Birmingham Mail - Editors Chair Blog

Why unfit editors should not play football...

2009-06-30T20:29:53Z

This was Sunday night, four hours after scoring a goal for Whitehouse Wanderers' dads v Whitehouse Wanderers U-12s.

Not a good idea.

By yesterday morning my left hamstring and right knee had completely frozen, leading to a day lying down at home next to a laptop.

My darling boys uploaded it to You Tube, so I might as well invite a global micky-take here...

Warning: viewers with a delicate disposition should not click this link...

Responding to Michael Jackson's death

2009-06-26T07:17:52Z

The first hint that something massive was about to happen came with the breaking line during BBC1's 10 o'clock news that Michael Jackson had been rushed to hospital in LA.

Then, at 10.53pm, Paul Cole, the executive editor on the Sunday Mercury, texted the chilling 'Michael Jackson dead!'.

Who to tell first? Quick check texts to fellow editors Marc Reeves, Birmingham Post, and Dave Brookes, Coventry Telegraph, whose papers go to bed at around midnight. Both knew and were onto it for their page ones.

Internet. Quick text to online editor David Higgerson, with birminghammail.net uploads the quick result, along with the rest of Trinity Mirror sites.

Now, the paper. Our first deadline is not until 9.15am, so there's time to talk it through and cascade a plan of action. 'Shall we go in now' was a text at midnight. 'No - sleep. Start early and refreshed.'

And the team were in much earlier than me. By the time I'd held an early 6.45am conference they'd already replaced certain overnight pages, made room on pages 6 to 10 for the local and national diet of news, leaving pages one to five wide open for Michael Jackson.

Yes, it's a national story, and yes, it's now everywhere. But this is a moment to fill the boots of the first print media with the full story and pictures (the nationals first editions missed it, the later updates only carrying a quick changed front and obit).

Decision one. Poster front. Marcus Queenbrough on pictures and Stacey Barnfield, the Birmingham Mail's executive editor, select the pic and go for simplicity. Here's an early version.

This means moving the page one ad. 7.15am calls to the ad director, and it's now on the back page... sorry Ken (Montgomery, head of sport).

Themes for 2&3: The story. The gatherings. The local tributes. Plans for midday gatherings of mourners. For 4&5: The obit. The life. The times. The colour. The tributes from stars across the world.

Whittock sends a respectful cartoon. Too much for the front end. Clear space for it on letters deeper in. The editorial: talk through the theme and thoughts with scribe Graham Young.

Central TV call. Can they film it coming off the presses at 11.45am for their news programme? Yes. Arranged.

As I tap, the final first edition pieces are being put through, so I must leave the screen and start proofing.

Already in my mind is the main edition later today... more local names, reaction from local fans, news of gatherings at Birmingham Cathedral, a planned Di-style response.

And tomorrow, we've wiped the regular 8-page archive edition pull-out and execs are already selecting pictures for The King of Pop tribute pull-out.

Readers buying today's paper will be prompted to email/post online their memories, tribute and thoughts, and as many of these as possible will be carried in tomorrow's tribute. (email letters@birminghammail.net by 6pm if you're wondering)

Deadlines looming, gotta go. Here's the Whittock. Buy the paper to see the rest.

Gripping content can sell newspapers - whether it's online or not

2009-06-25T12:49:59Z

There has been interesting debate here and elsewhere on the web about the print-online treatment of gripping content.

At times, we've trialled with print exclusives, instant online uploads, etc, and this balancing act will continue to evolve as we manage relationships and revenues with our readers and advertisers.

Sometimes, though, it's refreshing to see that print readers' attentions are just grabbed by great content in the newspaper... whether it's online as well or not.

Last Wednesday morning saw the release of football fixtures for 2009/10, embargoed until 10am.

Good timing for us, although this was also on BBC, Sky, etc, broadcast and online, with their main stories for the rest of that day and evening discussing the various clashes in detail.

So did this weaken the attractiveness of the Birmingham Mail?

Not on your nelly! There was still huge interest on seeing the fixtures in print, and in reading our reporters' views on what the schedules meant for each local club.

The result was a week-on-week lift of nearly 6,500 sales for Wednesday's print editions.

Regular 'Editor's Chair' readers will have noted our recent pleasure at the Barry saga sales lift of two weeks before. Well, this fixtures lift was 2,000+ higher than that week's sale.

Indeed, the best Wednesday for five months, and within touching distance of last year's sale.

The moral of this tale? Some content is so important that readers just cannot get enough of it, and all mediums can fill their boots.

I'll blog the online hits fixtures surge later.

Letters page prizes worth £2,000 for Birmingham Mail readers

2009-06-23T09:29:34Z

I'm delighted with a new partnership I've agreed with Royal Mail, offering our top letter writers a slice of prizes worth more than £2,000 over the next year.

Every week we will be assessing the quality of correspondence published on the Birmingham Mail's 'Your Say' letters page and selecting the best of the week.

The winning reader will be sent a sterling silver impression of the historic Penny Black stamp, which comes complete with a presentation folder packed with information.

Worth £26, the ingot pack is sure to be a collectors' item in years to come, and we will give one away every week for the next year.

Each weekly winner will then be in with a chance of scooping a fantastic 'letter of the month' prize, also courtesy of Royal Mail.

With a retail value of £58, the 2008 Stamp Yearbook is a beautiful record of all the stamps released in 2008.

The boxed book includes all the stamps issued that year as well as articles about the stamp subjects and the stories behind the designs.

We have scores of letters every day, and this partnership is welcome as a way of rewarding the best correspondents.

Readers interested can take part by sending letters for publication in print editions of the Birmingham Mail to: The Editor, Birmingham Mail, Floor 6, Fort Dunlop, Fort Parkway, Birmingham B24 9FF.

Alternatively, you can email letters@birminghammail.net or call freephone number 0800 138 2555 or 0870 830 6985 between 8am and 5.30pm specifying that you are submitting a letter to the Birmingham Mail.

Good luck!

Sunday Mercury reaches for the stars

2009-06-19T07:23:35Z

A proud day at Fort Dunlop after top honours were picked up by the Sunday Mercury at last night's Midland Media Awards 2009.

The Birmingham Mail's sister title won Newspaper of the Year at the prestigious event held at New Bingley Hall, Hockley.

Organised by Birmingham Press Club, the awards were entered by titles from as far away as Leicester, Worcester, Stoke and Wolverhampton.

But it was journalists from Bpm Media, the publishers of the Birmingham Mail, who won a string of the most coveted awards.

News Reporter of the Year was scooped by Adam Aspinall (below, left) after a string of exclusive investigations for the Sunday Mercury.

Photographer of the Year was awarded to Iain Findlay (above, right) for a stunning selection of pictures that appeared in the Birmingham Mail, Sunday Mercury and Birmingham Post in the last 12 months.

And Mike Lockley won Columnist of the Year for his popular, stylish and witty weekly page in the Sunday Mercury.

All winners deserve congratulations for some superb work in what has been a difficult 12 months for the industry.

I was particularly pleased at the Sunday Mercury's award. I now edit the paper along with the Birmingham Mail, but it is the dedicated team of brand champions who deserve applause for maintaining the title's high quality and that enviable knack of surprising readers on the front page every single week.

A moment for executive editor Paul Cole, (below, centre, holding trophy) desk heads Tony Larner, (left of Paul), Nick Harries, (right of Paul, in waistcoat), Lee Gibson and Fionnuala Bourke to take a bow!

There were healthy entries from Bpm Media staff, with the following journalists also shortlisted at the awards: Jeanette Oldham, Nick McCarthy, Jonathan Fuller-Rowell, Tim Easthope, Richard McComb, Kat Keogh, Jon Griffin, Jon Perks, Tony Larner, Lorne Jackson, Graham Young and Phil Vinter.

Well done to all!

30,000+ extra Mail web hits from the Barry saga

2009-06-11T09:50:28Z

Wow!

Just asked for and received the latest figures for the web experience of birminghammail.net on last week's Barry story, and they make just as good reading as newspaper sales.

As we know, we only teased Barry's letter online initially with a come on for the print edition, thus preventing too early a copy-paste-lift by other sites, and generating huge publicity for the Birmingham Mail brand.

But as well as giving us a 4,000+ print sales lift, I'm told that last Wednesday also triggered 30,000 extra hits on www.birminghammail.net for the day!

This speaks volumes of the active involvement in this trial strategy from the Mail's web editors, a structured approach to maximise not only the potential of the story online but also in print.

To quote one of our sports-focused web editors, Steve Wollaston: "The initial tease on www.birminghammail.net with cross reference to the print edition [and later uploads] enabled office and home-based web readers to dash out and grab a copy of the biggest football story in the area.

"The aim was to allow those who could grab the paper to do so and then after the paper had hit the streets the digital team would launch the story onto the web for the ex-pat community, national community and those who couldn't get their hands on the paper.

"We teased the story twice before publishing in its entirety. Before it hit the web we got in touch with our contacts within the Villa online community and seeded the story accordingly.

"Throughout the day we maintained a vigilant watch on other web sites who may have 'got their hands' on a copy of the letter, in certain situations we contacted websites to ensure that they credited us with the exclusive and indeed didn't publish our exclusive copy.

"When it became clear that a rival had indeed typed the letter in and put it online we put out our full version of the story and, using good SEO techniques, managed to stay ahead of the game and hit the top of the Google News rankings.

"The result online was a combined total of roughly 30,000 extra hits for the day and the best daily performance for the website in 12 months.

"Subsequent spin-off stories and user-generated response stories have kept the momentum going and resulted in an excellent run of figures for the website."

Working with Steve on this activity on-day was Anna Jeys, Steve Nicholls and their boss, David Higgerson.

What a team!

4,000+ sales lift from Gareth Barry exclusive

2009-06-10T07:10:17Z

For an editor, there is just nothing like hearing about a lift in newspaper sales.

And if you planned that sales lift with particular actions, it's all the sweeter.

So Editor's Chair watchers will understand why I am smiling after reading this excerpt from the newspaper sales director's summary of last week's Birmingham Mail performance.

"Wednesday saw a strong increase, and was up 4,085 due to the exclusive 'Barry: why I'm leaving Villa' story. This was the best Wednesday for almost three months."

Now that's what I call a successful result of delaying the uploading of Barry's letter to appear online.

This absence until the afternoon prevented any initial copying and pasting and forced other media outlets to highlight our story.

The fact Barry wrote to Villa fans via the Birmingham Mail was covered by Setanta, Five Live, Sky Sports News, Talk Sport and the Press Association.

This was the sort of publicity you cannot buy, and directly resulted in thousands more readers buying the paper.

You can't do this with every story, of course, and this was of a particular nature... words that all sports media wanted and therefore were willing to boost the Birmingham Mail to gain access to.

But I will be remembering how well it worked for another occasion in the very near future!

EXCLUSIVE GARETH BARRY LETTER

2009-06-03T08:26:32Z

But before the numerous news and sports organisations who've been phoning all morning get TOO excited, this is not THAT letter.

This is our reply to Gareth, which appears in the editorial leader slot in tonight's paper.

Gareth's letter to fans is ONLY (ie: exclusively) in the Birmingham Mail print edition until 4pm today, when we will upload it to birminghammail.net.

Until that stage, we invoke our copyright on Gareth's letter.

Meanwhile, to whet appetites, here's our reply that appears in tonight's paper, page 14:

Dear Gareth -

FOOTBALLERS come and footballers go, but not many take the trouble to write to
supporters when they leave a club.

The majority disappear and kiss their new team badge without a thought for the loyal
thousands left behind.

So your decision to write to Villa fans explaining your decision to join Manchester
City is a welcome one.

Your words - describing how you joined Villa as a 16-year-old boy and during the past
12 years have seen many changes at the club - will stir fond memories for those who
chanted your name as you matured from a promising youngster into an international
midfielder respected and admired throughout the game.

They will share your regret that the team and its fans didn't enjoy the success they
deserved during that time. And they will pray that you are right when you say that
Villa are in a great position to push on.

You are right when you say the manager will be able to strengthen the team with the
money generated by the deal - but, it has to be said, players like you, Gareth, are few and far between.

Many will understand the turmoil you went through as you struggled to decide what was
best for you and your career. They will understand your fears of going stale and
slipping into the comfort zone.

But fewer are going to be convinced by the reasons you give for joining Manchester City, a club that has often promised much but delivered nothing.

Gareth, Villa fans could have stomached you joining one of the truly big clubs like
Liverpool or Arsenal.

But - and no disrespect is meant here - Manchester City are hardly one of the
giants of the game, are they?

They might have a fortune to spend, but that doesn't guarantee success. Your words
don't wash and many supporters will suspect that money lies at the root of your decision.

That said, this city and newspaper is grateful for 12 years of fine service and we
send our sincere best wishes for the rest of your career.

Thanks for the memories... but don't pretend that cash has not tempted you!

The Editor

EXTRA, EXTRA! Princess Anne makes the late night final

2009-05-26T14:56:05Z

With the Birmingham Mail's Fort Dunlop HQ only in use for the last six months, there has been a series of high profile visits in 2009.

None was more important, however, than today's official office opening by HRH Princess Anne.

And while our newspaper and its companion website will record the plaque unveiling and official posy presentation, I thought Editor's Chair could offer an alternative view of a very special day.

Here's Ma'am correctly deciding which editor was wearing the most appropriate tie, for instance (and yes, mine was judged to be correct as opposed to Post editor Marc Reeves' dotty attempt):

And below you can witness a fisherman's tale in progress from yours truly... 'It was this big, it was, Ma'am, before the Mail went tabloid in the early 1970s.'

The chap who is causing the cheeky giggle on the snap below is Head of Content Gary Denning, designing today's final edition page one with the breaking news of HRH's arrival at Funlop towers. (And yes, we persuaded him to place the picture the right way up in the end...!)

And this was the moment when Anne gently jostled with Sunday Mercury sports supremo Lee Gibson at our all-titles news conference.... (Anne: 'One understands the Sunday Mercury is the story teller, whereas the other titles tell the news?' Lee: 'We certainly like to think that the Mercury offers the in-depth read, Ma'am!')

Also note in the same picture the 'best polished baldies' competition entered for the Royal occasion by, seated from left, features editor Paul Fulford, picture editor Steve Murphy and multi media editor Steve Wollaston...

In all seriousness, it was a memorable occasion having HRH join us for an hour or two and to officially open our new HQ.

These are difficult moments indeed for the nation's regional press, and so it was good to know that there is interest at the highest levels in how we are changing and trying to tackle the latest challenges.

Princess Anne appeared interested enough in how we instantly uploaded pictures, videos and stories of her visit onto our website.

But she was truly impressed when we presented her with an example of the strength of our traditional journalism by changing page one of our late final edition to announce her visit, late-breaking live news carried in papers on sale later this afternoon.

'One hopes that it will still be thought easier by the public to take all the stories home in a paper rather than having to look each one up separately on the internet,' she said.

I hope so, Ma'am, I certainly hope so.

Birmingham Mail editor nearly beaten by a giant dog...

2009-05-05T15:26:38Z

So there I was, warming up under the gaze of athletics star Aisha Hansen, along with nearly 2,000 others in the Birmingham Mail Fun Run on Sunday.

I know I'm over-weight, but this was my moment, a time when I would steadily jog 5km and come in ahead of at least half the runners.

And, in fairness, I did beat a stilt walker (it surely must have been easy for him up there on sticks), and in the final length I was neck-to-neck with a giant dog...!

But I did it! A very steady pace, timed at about 44-minutes, which was 90 seconds faster than last year.

My oldest son, Thomas, 16, came 5th out of the entire field in about ~~16 minutes~~ (dad's pride/error... Tom tells me this was just over 18 mins). Younger sons Ben, 12, and Daniel, 9, both managed it in about 26 minutes.

Ruth, their mum, made a very respectable 36 minutes (she's the good-looking one on the first picture, runner number 1513).

And, thanks to some very generous sponsors, the Dysons' efforts were worth a grand total of £700.

That was the real pleasure of the day. Nearly 2,000 Brummies out enjoying a sunny afternoon together... for other people.

Sponsorships will take a few weeks to roll in, but going by last year's average we're looking like at least £80,000, and possibly as much as £100,000.

This will be split 85% to Macmillan Cancer Support, the main organisers, and 15% to the Birmingham Mail Charity Trust, helping deprived, voluntary community groups.

Well done one and all! (Especially the dog!!)

Ruth Badger joins the Mail's 'jobs' campaign

2009-04-23T08:55:33Z

IT'S the worst recession in living memory - with one in 12 people in the West Midlands out of work.

But today the Birmingham Mail fights back against the black despair of the dole queue, with our new 'We Want To Work' campaign.

Your favourite newspaper has enlisted the skills of Apprentice TV star Ruth Badger to help eight local jobless people back into work, and give them hope again.

We will be tracking their progress closely over the next few weeks as Ruth brings her special skills to bear to give the eight a very real chance of a brighter future.

And we will be showing ALL readers the best way to get back to work, with the same campaign providing inside knowledge and top tips on the employment front.

The Mail knows how hard life is for some of our readers in this terrible economic downturn.

Around 36,000 people have lost their jobs in the region in the last three months alone, taking the region's jobless total to 223,000.

That's 36,000 people whose lives have been suddenly turned upside down, blighting their families' hopes and threatening the roofs over their heads.

Today the Mail stands up for every single one of those 223,000 jobless.

With Ruth Badger's and other experts' help, our 'We Want To Work' campaign will make a huge difference.

EXCLUSIVE: Bishop of Birmingham's canteen lunch after top tip

2009-04-08T15:20:21Z

The Bishop of Birmingham was the centrepiece of the 12.30pm news conference at Fort Dunlop.

Bishop David Urquhart spends regular days in workplaces around the city, to help him understand what makes his Parish tick.

What was interesting to me was his insistence at being treated like anyone else... even down to the 'chipped-potatoes covered in sweet and sour pork with a bottle of water' lunch he enjoyed with me in our staff canteen.

By chance, the visit came the day after his office's great exclusive tip to reporter Patrice John on the church rage over Villa's Easter Sunday clash, a story that went on to do the rounds on national press, TV and radio after it was broken in the Birmingham Mail.

"There was no way anyone else was going to get the story first!" Bishop David told me.

Nice one, Bish!

A good week of rowing for local people

2009-03-27T13:50:05Z

As I drive off towards a weekend of spashing around with my kids at Alton Towers, I'm reflecting on a good, honest week of rowing for local people.

We've rowed over libraries, Mail columnist Adrian Goldberg claiming that 'business transformation' in Yardley = cuts, a view fiercely rejected by deputy council leader (and Yardley councillor) Paul Tilsley.

The result has been three or four page leads debating the isue, the last one a 450-word pledge from Coun Tilsley pledging never to cut them. On the record promise stuff. Good for local people.

We've rowed about whether the Mail should have published a 'school risk list' related to the city's gangs, the geographical areas they exist in and the threat of recruitment from said schools.

Some at the council (not all) have raged that the Mail should never have published the list. Yet the list was FIRST published by the council (but only for the eyes of teachers).

We stand by our decision that the parents of Brum need the same tools as teachers to guide them in protecting their children.

We've rowed over the proposed 'Municipal Bank', and whether or not the council have 'scrapped' their initial plan of the old-style institution (please note the council say that there has been no idea scrapped, and it is all set to come to cabinet for a decision - a criticism of our view that we have published in the Mail).

My point?

Well, the media SHOULD row with the powers that be, whoever they are (this week the council), we SHOULD keep them on their toes, we SHOULD stick up for readers' rights, services and views.

Does it mean the Birmingham Mail is always right in every view it projects? Not necessarily, but becuase we exist with balance we openly invite rights of reply and encourage readers to make their own minds up.

But it feels good to have a few passionate conversations about the city in which we live.

Now... time for that pool. I feel a big splash coming.

Mike Whitby leading from the front on LDV

2009-03-24T18:04:17Z

Great emerging news this afternoon that LDV had been in meetings with the leader of Birmingham City Council to see what possibly could be done to help rescue the firm.

If anyone can make a difference, Mike Whitby can in his role.

And what a great story it would be for Birmingham if the company is saved after his intervention. Brummies looking after Brummies, and challenging the government to step in as well.

We have to manage expectations, of course... Mike cannot change the world and it could be that it is not possible to take things forward.

But the fact that he has made the effort and found the time to meet with LDV bosses is crucial and he should be applauded for this.

The first details on this story are in tonight's City Final edition, and we will be following it up with more details, we hope, in tomorrow's paper.

Should we remove old stories from the web when requested? Episode 2

2009-03-18T10:54:42Z

I know the original posting re. this issue created interest and some debate, so I've decided to share the latest episode.

The daughter of a convicted paedophile wrote to me asking for the internet reports on the case, relating to his job at Birmingham children's homes, to be erased.

I can only imagine the pain that the criminal behaviour of the father has caused this woman and her family.

These sorts of pressure to erase conviction reports will continue. I feel it is crucial to maintain the stance of NOT removing any such cases.

My reply to the lady concerned today:

March 18 2009

Dear Ms *******,

Thank you for you letter re. articles on our website concerning your father.

While I sympathise that his conviction has brought shame on your family, I'm afraid I am not in a position to remove his details from our websites.

Criminal convictions in Britain are quite rightly published so that there is a public record of the offences committed.

In this case, your father was convicted and jailed for eight years for indecency offences involving boys, a most serious offence.

His crimes were in Birmingham and would have affected many people and families in the circulation area of this newspaper.

I strongly feel this should not only have been recorded but also that articles relating to these incidents should remain online.

Yours sincerely

Steve Dyson
Editor,
Birmingham Mail