Journal Live - Blog Central

Magic coins save the newspaper industry

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:57:36 +0000

Debate continues to rage Rupert Murdoch's decision to charge for access to The Sun and the Times' websites, with most people in the industry saying he'll probably fail (but secretly hoping he'll succeed so they can do it too: just like when he smashed the print unions.)

The Guardian have called charging for online content "stupid" but also signalled that they might launch a "members' club", in which subscribers could get access to additional content that can't be replicated elsewhere.

I do, though, like the great Charlie Brooker's contribution to the debate, a column entitled "You know what'll save newspapers? Magic coins." (You can read it here.)

How much would you pay to read this blog?

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 14:17:38 +0000

Not much, I would reckon, particularly as it's been free for the last 18 months.

I ask because Rupert Murdoch has announced this morning that he is soon going to charge for access to his news websites, including the sites of The Sun, News of the World and the Times.

Would you pay for news on the net? I'd be surprised if you would when there are so many other sources of news online that you can get for free.

We mourn Sir Bobby

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 14:27:35 +0000

The sad death of Sir Bobby Robson was that rare thing in newspapers: a happening momentous enough to literally hold the presses.

We first got an inkling of what had happened early on but had to hold back on publication until we were 100% sure. From there people had to work at breakneck speed to get the story in the Evening Chronicle.

What made it unusual was that Sir Bobby was a person who most journos in this office - normally a bunch of sourfaced, hard-bitten soaks - had genuinely affection for, some as personal friends, some merely as fans.

Kinder egg where?

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 13:42:12 +0000

The Journal gets regular emails from North News, a Newcastle-based press agency who supply stories to regional and national newspapers.

To get tales noticed, they tend to put a lot of keywords into the subject of their emails which can lead to some amusing titles.

I particularly like one which arrived this week titled "BUM WRAP - MAN CAUGHT WITH HEROIN INSIDE KINDER EGG UP HIS BACKSIDE."

Newsroom blues

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 11:04:56 +0000

I didn't think I'd be writing about job losses in our newsroom quite so quickly after the last round of redundancies.

Having only re-organised in January - merging The Journal, Evening Chronicle and Sunday Sun into joint newsgathering and production teams - people were a bit shocked last week when the company asked for more volunteers.

Last time round, we were asked to do more with less and that seemed a big ask. At least time we're being asked to do less with less, but that does mean a few titles closing.

News of the News of the World

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:12:37 +0000

I'm not bugging your phone, honest: budgets in here are so tight that we can barely afford our own phones, never mind hacking into other people's.

Today's Guardian story about an alleged culture of illegal phone bugging at the News of the World has been great fun. For journos on local papers, it's very much a case of how the other half lives.

Some people will, I'm sure, tar all journalists with the same brush and assume we're all up to the dark arts. I can assure you that here at the Journal and Chronicle, we have to get our information by that old fashioned (and cheap) method of talking to people...

The Express...in black and white

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 16:57:31 +0000

There were two interesting stories on race issues in the news this morning.

First off, the Royal College of Midwives made mincemeat of the British National Party over its claims that immigration is fuelling a crisis in NHS maternity care, pointing out that it is only immigrant midwives that keep the service going.

Secondly, Lord Carlile, the independent reviewer of anti-terror laws, said that police were using anti-terror laws to stop and search innocent people to avoid suggestions of racial bias.

In defence of local newspapers...

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:28:07 +0000

This newsroom blog has of late turned into something of a funeral procession.

Barely a week goes by without someone predicting the death of the regional press, and today two leading industry figures have said that a "perfect storm" of falling income and rising costs could see half of the UK's local papers close within five years.

Christopher Thomson, chief executive of newspaper and magazine publisher DC Thompson & Co, and Claire Enders, chief executive of media research firm Enders Analysis, painted a bleak picture in evidence to the Commons culture, media and sport committee.

Pie charts? We got 'em

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:52:39 +0000

You may think that it is only television that can use incomprehensible graphics to spice up their election coverage.

But oh no. Below is a pie chart showing the votes garnered by candidates in last week's parish elections in Ashington. It was sent to us by Northumberland County Council and as you can see, it doesn't really tell you a whole lot about the poll, but I think it is rather beautiful.

Who is the cleverest reporter?

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 15:23:51 +0000

I know what you're thinking: just who is the cleverest reporter in the new Journal/Chronicle newsroom?

For the last few weeks I have been running a daily quiz among the specialists in here and the current leaders are our political reporters Adrian Pearson and Amy Hunt.

The first person to 100 will officially be named the Cleverest Reporter but seeing as the current leaders currently have a score of 12, this could go on for a while. Rest assured that I'll keep you updated on the scores...

The jury is in (unfortunately)

Wed, 27 May 2009 16:14:40 +0000

I ended my last blog by saying that only time would tell whether or not I'd manage to pull off the effect I was going for in my article about Newcastle United's relegation (slightly downcast but with a bit of defiance).

Well thanks to a new feature on our website, which allows you to leave comments on the bottom of all the articles we write, the first verdict is in.

"What nauseating arrogance," says someone calling themselves JohnAin. "I would have loved to have played at the Gallowgate end and banged a hat trick past arrogant gits like the author."

Thanks for your comments, sir!

Great circulation reducing schemes of our time...

Tue, 26 May 2009 16:27:53 +0000

Of all the ways to reduce circulation, putting my face on the front of The Journal has to be one of the most effective.

It's small, thankfully, but still my ugly mug is on page one today and that's never good to see.

This woeful state of affairs came about as we surveyed the news environment in the North East yesterday and realised that there was still only one story - Newcastle United's relegation - in town.

Expenses are fun!

Wed, 13 May 2009 14:54:41 +0000

One of the amusing things about the MP expenses story is that if there was ever one profession that has exploited expenses more than our elected representatives, it's journalists.

The key difference, of course, is that we were just getting more money out of employers rather than John Q. Taxpayer. But it isn't so very long that journos used to treat expenses as an extension to their salary in much the same way MPs currently do.

The other difference too is that our employers clamped down on our expenses culture years ago (so I've been unable to claim for cleaning my moat, for example, for a number of years).

Graham Onions: why sports subs love a good pun

Fri, 08 May 2009 14:17:37 +0000

Sub-editors - the people who check our work, make it fit on the page and write headlines - love a good pun.

This is even more true for sports subs, and there is nothing they like more than someone with a name that lends itself to a play on words. I can only imagine that they have been going doolally with excitement at Durham cricketer Graham Onions' debut for England yesterday, where he took five wickets and gave them all something to write about.

Sorry seems to be the hardest word...

Wed, 06 May 2009 13:47:12 +0000

Ever noticed that when newspapers and magazines print apologies for stories they've got wrong, they seem a lot smaller and less prominent than the original piece?

Well today Woman magazine has found itself punished by the Press Complaints Commission after it failed to publish a PCC ruling with due prominence.

In February, the Commission upheld a complaint from Eastenders actress Natalie Cassidy after an article stated that she had lost weight by visiting a gym rather than by following the routines set out in her own exercise DVD.