BBC should stick to what it does poorly

So the BBC Trust has spoken, not finally as yet, on the corporation’s £68m proposals to increase local news coverage.
The Trust isn’t impressed with the proposals, which have caused a good deal of consternation amongst regional newspapers.
But whereas the majority of the criticism directed at the plan from regional publishers focused on the commercial impact, [...]

Core skills still needed in the brave new world

Trainee journalists lack core skills such as news gathering and writing when entering the workplace.
That is the headline grabbing conclusion of a new survey, with more than 70% of employers who took part in the research claiming increased focus on multimedia lessons as part of the curriculum means the basics are not being covered.
I really [...]

This is local news for local people

I admit I’m struggling with the debate surrounding the BBC’s £68m plans to dramatically increase its online coverage of local news.
The proposal has, inevitably, met with criticism from regional newspaper groups who are unimpressed that the Beeb would use licence payers money to fund the significant expansion to a network of 65 local sites.
Ofcom has [...]

Networking about networking about setting up a network

It has been an interesting week or so since I blogged about the possible creation of a new network of freelancing media types.
The idea was initially planted following the announcement of the radical shake-up at TrinityMirror’s titles in the Midlands and the prospect of 60+ experienced, skilled journalists – writers, subs, photographers and graphic artists [...]

Hunting, gathering and Birmingham’s journalistic talent

Over the last few weeks I’ve been focusing on various issues relating to journalism and the way I hunt and gather news these days.
It started with a new client asking me to help generate a fortnightly, subscription e-newsletter for the members of his organisation, developed with the TrinityMirror shake-up of its regional titles in the [...]

Its not all work, work, work, you know

I’m not entirely sure the dust has actually settled on this week’s announcement of a radical shake-up of TrinityMirror’s newspaper publishing operation in the Midlands.
Such is the scale of the changes being proposed, the fall-out will be swirling around for some time to come.
For one thing there’s the 90-day consultation process involving all 300-odd editorial staff, [...]

The last Post or trumpeting a brave new world?

There was talk of a radical relaunch of The Birmingham Post when I joined in 2001 and just about every year until I left in 2006.
Now the bold changes are actually about to happen [Edit - my second take on the plans is here].
And they are certainly radical, impacting across all TrinityMirror’s titles in the Midlands.
The [...]

Writers’ block, the business of sport and telling stories

I didn’t really miss too much on my 10-day break – apart from war in the Caucuses, the fastest jogger on Earth and the tale of two Birminghams.
So a short catch up.
Fellow WMBN member DJ Francis gives his views on the future of journalism, suggesting the confusion and turmoil the industry is finding itself wrapped [...]

Take your marks for Olympic overkill

The 2008 Olympic Games all set to start with the usual mixture of daft opening ceremonies and navel-gazing about British hopes, particularly in athletics, to look forward to again.
However, the Beijing Games are likely to throw up a genuinely interesting first.
Even in such a short space of time since the last Olympics were held in [...]

An Olympic boycott, bedsheets, journalism and toppled trucks

It has been a reading time over the last couple of days – plus I played hooky with Rachel yesterday to go to the cinema and took my bike for a service this morning, so I’m catching up.
But a few things around and about that have caught my eye.
A good article by Steven Wells on [...]