Category Archives: Journalism

Oct 23 2010
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Journalism

This Gun’s for Hire – the joys and pitfalls of freelancing

Uploaded by Nadaone2.

It’s a fortnight since I learned that my future in journalism would not involve a monthly pay cheque and the coziness of a contract.

So far, it’s not been as scary as I thought. In my first week I had two shifts. In the second week that doubled and regrettably I have had to turn down shifts because of clashes.

This is certainly a good start and the fact I will earn at least enough to replace my staff earnings relieves some of my initial anxiety about freelancing. However, the challenge will be to match this next month – October’s spending review has been good for me in the sense that it has provided me with more work (probably only in the short term though).

In the past few weeks I have learned a lot about freelancing and a few things about myself: Continue reading →

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Oct 12 2010
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Journalism

A sudden turn in the road

Originally uploaded by Aztec West.

A few weeks ago I wrote a guest post for Wannabe Hacks about my work on New Start magazine and my background in the trade press.

Well, little did I know it at the time, but my stint at New Start (and possibly in the trade sector) was coming to an end. Over the weekend, I learned that the company that publishes New Start was winding up with the October issue the last one. As a result, along with a handful of other staff members, I am out of a job.

The reason for New Start’s demise as a print title and its future as an online service for Manchester-based think tank Cles is set out in this article. Essentially, it is linked to the spending cuts which have had an impact on some of the company’s more lucrative activities. Continue reading →

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Aug 27 2010
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Journalism

Rewriting history?

Today I tried to dig out a few press releases from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills website dating back to Peter Mandelson’s tenure as business secretary.

I was a little surprised to find that any press releases dating from before the last election had been archived.

Department for Business Innovation and Skills press release section

Historical revisionism?

When I visited the archive, I found that I could not longer view the press releases I wanted to read. When I clicked through all I found was a blank page with the following text:

Browse Archive http://nds.coi.gov.uk/content/Detail.aspx?ReleaseID=412943&NewsAreaID=2 not found Continue reading →

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Aug 25 2010
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Journalism

Best of both worlds

UCB, Berkeley, school of journalism

Originally uploaded by bobcrazybear.

Last week’s A-level results signalled the start of the annual clamour for university places. But the shortage of university places this year and the growing burden of debt on students has led some to question whether it is worth going to university at all.

One area that has been singled out for particular criticism is vocational courses, which includes journalism. As I said in my last post, I did not do a journalism post-graduate qualification. I did not do a journalism degree either.

While I am pleased I opted for a more academic BA programme (Modern History and Politics), I can see three advantages of a journalism degree: Continue reading →

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Aug 23 2010
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Journalism

What? My Name Is – Who? My Name Is … (via Wannabe Hacks)

When I entered the profession at 21, I was fortunate to find a job on a specialist magazine fairly soon after leaving University. But I have my doubts about whether it would be as easy now. That’s not to say it’s impossible, but as we all know, there are fewer graduate jobs in traditional journalism these days.

One thing that hasn’t changed is that there are many different paths into journalism. I’ve recently been advising career changers to do a vocational journalism course. But seeing how start-ups and hyperlocals have acted as a launchpad for their founders’ careers, I started wondering whether a journalism course is necessary for a motivated graduate.

I was therefore interested to read about four recent graduates who are going to test drive some of these diverse career paths. Their blog Wannabe Hacks will document their attempts to break into the media industry. Continue reading →

Jul 13 2010
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Journalism

Raising young lions

World Cup: Germany 4, England 1

Originally uploaded by krmcguire.

As the vuvuzelas are put away and the England flags returned to the loft for another year, the serious business starts for English football fans – asking the question ‘what went wrong?’.

Of course we know part of it: England were outplayed by Germany, with Rooney and Co upstaged by Özil, Mueller and an eight legged fella called Paul. And I’m not even going to mention Uruguay’s most myopic referee (ooops just did!).

However, the seeds of defeat were sown well before a ball was kicked in South Africa – some would say years before. And it will certainly be a challenge for Sir Trevor Brooking and the blazers at the FA to put right the mistakes that were made over such a long period of time. Continue reading →

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Jun 28 2010
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Journalism

Social democracy

It’s now more than six weeks after a landmark election in modern British Politics. It resulted in the first coalition government for almost 70 years – something scarcely imagined a few months ago.

It was also tipped to be the first social media election. As the dust settled following the election and its aftermath, I attended the Value of Journalism Event organised by the BBC College of Journalism, where I heard a panel of journalists, politicians, pollsters and political activists debate the digital election.

Here are some observations from the event and my reflections on political parties and journalists’ use of social media during the election: Continue reading →

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Mar 18 2010
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Journalism

Northern Pride

The Scottish Saltire with the Northumbrian flag at Carter Bar

Originally uploaded by neonwilderness.

Yesterday, revellers without even the most tenuous Irish connection packed into pubs across Britain to toast Ireland’s patron saint.

The popularity of St Patrick’s day celebrations (which from what I hear only really took off in Dublin after Irish visitors to America saw how the diaspora partied on March 17th) has inspired English patriots to mark St George’s day with real ale festivals and street parties. But despite fierce regional pride in some parts of England, efforts to celebrate regional Saints remain half hearted or under publicised.

Just three days after St Paddy’s day is St Cuthbert’s day. It marks the anniversary of the death of the former Bishop of Lindisfarne in AD 688, the patron saint of Northumbria and the first recorded English Patron Saint.

Continue reading →

Feb 24 2010
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Journalism

Future or Bust!

Uploaded by Vermin Inc.

Recently, I’ve been thinking a lot about the future. Although to be fair, I haven’t done much of the thinking myself – there are many people better placed than me to do that. For me, it’s been more of an exercise of observing and listening.

The two areas that have been the focus of this recent bout of crystal ball gazing are news and regeneration. In December and January I attended the Future of News group, a monthly discussion about where the news industry in this country is heading.

Continue reading →

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Feb 16 2010
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Journalism

The Quay Ingredient

Uploaded by Peter-snottycat.

This week, the BBC started the recruitment process for the departments moving up to Salford.

This is something that many northern media folk are excited about. For so long people working in this industry (including yours truly) have had to move to London to fulfil their ambitions.

The BBC’s Media City development will hopefully encourage other media employers to cluster around the quays area and create something similar to London’s silicon roundabout. But it’s not just about jobs. Continue reading →

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