NUJ release: Yorkshire Johnston Press journalists to ballot for strike action

Channel 4 (part 2): Duncan says channel is still key source of cutting-edge content

January 22nd, 2009 | 1 Comment | Posted by Nigel Brown in Broadcasting, Journalism

Channel 4 CEO Andy Duncan also said at yesterday’s Communications Committee in the House of Lords that:

Channel 4 is fulfilling its role as a Public Service Broadcaster (PSB) by functioning as a gateway to new talent, innovative programming and contemporary content.

Commercial television was simply unable to invest in or provide the content Channel 4 is recognised for.

However, when challenged about the function of programming such as Endemol’s ‘Big Brother’, Duncan was forced to concede that it served more as a source of income than it did as the ground breaking concept it was billed as 10 years ago.

Digital channels such as E4 and 4Music were hailed as some of Channel 4′s more recent successes. Despite this, it remained unclear as to how these services were able to fit within the remit of Public Service Broadcasting. Current PSB legislation was ‘archaic’ in this respect, Duncan said. In addition, he said, online services such as Channel 4 Learning showed their requirements as a PSB had evolved successfully beyond the original vision of the law makers.

Tags: Andy Duncan, CEO, Channel 4, communications committee, House of Lords, House of Lords Communications Committee, law makers, Ofcom, psb, public service broadcasting

Channel 4 (part 1): Station plans to focus more on regional content

January 22nd, 2009 | No Comments | Posted by Nigel Brown in Broadcasting, Journalism

Following up on yesterday’s Ofcom round-up, here are further reports from the House of Lords, where Channel 4 chief executive, Andy Duncan spoke at a Communications Committee hearing.

Channel 4 is unlikely to move away from London in a bid to save money, although it is keen to expand its influence around the UK. London was the centre of the UK media industry, Andy Duncan explained to the committee. Savings made from any move were likely to be ‘negligible’ at best.

Although Channel 4 is already active in places such as Glasgow, Duncan admitted the station had relatively little presence in Scotland and other parts of the UK, outside England.

The station’s CEO said that they were adept at creating good quality ‘one-off’ shows. The challenge was to create more opportunities for ‘returning’ series based in the region.

Certain Channel 4 IP, such as ‘Dispatches’ and ‘Cutting Edge’ already allow for the allocation of programming and resources focused in and around the country.

Tags: Andy Duncan, CEO, Channel 4, chief executive, communications committee, Cutting Edge, dispatches, Glasgow, Greater London, House of Lords, House of Lords Communication Committee, London, media industry, psb, Scotland, United Kingdom

Video: NYTimes’ Ann Derry on going multimedia – video is key

January 22nd, 2009 | 1 Comment | Posted by Judith Townend in Multimedia, Online Journalism

Beet TV interviewed Ann Derry, the New York Times’ head of television editorial operations. Derry talked about the new video player and ‘trends in the demand for video’ at NYTimes.com

Tags: Ann Derry, Derry, head of television editorial operations, the New York Times, video player

PlagiarismToday: Five ‘stupid copyright questions’ that aren’t so stupid

January 22nd, 2009 | No Comments | Posted by Judith Townend in Editors' pick, Legal

Here, PlagiarismToday’s Jonathan Bailey lays out five ‘stupid copyright questions’ that aren’t. In fact, he says, they are not as stupid as it first seems. Number one: ‘How do I get a copyright?’ Full story…

Tags: Jonathan Bailey, plagiarismtoday

TheInd.com: ‘Chain reaction’ at the Daily Advertiser in Louisiana

January 22nd, 2009 | No Comments | Posted by Judith Townend in Editors' pick, Newspapers

Over at a US-based local media site, an article from the Independent Weekly. It argues that newspaper owner Gannett has ‘ransacked’ the Daily Advertiser, the daily paper in Lafayette, Louisiana. Here, the the site’s looks at a ‘chain reaction’ impacting on the paper. Full story…

Tags: Gannett, Gannett Co., Inc., Independent Weekly, Lafayette, Local media, Louisiana, the Daily Advertiser, the Independent Weekly, TheInd.com, us

OJR: Ex-restaurant critic on making a living online

January 22nd, 2009 | No Comments | Posted by Judith Townend in Editors' pick, Online Journalism

Scott Joseph left the Orlando Sentinel after 20 years as a restaurant critic. He went online instead, and here he provides a case study in the reality of trying to make a living online. Full story…

Tags: critic, Orlando, Orlando Sentinel, restaurant critic, Scott Joseph, the Orlando Sentinel

Tip of the day from Journalism.co.uk – a round-up of the best tools for Twitter

January 22nd, 2009 | No Comments | Posted by Laura Oliver in Editors' pick, Top tips for journalists

Twitter tools: Too many Journalism.co.uk tips on using Twitter apps? Here’s a handy list of most of the services and functions available on the microblogging service from search to advertising. Tipster: Laura Oliver.

To submit a tip to Journalism.co.uk, use this link – we will pay a fiver for the best ones published.

Tags: applications, Journalism.co.uk, Laura Oliver, Twitter

CnetNews: Flickr users invited by Getty to join collection

January 22nd, 2009 | No Comments | Posted by Judith Townend in Editors' pick, Handy tools and technology

This week certain Flickr users began receiving invitations from the photo agency Getty, as part of a new partnership between the agency and Yahoo. A special Flickr-branded Getty collection will be launcing in March. Full story…

Tags: Flickr, getty, Getty Realty Corp., Media & Journalism, photo agency, Yahoo

Sea change: did online campaign group force political transparency?

January 21st, 2009 | 1 Comment | Posted by Judith Townend in Citizen journalism, Online Journalism

It’s an interesting landmark: a quickly put-together online campaign in the UK may have influenced a political reversal. Gordon Brown has cancelled proposals for MPs to protect the details of their expenses.

The House of Commons leader, Harriet Harman, cited lack of cross-party support as the reason behind the change, according to the BBC report.

Meanwhile, the Guardian reported:

“The decision is a major victory for freedom of information campaigners and follows growing opposition led by the Liberal Democrats to the proposal, and website campaigns urging the public to email their MP objecting to the move.”

Does this show something of a sea change in political influence? Note that the campaigners directly mobilised their supporters, without reliance on mainstream media.

Tom Steinberg, founder of My Society, the organisation behind the campaign, thinks traditional media manipulation tools had little effect.

He comments on the MySociety blog:

“This is a huge victory not just for transparency, it’s a bellweather for a change in the way politics works. There’s no such thing as a good day to bury bad news any more, the internet has seen to that.”

Matthew Cain, over on his BacAtU blog, gives five reasons why he believes the campaign had clout, and points out that Stephen Fry helped the cause too… with a humble re-tweet on Twitter:

But, also today, a reminder of the way media connections have traditionally worked, with the appointment of a new head of political lobby, the Financial Times’ Jean Eaglesham. But how much influence and inside knowledge does the lobby have anymore?

Press Gazette reported:

“Eaglesham dismissed any suggestion that the need for constant ‘rolling’ news has diminished the quality of parliamentary reporting.

“She said: ‘Clearly it’s a risk we’re all aware of, however, now we also have the added value of more analysis and breaking news through blogging and other online content. Things change so fast now, it’s fascinating.’”

The role of the lobby was discussed at the end of last year in the House of Lords. Hazel Blears talked about the influence of the political bloggers in November, in an address to the Hansard Society.

Tags: BBC, British Broadcasting Corporation, founder, Gordon Brown, Hansard Society, Harriet Harman, Hazel Blears, head of political lobby, House of Commons, House of Lords, Jean Eaglesham, leader, Liberal Democrats, mainstream media, Matthew Cain, media connections, media manipulation tools, MP, MPs expenses, My Society, online content, put-together online campaign, Stephen Fry, The Financial Times, The Guardian, Tom Steinberg, Twitter, United Kingdom