Parliamentary Press Gallery launches diversity scheme

The Parliamentary Press Gallery has launched a diversity scheme aimed at getting journalists from a black and ethnic minority background into political journalism.

The scheme places the journalists in the role of a temporary member of the Press Gallery, for around three months. Applicants must be from an “established media organisation” which they will be expected to file stories to while on the programme.

You will get a desk, security clearance and a warm welcome. The first few days would include being shown around the facilities for reporters in Parliament and introduced to useful colleagues. The Serjeant at Arms’ department has offered to arrange a tour of Parliament for each person taking part.

The rest is up to you. After a settling-in period, you will need to find fresh news stories to keep your employer happy. There are plenty of reports, interview opportunities, fascinating statistics and lively debates to report at Westminster. The scheme is aimed at self-starters with a mature attitude who can manage their own time, although help and advice will always be close at hand.

Find out more here…

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E&P: New Jersey newspaper prints governor’s leaked emails in full

Editor&Publisher takes a look at the aftermath of New Jersey newspaper the Sunday Star-Ledger‘s two-year battle to get hold of emails between the state’s former governor and an ex-girlfriend – emails which were denied to a political opponent by New Jersey’s supreme court last year.

E&P hears from Josh Margolin, the reporter who broke the story this weekend, about the material uncovered and the immediate impact following publication.

Teased atop the Saturday edition and occupying almost all of Sunday’s page one and six entire inside pages, the package consisted of an in-depth write-up accompanied by all 123 e-mails received by the newspaper, with only very minor edits for obscenity and relevance. The investment in paper and ink preserves not only every intimate detail and typo, but also, as the story notes, “clear discussion of state business.”

From the Star-Ledger’s statehouse bureau, Josh Margolin supplied background and a long look at the issues that brought the e-mails into play. The communications stretched over two months in early 2007, when Corzine was in contract negotiations with several state workers’ unions. Lawyer and former girlfriend Carla Katz was the president of one of them, the Communications Workers of America’s largest local.

In a video interview with NJ.com’s Ledger Live, Margolin – in a move which in part reflects that of WikiLeaks last week – said the paper decided to publish the emails in their entirety because they wanted readers to make their own judgement, not the reporter.

The reason why we’re running so much of the content in our newspaper is because we want people to understand what it is. This is one of those cases we’re trying to remove as much of the reporter filter as much as possible.

See E&P’s full post here…

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Will the paywall protect Times journalists from public opinion?

The Guardian’s Martin Belam makes an interesting point about the impact of the paywall on journalists whose work later falls under scrutiny. Have the Times and Sunday Times built a kind of protective layer around their journalists online?

Belam compares the recent outcry regarding AA Gill’s review last week, accused of containing homophobic language in reference to Clare Balding, with Jan Moir’s column on Stephen Gately, which saw links to the story circulating through social media in no time. In the latter case, latecomers to the event could still read the original writing for themselves online.

It does rather hark back to a previous age – where reporters reported on what had been said about a story, and you had to take their word for it, rather than the audience being able to Google it for themselves. As it is, with the paywall in place, rather than making our own minds up about whether AA Gill was nasty and homophobic, it now seems we’ll have to wait for the PCC to judge it for us.

See his full post here…

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FT: Washington Post to sell Newsweek to Sidney Harman

The Washington Post has agreed to sell Newsweek to businessman Sidney Harman, the founder of one of the world’s largest audio equipment companies, reports the FT.

Harman said he is interested in “the publication’s mission” and was not investing in Newsweek to make a profit – just as well, given recent declines in the title’s ad pages and reported $30-million losses last year.

Full story on FT.com at this link…

According to the Guardian, Harman bought the title for a nominal amount “reported to be just a single dollar”.

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The Awl: Richard Morgan on seven years of freelance writing

An honest and amusing assessment of working as a freelance journalist, from US-based writer Richard Morgan, who looks at the problems of pitching, protecting your ideas and dealing with editors.

He (half-) jokes: “Freelancing means your editor will reject your pitch and then, seven months later, run the story you pitched – with the same language as your pitch – and then have it submitted for a National Magazine Award.”

But on a more serious note:

Freelancing isn’t just about finding good stories. It is also – more so? – about finding good editors. I have solid relationships with four, which, over a seven-year span, works out to encountering one good editor for every 21 months. Maybe I sound as silly and vain and vacuous as Jessica Simpson talking about her very real struggle with acne and how Pro-Activ Solution helped her, but journalism is built upon the values of truth and transparency and intellectual service and candour – of sunshine being the best disinfectant.

Full post on The Awl at this link…

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NMA: Reactions to Italy’s ‘blog-killing’ new bill

Reputation Online’s Vikki Chowney rounds up the reaction to a so-called “blog-killing” clause in Italy’s new Wiretapping Bill.

As Journalism.co.uk reported last week, the revised bill will allow the publication of transcripts “relevant to an investigation”, but campaigners remain concerned by a clause in the new version which, according to European Digital Rights, requires anyone “responsible for information websites” to publish corrections within 48 hours of a complaint of inaccuracy being made, or else face fines of up to 25,000 euros.

There’s a huge amount of convergence within the reputation industry at the moment. the New York Times, FT and Guardian have all run lengthy features in the past two weeks on the issue of “managing your brand” as an individual. Just last week we saw a Facebook user sued for posting defamatory comments on a friend’s profile.

We’re yet to see a UK brand put a law like the one proposed in Italy into action, but as the courts start to impose stricter rules and the idea of managing personal reputation becomes more mainstream, these types of regulations will become more commonplace.

Full post on New Media Age at this link…

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#followjourn: @lucytobin – city reporter/freelance

#followjourn: @lucytobin

Who? Lucy Tobin, city reporter for the Evening Standard and freelance education writer.

Where? Lucy’s Evening Standard articles can be found at this link, and she has her own website here. She also contributes to the Guardian as an education writer.

Contact? @lucytobin

Just as we like to supply you with fresh and innovative tips every day, we’re recommending journalists to follow online too. They might be from any sector of the industry: please send suggestions (you can nominate yourself) to judith or laura at journalism.co.uk; or to @journalismnews.

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#Tip of the day from Journalism.co.uk – find music for films and video

Audio: Adam Westbrook offers his top tips on how to find free – or cheap – music for films and videos. Tipster: Laura Oliver.

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

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Music stops in the White House press room, Fox sits down first

The battle for a coveted front row seat in the White House press room is over, with Fox News claiming the chair.

Following the retirement of Helen Thomas in May, Associated Press moved to her centre-spot, freeing up its old space further along the front row.

National Public Radio, Bloomberg News and Fox all requested the special spot – but Fox was finally selected due to its “length of service and commitment to the White House television pool”, according to AFP.

NPR’s correspondent will now move up one row to Fox’s old second-row seat, next to Bloomberg News.

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Twenty new media, editorial, PR and communications vacancies this week on Journalism.co.uk

These are the latest editorial, PR and media job opportunities from this week on Journalism.co.uk’s jobs board:

Editor – Toxic Magazine
Toxic is our famous magazine for boys aged 7 to 12 and we are seeking an experienced and visionary Editor to take this brand-leading title to its next level of development, working in close collaboration with the commercial team.
Salary: DoE
Egmont UK Limited
London, England
>>more

Senior editor (English-language)
A leading communications company based in Saudi Arabia and operating across the Middle East seeks an experienced editor to deliver high-quality business-to-business publications.
Salary: DoE
GBC
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Middle East
>>more

Reporter – capital markets
To expand our services, we are looking for someone with drive, opinion and desire to become an expert in capital markets.
Salary: Competitive
Capital Market Daily
London, United Kingdom
>>more

Part time journalist – Travelbite.co.uk
Adfero’s Travelbite.co.uk has currently got an opening for a part time journalist.
Salary: £10 per hour
Adfero
Home based, England
>>more

Research and reporting interns
A two-week internship focussed primarily on the researcher/reporter role within Adfero’s DirectNews division. Opportunities available in Leeds.
Salary: Unpaid, extraordinary travel expenses covered.
Adfero
Leeds, England
>>more

Political reporter
Money Marketing is looking to hire a political reporter to join its award-winning 10-strong news-desk. The successful applicant will also be covering another area of financial services. Journalism qualification and industry experience preferred.
Salary: DoE
Money Marketing
London, England
>>more

Sub-editor (full time, permanent contract)
We are looking for a highly experienced sub-editor to be responsible for all aspects of sub editing on the busy news desk of Scrip. This is the leading online news and analysis service for the global pharmaceutical industry.
Salary: Competitive
Informa
London, England
>>more

Reporter/video journalist
PressTV seeks an experienced broadcast reporter/video journalist with a background in international news reporting. Reporters with shooting and editing skills are highly encouraged to apply. We expect an average of 12 -15 stories per month.
Salary: DoE
PressTV
Brussels , Belgium
>>more

Assistant producer – online media
Travelzoo (Europe) Ltd is the European subsidiary of Travelzoo Inc. (NASDAQ: TZOO), a global Internet media company. We are now searching for an Assistant Producer to join our UK production team.
Salary: DoE
Travelzoo (Europe) Ltd
London, England
>>more

Digital content producer, Cars
We are looking for a digital content producer to generate exciting ideas and create compelling copy for the recently launched Which? Car website.
Salary: £25K-£37K
Which?
London, England
>>more

Researchers
Legalease is publisher of the market-leading The Legal 500 Series, which analyses, ranks and provides detailed editorial on the world’s leading business law firms.
Salary: DoE
Legalease
London, England
>>more

Deputy editor/sub-editor
Deputy editor/sub-editor responsible for overseeing the compilation of a Dubai-based luxury travel magazine
Salary: DoE
WNN Limited
Dubai Media City, Dubai
>>more

Assistant news editor
Dow Jones Newswires is seeking an assistant news editor to head up the equities copy editing desk in London.
Salary: DoE
Dow Jones Newswires
London, England
>>more

Retail Newsagent sub-editor
A challenging and varied sub-editor role has arisen in a dynamic and forward-thinking B2B publishing company in central London.
Salary: £28K + £2K performance-related pay
Newtrade Publishing Limited
London, United Kingdom
>>more

Producer
This role requires a high level of editorial skills combined with a strong knowledge of client/campaign management
Salary: Competitive
Travelzoo (Europe) Ltd
London, England
>>more

Entertainment news writer
Entertainment news writers required at London-based news agency.
Salary: DoE
Cover Media
London, England
>>more

Production/sales assistant
To provide sales, admin and marketing support for leading news and recruitment site for journalists
Salary: DoE
Mousetrap Media Ltd
Brighton, England
>>more

Community manager
Working out of your home and anywhere with WiFi, you’ll lead Yelp’s success in your city, and will be an integral member of a team of all-stars in the field receiving direction and support from Yelp Headquarters in San Francisco.
Salary: DOE
Yelp
Brighton, England
>>more

To sign up for free as a jobseeker, please go to http://www.journalism.co.uk/113/

To sign up as an advertiser, please go to http://www.journalism.co.uk/75/

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