Who? Paul Cockerton, web editor for Newsquest, “looking after the websites for one daily, one paid-for weekly and four free weekly newspapers.”
Where? Paul has his own blog at this link.
Twitter? @paulcockerton
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 laura at journalism.co.uk; or to @journalismnews.
This is the fourth post in a series from an anonymous UK-based journalist recently made redundant. To follow the series, you can subscribe to this feed.
Last week I blogged about whether you should apply for subbing jobs if you’re a reporter or a features writer.
This week I’ve spoken to two journalists – one print and one online – about the ‘concertina effect,’ i.e. whether subbing and reporting roles are merging into one, particularly in an online environment.
Peter Sands is a veteran newspaper sub and director of PA Training and insists that the standalone sub is far from dead.
Even with web publishing where content goes live before it is subbed (meaning the reporter has to ensure copy is clean first), Sands says the role of the sub-editor is still vital.
“I would definitely say that you have to have a second pair of eyeballs,” he says.
Sands was editor of the Northern Echo in the early 1990s and admits much has changed since then.
At that time there was real animosity between subs and reporters: “In Darlington there was the Red Lion pub for subs and the Britannia for reporters and never the two should meet,” he says.
While Sands believes the sub is alive and kicking, he acknowledges that their role is being redefined. “The divide [between reporters and subs] has really gone now,” he says.
Sub, web editor and corporate blogger Fiona Cullinan agrees: “Divide? What divide? The divide is less about reporting versus subbing and more about are you engaged or not, are you digitally included or not?”
“By not engaging more in online environments, traditional journalists are not developing their digital writing or subbing skills, let alone all the other skills that go with publishing to the web, like picture research under Creative Commons licences, image manipulation, linking skills, SEO knowledge, how to upload and promote content, and the big one: the ability to deal with readers talking back to you.”
Apart from the odd typo creeping in when you publish first and hone later, many reporters who write straight to the web can face serious libel issues.
Cullinan says checking factual inaccuracies and avoiding legal pitfalls is ‘perfect sub-editor territory‘.
“From what I’ve read, reporters in multimedia newsrooms are being asked to sub their own work; meanwhile subs are being made redundant,” she adds.
“How reporters are supposed to sub to old-school standards, perhaps with minimal experience or training, and 24-hour newsroom deadline pressures, should be interesting!”
Cullinan also points out that the comments section can act as a ‘rather more public second set of eyes, pointing out your typos and incorrect facts’.
The upshot? To keep up with the changing face of journalism a reporter needs to be savvy about subbing as well as having other web skills, but it is still the sub-editor who has the last word.
#FollowJourn: Paul Cockerton
Who? Web editor, Lancashire Telegraph
What? In charge of editing the Lancashire Telegraph’s website
Where? @paulcockerton
Contact? pcockerton [at] lancashire.newsquest.co.uk
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.
#FollowJourn: Richard Kendall
Who? Web editor.
What? Plies his trade at the Peterborough Evening Telegraph
Where? @richardkendall
Contact? richard.kendall [at] jpress.co.uk
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.
#FollowJourn: Sarah Booker
Who? Web editor for the Worthing Herald.
What? Digital content and social media editor Worthing Herald series and Chichester Observer series.
Where? @sarah_booker
Contact? sarah.booker [at] jpress.co.uk
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.
#FollowJourn: Jo Wadsworth
Who? Web editor of The Argus.
What? Leader in editing the Argus website, develops daily news service, and builds communities.
Where? @jowadsworth
Contact? jo.wadsworth@theargus.co.uk
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.
Sometimes a great headline is worth ignoring search engine optimisation rules – today’s examples in the Sun on Peter Andre and Jordan’s split show just that, as Peter Moore explains on his blog.
On that note – I’m grateful to the Brighton Argus’ web editor Jo Wadsworth for passing on this random headline generator – type in your four lines and have your own newsagent’s board.
Journalism.co.uk attended the journalism and enterprise unconference, JEEcamp, last Friday.
Reports on the day will follow, including:
Kyle Macrae, founder of Scoopt, on why entrepreunership is the only option for journalists now
James Hatts from London-SE1.co.uk on community and hyperlocal news publishing
There’s already been some great videos, pictures and posts from the event – see Michael Haddon’s round-up, Martin Belam’s posts and John Welsh’s blog to name but a few – but some additional (rough) audio from Sue Greenwood’s presentation on self-publishing platform Sweeble and two panel discussions are below.
Sue Greenwood:
[audio:http://www.journalism.co.uk/sounds/sweeble.mp3]
Panel 1 featuring: (to come)
Journalism.co.uk’s own John Thompson (@johncthompson)
Jon Bounds, Birmingham: It’s Not Shit (@bounder)
[audio:http://www.journalism.co.uk/sounds/jeepanel.mp3]Sue Heseltine from Birmingham City University
Chaired by Joanna Geary, web development journalist, business, Times Online (@timesjoanna)
Panel 2 featuring:
Dave Harte, economic development manager, Digital Birmingham
Jo Wadsworth, web editor, Brighton Argus (@jowadsworth)
Robin Hamman, Headshift (@cybersoc)
Andy Dickinson, journalism lecturer at UCLAN, (@digidickinson)
Robin Morley, assistant editor new media, BBC English Regions
[audio:http://www.journalism.co.uk/sounds/secondpanel.mp3]Source: https://www.zovovo.com/ – A Turkish information blog.
A nice hyperlocal story in which Journalism.co.uk plays a wee bit o’ a role.
A few weeks ago a good discussion got going at the Frontline Club on the future of regional media.
Roy Greenslade, journalism professor, blogger and resident of Brighton said:
“It’s for the good of the whole community that it [a local newspaper] acts. That loss is something people won’t necessarily be fighting for because they don’t know they’re losing it. We as journalists – that’s our job – it’s for us to ensure that we try and fight to save it.”
In the audience, next to your very own Journalism.co.uk contingent (we didn’t quite out-number the ex-Press Gazetters) sat Jo Wadsworth, who started as web editor of the Brighton Argus in February.
Now – as context – Jo Wadsworth had corrected one ‘Weige’ on Greenslade’s blog a little while back. Weige had it on ‘good authority’ that the Argus didn’t have an online team. Oh yes it does, retorted its new web editor.
Fast-forward a few months: Greenslade’s comments at the Frontline got Wadsworth thinking. Wouldn’t it be good to get him to put his hyperlocal money where his hyperlocal mouth was, she cheekily joked to Journalism.co.uk afterwards. Go on… we egged her on. J.co.uk, for one, had been impressed by his local butcher knowledge over a drink in the bar afterwards.
So, today comes this announcement from Roy Greenslade:
“So, dear readers, since I happen to live – at least part of the year, anyway – in the city of Brighton and Hove, I am planning to become the community reporter for the Kemp Town area of Brighton.
“Now that’s what I call going back to basics.”
Jo Wadsworth had this to say to Journalism.co.uk: “We were talking after the Frontline event about Kemp Town, where I’ve just moved to, and it became very clear he was passionate about the neighbourhood he’s lived in for many years. From there, it was an obvious step to take to invite him to be our newest community correspondent – and the first, I hope of many more.”
And Greenslade? His patch is not exactly defined yet, he told Journalism.co.uk, but he has started to form some ideas.
“I hope to take up topical issues raised by the people who live in what is a very diverse community, whether it be the proposals to develop the marina and the Blackrock shoreline or the continuing annoyance of litter and rubbish on the streets. And I expect to open a dialogue with the city’s councillors who represent the area. What do they do? Who are the community police officers, and how do they operate?
“I want to highlight some of the characters who one sees on the streets and in the shops. I also plan to deal with some of the rich history of the Regency houses, which were originally homes to the titled, the famous and well-heeled. Though there are many blue plaques in this area, for example, many the names mean nothing to current residents. Who was Harrison Ainsworth, for instance, the man who once lived in the Arundel Terrace house where I have lived for 38 years?
“I guess I might get into arts and culture too, with the Bombay Bar as one obvious prospect.”
We’ll keep you posted with the link to Greenslade’s content when it goes live. Journalism.co.uk, also residents of Brighton, will definitely be making the most of his local contribution.
Since I started using Twitter I’ve always been amazed (and grateful) at how quickly calls for technological help and assistance with ideas and projects are answered. It’s one of the main reasons I’m a fan of Twitter.
There are plenty of media/journalist Twitter databases out there, but below are the beginnings of a list of digital editors on Twitter.
What do I mean by digital editor? In this instance, a journalist working primarily online, on web projects or co-ordinating multimedia output. The web editor of a newspaper site or magazine site, for example. It’s in no particular order, except for being divided by ‘traditional’ industry sectors at the moment, but if this isn’t useful, just let us know – would be great to get more international representatives too.
But the criteria for inclusion on the list are intentionally loose – this is aimed at networking, problem-solving and idea sharing between journalists working in the same space and similar roles. (Feel free to nominate any additions or drop us a tweet @journalismnews)
UPDATE April 16 – please read blog post two on how to message the group via Twitter
Newspapers
Alison Gow (@alisongow) – executive editor, digital, Liverpool Daily Post & Liverpool Echo
Kevin Matthews (@kmatt) – head of web and data, Liverpool Daily Post
Neil MacDonald (@xxnapoleonsolo) – deputy head of web and data, Liverpool Daily Post
Jo Wadsworth (@jowadsworth) – web editor, Brighton Argus
Tom Pegg (@tomatthechad) – digital content manager, Mansfield Chad
James Goffin (@jamesgoffin) – regional web producer, Archant
Sarah Booker (@sarah_booker) – web editor, Worthing Herald
Gustav Svensson (@gustavsvensson) – web editor, entertainment and arts, Sydsvenskan.se
Stephen Emerson (@stephen_emerson) – deputy online editor, Scotsman.com
Sam Shepherd (@SamShepherd) – online journalist, Bournemouth Daily Echo
Joanna Geary (@timesjoanna) – web development editor, business, Times Online
Sarah Hartley (@foodiesarah) – head of online editorial, MEN Media
Iain Hepburn (@iainmhepburn) – online editor, DailyRecord.co.uk
Lucia Adams (@luciatimes) – web development editor, Times Online
Carmen Boles (@carmenb) – online news editor, Gazette.com
Marcus Warren (@MarcusWa) – editor, Telegraph.co.uk
Dan Owen (@danowen) – executive editor online, Trinity Mirror
Steve Nicholls (@steve_nicholls) – multimedia editor, Birmingham Post
Anna Jeys (@ajeys) – multimedia editor, Birmingham Mail
Steve Wollaston (@stevewollaston) – multimedia editor, BPM Media and Sunday Mercury
Julie Martin (@jules_27) – Teesside Evening Gazette
Helen Dalby (@helendalby) – regional multimedia manager, NCJ Media
Nick Turner (@nickincumbria) – head of digital content, CN Group
Christian Dunn (@christiandunn) – digital news editor, NWN Media
Hugh Dixon (@hugh_d) – web editor and production editor, thisisbath/Bath Chronicle
Paul Cockerton (@paulcockerton) – web editor, Lancashire Telegraph
Dan Owens (@hornetdan1979) – deputy news editor, Northampton Chronicle and Echo
Dan Kerins (@dankerins) – web journalist, Southern Daily Echo
Broadcast
Marsha Graham (@marshagoldcoast) – multimedia manager for 102.9FM Hot Tomato, Australia
Rob Winder (@robwinder) – news editor, Al Jazeera website, Washington DC
Tom Thorogood (@TomThorogood) – digital news editor, MTV
Magazines
Martin Stabe (@martinstabe) – online editor, Retail Week
Victoria Thompson (@VicThompson) – assistant online editor, Nursing Times
Neil Durham (@NeilDurham) – deputy editor, GP and Independent Nurse
John Robinson (@PulseToday) – digital content manager, Pulse Today
Peter Houston (@p_houston) – editorial director for Advanstar Communications, Europe
Alex Smith (@alexsmith68) – web editor, Building.co.uk
Keira Daley (@daleyrant) – web editor, Australian print magazine
Lara McNamee (@lovelylara33) – assistant intelligence editor, ICIS
Gabriel Fleming (@gabefleming) – online editor, Nursing Times
Janie Stamford (@janiestamford) – contract catering editor, Caterer & Hotelkeeper
Robin Latchem (@lgcplus) – online editor, Local Government Chronicle
Keely Stocker (@keelystocker) – digital content manager, Drapers Online
Scott Matthewman (@scottm) – assistant manager, The Stage
Specialist website
Michael Hubbard (@michaelomh) – founder and music editor, MusicOmh
Krystal Sim (@krystalsim) – web editor for sustainability magazine BSD – bsdlive.co.uk
Arun Marsh (@ArunMarsh) – content producer/editor, Local Gov
Rick Waghorn (@MrRickWaghorn) – publisher, MyFootbalWriter
Emma Waddingham (@emmawad) online editor, Legal-Medical.co.uk
Michael McCarthy (@HealthGuide) online editor, LocalHealthGuide
Steve Gooding (@rmtimestech)- Romney Marsh Times
Manoj Solanki (@ManojSolanki) – SeekBroadband.com
Graham Holliday (@noodlepie) – digital editor, Frontline Club
Craig McGinty (@craigmcginty) – publisher, ThisFrenchLife
Mark Crail (@markcrail) – managing editor, XpertHR
Freelance
Adam Oxford (@adamoxford)
Rachel Colling (@rachcolling)
Ashanti Omkar (@ashantiomkar)