#Tip of the day from Journalism.co.uk – photo resources

Social Media Today has produced an updated list of recommended free photo resources for bloggers, which could also be a handy list for other online content creators. Tipster: Rachel McAthy.

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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Cardiff University journalism school to hold alumni conference

Cardiff University’s Centre for Journalism is celebrating its 40th anniversary in October with a conference for its alumni focused on ‘Tomorrow’s Journalists’.

Speakers will include alumni who have gone on to become key figures in journalism, including Ben Brown from BBC News and Alex Thomson of Channel 4 News, who will chair sessions at the conference. More recent graduates including Hattie Brett from Grazia, Sally Rourke from ITV and Hannah Waldram from the Guardian, will also speak on the day.

The conference will be followed by a gala dinner.

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Daily Mail hides SEO job ad in search crawler file

It’s possible that SEO types have a sense of humour. Evidence comes courtesy of the Daily Mail, which has hidden a job advert for an SEO manager inside a file that should only really be read by search engine crawlers.

The job ad was discovered by eagle-eyed SEO man Malcolm Coles in a robot.txt file, which blocks the crawlers from indexing certain parts of the site.

Disallow: /home/ireland/
Disallow: /home/scotland/

# August 12th, MailOnline are looking for a talented SEO Manager so if you found this then you’re the kind of techie we need!
# Send your CV to holly dot ward at mailonline dot co dot uk

# Begin standard rules
# Apply rules to all user agents updated 08/06/08
ACAP-crawler: *

Very clever. People who don’t read these kind of things need not apply, obviously.

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Should bloggers pay business tax?

Should bloggers making money from their site have to pay a business tax?

It’s a question that’s been doing the rounds in the past week, following what commentators have been labelling a “tax amnesty” in Philadelphia. Thousands of online writers have reportedly received letters from local government reminding them that if they make money from their site, they must pay up.

Any bloggers earning revenues from their online publishing – through display advertising or services such as Google Adsense – will be asked to pay $300 (or $50 a year) for a Business Privilege Licence. Alternatively, they can remove any advertising or other money-making means and have their blog classified as a hobby.

The renewed efforts by the city council to ensure everyone eligible to pay does so have sparked wide debate and commentary across the web, from the Washington Post and Reuters to technology news site Mashable, who say the fee will only have limited impact.

The Atlantic Wire offers a neat summary of the main arguments, from Technorati’s post arguing that a $300 tax is “outrageous” for bloggers who on the whole make little returns, to New York Magazine’s suggestion that bloggers should shun advertising services, rather than hand over the small profits they make.

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New US hyperlocal Twitter network using zip codes to aggregate news

A new Twitter network could be about to change the face of local news gathering.

Twitzip is designed to share ‘hyperlocal’ news based on users’ zip codes. American creators Nathan Heinrich and Aaron Donsbach created accounts for nearly all of the zip codes in the US back in 2008 with the idea of building a network that would harness the knowledge of local residents and allow them to share news by tweeting from an account for their area.

As we analyzed Twitter’s potential, we realized the one location-based handle that everyone knows is their zip or postal code. We thought it would be a waste if Twitter zip code handles or ‘TwitZips’ were owned by tens of thousands of different people with tens of thousands of different uses. Furthermore, we thought TwitZips might be valuable for networking local citizens together. This was the start of TwitZip.

According to a statement on the network’s website, the service is currently focused on hyperlocal news, blogs, and crime, but will soon integrate weather and government alerts.

If successful, TwitZip could prove a happy hunting ground for local journalists tracking breaking news.

For more details, visit www.twitzip.com and www.hyperlocalblogger.com

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Concern over search algorithms promoting ‘content farm’ news

The ability of search engine algorithms to measure the relevance and quality of content has come under scrutiny recently, following criticisms that Google is placing so called ‘content farm’ articles at the top of news searches.

Emma Heald writes on the EditorsWebLog that where SEO content directly competes with news content there is “cause for concern”, both for news publishers and the wider issue of public knowledge.

But the challenge of ensuring online news search results are based on relevant and ‘quality’ sources should be one taken up by the news aggregators, rather than content farms, which have a place in the online arena, she adds.

Evidently, content farms cannot and should not be stopped from producing large volumes of content and it arguably makes a lot of sense to provide internet users with articles on topics which they are searching for. And not all the content is bad: some is written by experienced, conscientious journalists. Traditional news organisations should focus on improving their own SEO (though not at the expense of the content) and if it is to retain its position as a top news aggregator, maybe Google’s algorithm should become more discerning?

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Alcohol helps diversify Singapore newspaper’s revenue stream

The stereotype was that journalists were never far from a bar… now publisher Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) is betting on its readers’ fondness for a drink with the opening of a new sports bar earlier this month. The watering hole will be linked to SPH’s tabloid title The New Paper:

The New Paper Sports Bar offers punters live football matches on a host of large TV screens, oodles of Asia’s Tiger Beer and an exclusive live feed from The New Paper’s newsroom where its sports writers offer up-to-the-minute betting tips.

Full story on the PANPA website…

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Amateur media watchdogs helping keep newspapers in check

While a handful of established groups shoulder the responsibility of holding news and media organisations to account, the internet has fueled the growth of the individual online watchdog, according to an interesting post on the European Journalism Centre website.

Author Jamie Thunder, an Investigative Journalism MA student at City University uses several examples to illustrate the biggest media bloggers within the online community, such as Tabloid Watch, Five Chinese Crackers, Angry Mob and Enemies of Reason.

‘Watchdog’ groups are nothing new to the media. But these blogs are different. There’s no unifying political ideology, and they’re maintained alongside full-time jobs. They’re not run by media theorists or political activists – just individuals stirred to action by the daily iniquities of the press.

He says that while they accept their impact on the papers themselves will be minimal, it’s the online “groundswell” among readers which is where their power lies.

We all know the media landscape is shifting, and shifting fast – paywalls, user-generated content, and Wikileaks are just three recent developments. Yet little has been said about the increasing ability for non-journalists to analyse and publicise the press’s problems (…) And as long as newspapers keep misbehaving, they’re not going away.

See his full post here…

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Former journalism student in landmark reporter’s privilege victory

Interesting media law case from the US – a former student journalist at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism will not have to reveal documents or give a testimony about the investigative reporting involved in a case of false imprisonment.

Carolyn Nielsen’s reporting helped free a man who had been wrongfully convicted and was part way through a 45-year sentence:

The ruling in favor of Carolyn Nielsen – who now teaches journalism at Western Washington University in Bellingham – is significant because it recognises no distinction between the ability of a student journalist versus a professional journalist to claim the protection of the reporter’s privilege.

Full post on the Student Press Law Center site at this link…

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Thirty-four editorial, new media, communications and PR jobs 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

Associate energy editor
Bloomberg BusinessWeek is looking for an Associate Energy Editor who will lead the effort to create, curate, and synthesize content for BBW’s energy coverage.
Salary: Competitive + benefits
Bloomberg
London, England
>>more

Junior writer
Ten Group are looking for a junior writer to provide assistance to the editor by researching, writing and sub-editing content within the editorial office, covering refreshes of the travel and lifestyle content and other articles as needed.
Salary: DoE
Ten Group
London, England
>>more

Senior reporter
An opportunity has arisen for a senior journalist to join APM Health Europe. APMHE is a subscription based news wire focusing on healthcare business news affecting the European pharmaceutical marketplace.
Salary: DoE
APM Health Europe
London, England
>>more

Writer (AD) – leveraged commentary data
This person will provide commentary and analysis on the European leveraged loan primary and secondary markets, as well as oversee the development of LCD’s London based business.
Salary: DoE
Standard and Poors
London, England
>>more

Editorial Intern required with prospect of a full time role.
We are a small online media agency that owns and runs two successful websites in the financial services industry, and we are looking for another great mind to lend us a hand in the fast-paced day-to-day running of the business from our Maida Vale hub.
Salary: TBC
Bridging and Commercial Ltd
London, England
>>more

Talented writers wanted
With over 28 million readers worldwide, Suite101 is the ideal platform to help build your portfolio and profile. With Suite101, you can write about what you want, when you want, from the comfort of your home.
Salary: Lifetime royalties plus bonuses and incentives
Suite101.com
Home-based, United Kingdom
>>more

Senior news reporter
Horticulture Week is looking for a great reporter with the experience and confidence to beat the nationals to the big stories in the £5bn horticulture industry.
Salary: £25K
Haymarket Media Group
London, England
>>more

Staff reporter
We’re looking for a journalist with an interest in science and engineering for tce – a monthly magazine serving the membership of the Institution of Chemical Engineers.
Salary: DoE
Institution of Chemical Engineers
Rugby, England
>>more

Web editor (HorseDeals.co.uk)
Bauer Media is looking for an editor for their newly acquired website HorseDeals.co.uk. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a team that shapes one of our most exciting digital plays.
Salary: DoE
Bauer Media
Peterborough, England
>>more

Sub-editor
The Register is looking for an experienced sub-editor with production expertise to join its London editorial team.
Salary: DoE
Situation Publishing
London, England
>>more

Writer and editor
The World Land Trust, an international conservation charity working to save threatened habitats worldwide, is seeking a Writer/Editor to assist in the writing, editing and reviewing of published materials, web content, internal reports and presentations.
Salary: iro £20K
World Land Trust
Halesworth, England
>>more

Editor in Chief
Our client is looking for an experienced Editor in Chief with the enthusiasm and commitment to oversee and mentor established editors responsible for a group of daily and weekly newspapers.
Salary: DoE
Personnel Search Ltd.
Saint John, New Brunswick, All / Canada
>>more

Writing/marketing assistants
We are looking to hire a few well-written, social and entrepreneurial Liverpool residents who know their city inside and out.
Salary: DoE
Yelp
Belfast, Northern Ireland
>>more

Senior producer – online media
Based in London, the Senior Producer, UK will have a dual, hands-on role of managing a growing team of producers, as well as working with clients to maximise performance for their online campaigns.
Salary: DoE
Travelzoo (Europe) Ltd
London, England
>>more

Financial reporter
Need to Know News – a Deutsche Boerse company and the leading provider of macroeconomic data for financial markets trading – is seeking an enthusiastic entry-level Financial Reporter.
Salary: To £24K
Need To Know News
London, England
>>more

Senior reporter
Legal Business, an award-winning, subscription-based, B2B monthly magazine for the commercial legal sector, is looking for a senior reporter to join its editorial team.
Salary: DoE
Legal Business
London, England
>>more

Sub-editor
silicon.com is looking for an enthusiastic sub-editor to join its busy editorial team. A keen interest in both online publishing and technology is desirable.
Salary: DoE
CBS Interactive
London, England
>>more

Writing/marketing assistant
We are looking to hire a few well-written, social and entrepreneurial Cardiff residents who know their city inside and out.
Salary: Competitive
Yelp.co.uk
Cardiff, Wales
>>more

Music journalist
This is a fantastic opportunity working for an international guitar manufacturer as their in-house journalist/editor. This is a fantastic opportunity working for an international guitar manufacturer as their in-house journalist/editor in Germany.
Salary: DoE
Warwick
Markneukirchen, Germany
>>more

Sub Editor, customer magazines
We’re Sunday Publishing, an award-winning publishing agency situated in the South Bank area of London. Due to new business wins, we’re now recruiting for a Sub Editor to join the team, working directly with two of our Editors.
Salary: £25K
Sunday Publishing
London, England
>>more

Assistant editor
Assistant editor required, 1-3 years experience of consumer magazines, preferably homes related. Must have good writing and subbing skills, as well as InDesign experience.
Salary: DoE
Ocean Media
London, United Kingdom
>>more

Managing editor
Risk Books and Journals, brands in Incisive Media’s Financial Risk Management Division, are looking for a managing editor to oversee all aspects of the production of their content, including the development of ebook formats.
Salary: DoE
Incisive Media
London, England
>>more

Editor – Parenting Portfolio, Electric Word
Editor needed for online parenting portfolio, including MyChild.co.uk, the UK’s fastest-growing parenting site with a focus on education.
Salary: DoE
My Child Ltd
London, England
>>more

Stylist
Ahlan!, the GCC’s biggest-selling magazine is looking for a stylist to join a small team, bringing the best and most up-to-date celebrity news, pics and style to the Middle East on a weekly basis.
Salary: DoE
ITP Publishing Group
UAE, Dubai
>>more

Deputy editor
Facilities Management Middle East, a monthly B2B magazine, needs a new deputy editor to generate its content and take control of this small specialist title.
Salary: DoE
ITP Publishing Group
UAE, Dubai
>>more

Picture researcher
Ahlan!, the GCC’s biggest-selling magazine is looking for a picture researcher to assist the group picture editor in finding the perfect snaps our celebrity-obsessed readers will love.
Salary: DoE
ITP Publishing Group
UAE, Dubai
>>more

News sub-editor
Digital Spy is seeking a News Sub-Editor to sub-edit copy across the site.
Salary: DoE
Digital Spy
Home-based position, All
>>more

Associate editor – Petrochemicals
We are currently recruiting for an associate editor to provide guidance to the global petrochemicals team in general, and the European petrochemicals team in particular, on the news focus and news directions.
Salary: DoE
Platts
London, England
>>more

Sub-editor, business information
Sub-Editor required to edit and publish daily, weekly, monthly quarterly reports focusing on B2B industry and country risk research reports.
Salary: DoE
Business Monitor International
London, England
>>more

Writing/marketing assistant
Yelp (www.yelp.co.uk) is the leading website where locals write reviews of their favourite neighbourhood businesses. We are looking to hire a few well-written, social and entrepreneurial Cardiff residents who know their city inside and out.
Salary: DOE
Yelp
Cardiff, Wales
>>more

Freelance financial reporters
Freelance reporters wanted – Eastern European countries
Salary: DoE
SNL Financial
Home based, Poland / Russia
>>more

Editor – Middle East Golfer
ITP Consumer Publishing is searching for an editor to take over its golfing title. Published since 2004, Middle East Golfer blends together local knowledge, expert insight and coverage of international and Middle Eastern tournaments.
Salary: DoE
ITP Publishing Group
UAE, Dubai
>>more

Head of news content public relations
The head of Bloomberg News content promotion – EMEA will be responsible for enhancing Bloomberg’s image as an innovative company and trusted information source through proactive, strategic and effective external communications.
Salary: Competitive + benefits
Bloomberg
London, England
>>more

Market Reporter – EMEA oil (six month contract)
We are currently recruiting for a six month fixed term contract position; this role involves the reporting, analysis and benchmarking of oil markets.
Salary: DoE
Platts
London, 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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