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• 01.13.10
  As has been said before, events in the North-East make for compelling viewing this spring. Is the JP pay-wall about to succumb to the bigger picture in those wild and disputed border lands? Advertising, General, Journalism | (0)

  It is not exactly rocket science to figure that we might have an interest in all things North-East this spring. As has been muttered before in these parts, there is much to keep an eye on in and around the valleys of Tyne, Tees and Wear. The arrival of the impressive-looking http://www.hohound.co.uk/ over the forthcoming days merely re-inforces the impression that there is much good a-foot in them there parts... much that is worthy of comment and inspection. http://rickwaghorn.co.uk/2009/11/26/if-anyone-wants-to-know-where-the-future-of-the-uks-new-media-landscape-will-be-forged-and-decided-itll-be-in-the-north-east-of-england-starting-on-monday/ ... at which point Johnston Press were about to build a paywall around the Northumberland Gazette and test to see just how many folk thereabouts ...

  Tagged: addiply.com, Johnston Press, Newsquest, SR2blog.com, Ten Alps, TrinityMirror
  
• 09.07.09
  Old chestnut, but an important leap to make. We’re not that special any more; we have make our own ends meet; we have to learn to sell… Advertising, General, Journalism | (1)

  I must work on a new intro, but this is interesting... http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=44242&c=1 Not the fact that NewsQuest is now heading into the world we tend to call 'hyper-local'. Every man and his NYT dog is now looking for a hyper-local 'Patch' to call their own. No, what's interesting is the range of new 'skills' that NewsQuest appear intent on arming the next generation of small-market-town correspondents with... 'Each of these new sites will be staffed by members of the communities they serve with recruits given training in photography, story structure and use of the each websites content management system. 'The local correspondents, who are expected ...

  Tagged: Addiply, Berkeley, Newsquest
  
• 05.29.09
  The Greenslades make covering KempTown into a family business. Right, Roy, now complete the job – get you and Noreen a night out once a month and bag a hyper-local advert off The Kiosk Advertising, General, Journalism | (0)

  The efforts of the Brighton Evening Argus' KempTown correspondent to lead us all into a new media age have long won support in this neck of the woods. There has been more than a whiff of revolution in his nostrils for a little while now... http://outwithabang.rickwaghorn.co.uk/?p=245 But more than that, he's now walking the walk as well as talking the talk... which is rather more than one or two other prominent media commentators do. http://www.theargus.co.uk/communitypages/kemp_town/4395529.Kemp_Town_newsagent_defies_trend_to_expand_into_the_marina/ For me, that page is fascinating. First, further credit to the Greenslades. Because if I'm not mistaken it was Mrs G - aka Noreen Taylor - with her point-and-shoot mobile phone ...

  Tagged: Newsquest, Roy Greenslade, www.addiply.com
  
• 05.07.09
  If I didn’t know any better, I’d say that ‘Plan Seamus’ was more of a network than a silo. And if that’s the case, then off come the gloves… and into the neighbour’s back yard we go. General, Journalism | (1)

  Having been round one or two of these blocks before, it's always been interesting to see which of the large provincial newspaper groups would be the first to 'break ranks...' and quietly forget the gentlemen's agreements upon which their industrial fortunes were based... http://outwithabang.rickwaghorn.co.uk/?p=257 And today, there's a little sign that Northcliffe/DMGT are starting to get itchy feet. http://www.journalism.co.uk/2/articles/534339.php The fact that they, like TrinityMirror and Newsquest before them, are starting to turn their thoughts towards hyper-local is nothing new. In fairness to TrinityMirror, they caught the bug early on with the postcode-based sites they first launched on Teesside... the trouble, as always when you ...

  Tagged: Archant, Newsquest, Northcliffe/DMGT, TrinityMirror
  
• 04.27.09
  The BBC head to Mr Burnham’s table tomorrow bearing a few gifts for us all. And being this fledgling written content network, I might even be able to give them one back… Journalism, MFW | (2)

  This is interesting. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/apr/26/bbc-share-local-media On a number of fronts; not least in the fact that someone, somewhere has found me a ticket to tomorrow's ball and so alongside '... Helen Boaden, the BBC's head of news, and David Holdsworth, controller of the English regions, as well as other industry executives and the National Union of Journalists....' will be yours truly. Given that I'm a big fan of the Tom Hanks film 'Big', I have this image of me being sat round some corporate table at Portcullis House tomorrow, gingerly poking my hand in the air and saying: 'I don't get it...' ...

  Tagged: Archant, BBC, MyFootballWriter.com, Newsquest, Northcliffe
  
• 03.27.09
  The point, Roy, is who is worth preserving? Those that still insist we stain wood? Or those of Linda’s ilk, that are out there making a difference to the communities they serve? General, Journalism | (4)

  There is, as ever, much to admire in Roy's latest piece about the state of this local newspaper nation of ours. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/greenslade/2009/mar/27/local-newspapers-trinity-mirror?commentpage=1&commentposted=1 That their distribution model, for example, is busted beyond repair. '...the publishers cannot seem to admit to themselves (understandably, given the logic of the economic system they serve) that the business model of newspapers is busted for ever...' As we've muttered before, to do that would be like King Canute calling for a towel. Far better to stick to the safer ground of battering the impudence of local councils and their newsletters and insisting that the publication of planning notices is their's ...

  Tagged: DarwenReporter.com, Newsquest, Roy Greenslade, TrinityMirror
  
• 01.22.09
  That was probably one word that Sly and the Newspaper Society didn’t want to hear this morning. Antithetical. General, Journalism | (1)

  You learn something new every day. Like what on earth 'antithetical' means. Have to admit at first I thought it was a typo in Laura's piece... http://www.journalism.co.uk/2/articles/533270.php But now I know. It means 'opposite'; 'being in diametrical opposition...' It also means saying 'No!' to a state subsidy for the UK's ailing provincial newspaper industry. Which comes as a certain relief that our Lords and Masters are now thinking along networked lines... 'Is it time to develop a sensible strategy that uses the converging nature of the journalism to sustain a vital local news media?" was Mr Burnham's burning question for the great and the media ...

  Tagged: Newsquest
  
• 01.21.09
  Put a pot of Government gold at the end of a postcode rainbow; that way, you can incentivise the switch to a truly ‘Digital Britain’ as you subsidise… General, Journalism | (1)

  We've trailed this before, but it was fascinating to read the arguments being trotted out this afternoon as to why the State must intervene to save our ailing provincial newspaper industry - or rather the US's ailing newspaper industry in the case of any Newsquest title... http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=42868&c=1 And there was Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland's finest, Ashok Kumar MP, doing his bit for TrinityMirror. "It’s clear there is a case for some sort of rescue package,” he said... Why is the case so 'clear'? Because local newspapers are the only bastions of local democracy that we can think of? What's this all about, then... ...

  Tagged: Newsquest, Tom Watson, TrinityMirror
  
• 01.19.09
  Balls to the south, Brocklebank in the north and Kumar in the middle. Pure coincidence, I’m sure, that they are all singing from the same hymn-sheet General, Journalism | (0)

  Here comes another one. North of the border this time as the vexed state of the indigenous Scottish newspaper industrty continues to cause concern. http://outwithabang.rickwaghorn.co.uk/?p=184 Anyone would have thought that there was a concerted campaign afoot. But, anyway, here's to a near-bankrupt UK Plc subsidising Gannett (Glasgow)... http://www.journalism.co.uk/2/articles/533216.php What makes this one particularly sweet is this glorious line from the concerned MSP in question, Ted Brocklebank. And if it was left to hang there deliberately by the journalist concerned, top marks. Go to the top of the class. "It seems to me that the government is moving away from placing recruitment ads with local and ...

  Tagged: Newsquest
  
• 01.16.09
  Two weeks into the new year and here comes Mr Kumar MP looking for a state bail-out for the provincial newspaper industry… General, Journalism | (1)

  It didn't take too long, did it? About two weeks into the new year and some tame MP is sent into the House with his cap in hand. http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=42828&c=1 It's one block we've trod all-too many times before. http://outwithabang.rickwaghorn.co.uk/?p=196 OK, so it's not the Newspaper Society with the hand out; but it might just as well be. He's talking their kind of language. “I will be asking in the debate if the Government will examine the concept of some form of state support for local newspapers that are struggling, so as to allow them to survive the downturn," said Labour's finest for Middlesbrough South and East ...

  Tagged: Newsquest, Trinity Mirror
  

• « Previous Entries

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