Newspapers and third party websites

Some interesting thoughts from a regional journalist regarding the use of third party websites to increase the reach and popularity of multimedia content.
Christian Dunn, digital editor of The Evening Leader, has urged colleagues on other titles to embrace local websites rather than view them as competitors.
He highlights his own newspaper’s success in tapping into the potential [...]

I don’t want a VW Polo, but…

I hate myself for getting suckered in by a TV advert.
I can’t help it. The VW Polo ad featuring the singing dog is a classic.

It is the choice of song that helps make the advert work. But who is it?
The original Spencer Davies Group video is better than any advert.

My Olympic dream is crumbling

I am a dedicated and experienced armchair athlete.
So, like many others of a similar persuasion, an Olympic year is always a time of great excitement, anticipation and joy.
It all started with the Montreal Games and I’ve been hooked - or slouched on a sofa - ever since whenever the Olympic flame gets lit again.
The Sydney [...]

OMG, like is this the future for newspapers?

Now here’s a sobering thought for all those newspaper editors currently trying to embrace technology and attract the next generation of readers.
A survey of reading habits of the 11-14 year-old age group shows the most popular magazine, book or blog is Heat.
Commissioned as part of the National Year of Reading, second most popular was Bliss [...]

The art of stating the bleedin’ obvious

The fact we needed a high-profile review to tell the Government that the video games rating system needs an overhaul to make it easier for parents to understand and they also need greater guidance to help them supervise their children’s time online sums up the state we’ve got ourselves in.
It should have been patently clear that there [...]

The Apprentice - a reality check

Those who can, do.
Those who can’t, go on The Apprentice to try and get in through the back door.
And if they don’t succeed, at least they get their 15 seconds of reality TV fame to catapult themselves onto the motivational speaker circuit or maybe even another reality-style programme on a little-watched digital channel.
Sir Alan Sugar [...]

Misspeaking unknown unknowns

It ain’t what you say, it is the way that you say it.
At least, it is if you are a politician.
Hillary Clinton has found herself mired in controversy (again!), this time over what she did or didn’t say regarding dodging snipers’ bullets during a visit to Bosnia in 1996.
Her claims were seized upon by political [...]

Blaenavon is on top of the world

How’s this for the ultimate world tour?
Start off in France and the splendour of the Palace of Versailles, before jostling with the 20 million other visitors attracted to the canals of Venice each year. Head down to Greece and spend some time at the Acropolis on the hillside above Athens.
Then head east and stare in [...]

Fired by The Apprentice already

It hasn’t even started and I’m already sucked in to the latest series of The Apprentice.
I couldn’t help myself and grabbed a sneak preview of the latest gaggle of fawning wannabes who want to sit at Sir Alan Sugar’s right hand for a year.
I wasn’t disappointed by what I found, which is why I’m hooked.
There [...]

Nanny state or common sense?

Junk food and fizzy drinks will be banned from hospital vending machines following a landmark decision by the Welsh Assembly Government.
The move will also see other food providers in Welsh hospitals, such as the Women’s Royal Voluntary Service, encouraged to stock healthier options.
Almost 20% of 13-year-old children in Wales are overweight or obese – the [...]