ideal: more coverage, more broadcasts and a captive audience. Yet viewing figures have fallen from 325,000 to 226,000 in four years.

This must be turned around. Despite the impending digital switchover, many households have not yet got a Freeview box or Freeview enabled TV. Living in Lincolnshire, where enforced switchover is not due until 2011, it could be two more years before CBeebies is the only option for BBC childrens programmes.

There must be reasons for the decline, whether they be increased internet knowhow amongst tweens, accesiblity problems for CBeebies or simple lack of interest in the format. Whatever they are, I hope the BBC Trust will do something positive to reverse the trend once the executive report back to them in March.

It would be a great shame for Newsround to vanish into obscurity.

No 'credit-crunch' Christmas for Gainsborough residents

As I am rusty with the fine art of blogging, having last blogged on LiveJournal when I was an angst-ridden teenager, I'm going to ease myself back into the online community gently.

To start with, here is an article I wrote back in December 2008 about how soaring energy bills and financial difficulty was affecting the traditon of outside Christmas decorations in my hometown Gainsborough.

No 'credit-crunch' Christmas for Gainsborough residents

Gainsborough homeowners are lighting up their houses in defiance of the ‘credit crunch’ this Christmas.

Residents seem determined to keep their Christmas cheer despite soaring energy bills and falling job security. Outside lights might be an unnecessary expense when money is tight, but houses all over town are decorated with electric angels, colourful festive messages and neon Santa figures waving at passersby.

Keith and Sharon Limb, both 49, live on Heapham Road South and have lit their house up for the last seven years. They budget an extra ten pounds per week for electricity during December, but say it is worth the money.

Mr Limb said: “We don’t believe in Bonfire Night because it wastes a lot of money for a few moments excitement. But doing the house brings a smile to kids faces.”

It took three days to decorate the house and their son Darren, 26, has made special brackets to hold the bigger decorations.

Mrs Limb said: “It’s amazing how many people come past and say how nice the lights look.”

Tony Chapman, 67, lives on Gainsborough Road in Lea and has decked out his entire house since he bought three sets of 65ft computerised lights on holiday in Florida in 1985. His vast collection includes three moving LED reindeer, a train, a dove, snowmen and Santa figures and nearly a mile of outdoor light strings.

He said higher energy bills this year did not change his annual transformation because he never thinks about the cost. “Life is too short to worry about bills. It’s not worth thinking about - I just pay it.”

Mr Chapman guessed the lights had cost over £1000 to gather, but he said he won’t buy any more as he spends money repairing his current decorations. Replacing blown bulbs on the stars adorning the chimney takes hours and he spends “two to three hours a day for about a week” assembling the decorations. The arrangement is meticulously designed, with symmetrical trees in the front windows and a customised spiral of lights made from drilling 144 holes into a Perspex sheet.

His reason for so much time, effort and expense is simple: “Sometimes I look out the window and see about 10 people and kids just standing on the drive looking at the lights. Someone once tried to give me money for charity but I do it for pleasure, not money.”

Money worries have not stopped residents with smaller budgets switching on either.

Kerry Shattell, 28, from Haldane Street, put lights around her windows. She said: “I’d like to have more but I can’t afford it.”

June Gordon, 73, puts an illuminated Father Christmas in the window and lights in the garden of her house on Fielding Way. She said: “We aren’t going to stop doing it because of bills; I don’t think they cost that much more. We do it for the grandchildren, they love it.”

Rosemarie Smith, who was visiting Gainsborough from Dorrington, said: “We put lights up on the cherry tree and the bushes in the front garden. I don’t think the higher bills have stopped many people – the houses are covered. In the end it’s Christmas and that’s what we do.”

Some people choose to keep their old outside decorations rather than buy new ones. Shawn Hooton, from Lea Road, works for a tool hire company hit by the construction slow-down. Although the energy bills for his outside decorations are acceptable, Mr Hooton said: “Every year we try to buy something new, but not this year because we have less money to spend on Christmas.”

However, Gainsborough retailers are quietly positive about Christmas decoration sales.

Paul Harrison, Store Manager of Focus on Lea Road, said: “Christmas time is a bit of relief from the humdrum of everyday life and people are happy to spend a bit more on it.”

Focus ran early promotions on decorations and trees to sell stock quickly. Mr Harrison said: “If the price is right people will always buy decorations, and they have more options as supermarkets now sell them.”

Smaller businesses have adapted differently. Bryon Foster, owner of Retford and Gainsborough Garden Centre, noticed more customers phoning ahead to check prices before buying.

He said: “A lot of people talk about doom and gloom but you have to speculate and get the stock in. You don’t know if people are going to leave it to the last minute and one day makes a lot of difference.”