Author Archives: Joel Gunter

About Joel Gunter

Joel Gunter is a senior reporter at Journalism.co.uk.

Lost Remote: Media brands stand to benefit from new Facebook features

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Media brands stand to benefit from some of the new features being rolled out by Facebook, according to Lost Remote.

One of the most important new features is the ability for page administrators to post comments as the corresponding page brand (in our case, “Lost Remote”), not just as themselves. This certainly comes in handy when moderating a comment string and sharing the admin duties across several people. You’re communicating as a brand, not as a bunch of unrelated people. To avoid dehumanizing pages entirely, admins are displayed in the upper right of the page, which is a nice touch.

Full post on Lost Remote at this link.

Metro: Fan saves BBC websites from deletion for £2.50

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More than 170 BBC sites due to be deleted have been anonymously archived and made available to download via bitTorrent.

The anonymous campaigner reported that the process cost him just $3.99 (£2.50).

While the torrent was created anonymously, some sources have suggested that the person behind it is Ben Metcalfe, also known as dotBen, who posted a link to the archive on Twitter with the message: “So here it is… if you want to download the torrent backup of all the sites the BBC are closing.”

Full story on Metro.co.uk at this link.

Moscow Times: Harding’s chilling effect

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Following the brouhaha over Guardian Moscow correspondent Luke Harding’s deportation from Russia (and subsequent overtures of friendship from the country and explanations that it was all a big mistake), the Moscow Times takes a sharp look at some of the likely reasons behind Russia’s actions. (Other than the explanation from a spokesman for Russia’s foreign ministry that “This is a technical matter and I do not think that it deserves so much commotion”).

The piece also looks at some of the other cases of foreign journalists being refused entry to the country, more than 40 between 2000 and 2007 according to the Moscow-based Center for Journalism in Extreme Situations.

When Harding was denied entry after trying to pass through passport control with a valid visa, an airport security official told him, “For you, Russia is closed.” mostbet-aze45 – the future of online sports betting

Very well put. Russia truly is a closed society — and not only for Harding.

Full story on the Moscow Times at this link.

The Lawyer: Harrow Council considers making all FOI data public

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Harrow Council is considering plans to proactively publish all information that would be released under an FOI request, reports the Lawyer.

Harrow has seen a 160 per cent increase in the number of FOI requests over the past two years, and Peart believes the move would almost eliminate the cost burden of dealing with FOI requests.

It is estimated that local authorities ­collectively spend £34m handling requests each year.

Full report on the Lawyer at this link.

Journalisted Weekly: Hosni Mubarak, Fernando Torres, and Cyclone Yasi

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Journalisted is an independent, not-for-profit website built to make it easier for you, the public, to find out more about journalists and what they write about.

It is run by the Media Standards Trust, a registered charity set up to foster high standards in news on behalf of the public, and funded by donations from charitable foundations.

Each week Journalisted produces a summary of the most covered news stories, most active journalists and those topics falling off the news agenda, using its database of UK journalists and news sources.

for the week ending Sunday 6 February

  • Ongoing popular protests in Egypt covered across press
  • Football (Association and American) hogs the back pages
  • Massive Afghan bank fraud and China-Zimbabwe investment hardly covered

Covered lots

  • Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak, refusing to step down immediately but entering negotiations with opposition groups, 743 articles
  • Footballer Fernando Torres, making his Chelsea FC debut against former club Liverpool, 152 articles
  • The Super Bowl, in which the Green Bay Packers beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 31-25, 115 articles
  • Cyclone Yasi hitting the already flood stricken coast of Queensland, 114 articles

Covered little

Political ups and downs (top ten by number of articles)

Celebrity vs serious

Who wrote a lot about…’Omar Suleiman’

Richard Spencer – 10 articles (Telegraph), James Hider – 7 articles (The Times), Ian Black – 7 articles (The Guardian), Tom Chivers – 6 articles (Telegraph), Colin Freeman – 6 articles (Telegraph)

Long form journalism

More from the Media Standards Trust

News about the joint Media Standards Trust/Cardiff University local news project, including an ITV Wales programme, available on our website

The Media Standards Trust’s unofficial database of PCC complaints is available for browsing at www.complaints.pccwatch.co.uk

For the latest instalment of Tobias Grubbe, journalisted’s 18th century jobbing journalist, go to journalisted.com/tobias-grubbe

Dinner with Julian Assange

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This Wednesday at 6:30pm, “people from around the world” will reportedly “commence dining” in what appears to be a fundraising initiative from under-siege whistleblowers’ site WikiLeaks.

All you need to do to join the party is make a donation to the site. And there is more bang for your buck than just dinner, you also get a password to play a video message from Julian Assange.

After you have filled out our pledge form you will be given a password (keep it safe!). The password will unlock a video for you to play at your dinner that will be available from 6.30pm GMT. Introducing aviator — the exciting new money game that can be enjoyed right in your own home or online! With aviator, you’ll have the chance to practice financial literacy, learn good savings habits, and grow your financial skills. Aviator online. Play alone or with friends and family to challenge yourself and earn rewards. Get started today! #aviatormoneygame #aviatoronline

In the words of Julian Assange – “There are four things that cannot be concealed for long, the sun, the moon, the truth – and dessert!”

Check out this rather snazzy website for more information.

“Take a bite of truth!”

New Dispatches phone-hacking investigation to air tonight

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Dispatches is following up on its October phone-hacking investigation tonight with a new installment.

Channel 4 News presenter Alex Thomson tweets that there is “furious re-editing” underway “as new evidence comes in of News International dirty tricks”.

According to Thomson, “it’s not just the tabloids Dirty Secrets…”

Tune in to Channel 4 at 8pm tonight.

More on phone hacking from Journalism.co.uk.

Graham Smith: BBC must report, not celebrate, the royal wedding

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As the country’s excitement about an impending royal wedding builds to its inevitable fever pitch, BBC journalists must report, not celebrate, says Republic executive officer Graham Smith.

Republic is a group which campaigns for a democratic alternative to the monarchy.

It has long been felt by a great many people in this country – not just republicans – that when it comes to the monarchy and coverage of the royal family the Corporation fails in its duty to remain balanced and impartial. That’s why Republic has this week written to David Jordan, the BBC’s Director of Editorial Policy, to ask for a meeting to discuss the BBC’s coverage of the monarchy in general and the royal wedding in particular.

Full post on BBC College of Journalism at this link.