Such is the political climate at present, precious little comes as a surprise. But after more than six years of covering politics in the traditional Tory heartlands of Sussex, yesterday’s local elections results really did go beyond the predictable. One of the councils I’ve spent many an evening at, Arun, has been under Conservative rule…
Category: Headlines
Consumed by illness, while Brexit consumes others
Apologies that this blog has not been updated for a few weeks – it’s increasingly felt like our household has been gripped by the Black Death. It’s no secret that babies and toddlers are magnets for illness. And while Albie has yet to master walking or consuming milk, neither has he got to grips with…
When confusion is sometimes the only thing you can write about
However hard you try, sometimes the angle of the story lies in the fact that ‘mystery surrounds’ whatever it is you’re writing about. That concept rang true this week both at home and at work. It’s partly why I’ve not written anything for a little while – I’ve been trying to make sense of Albie’s…
Minister’s goal of every pupil learning to read music – should it be a priority?
A Government Minister wants all children to be able to read music by the time they leave primary school – but being someone who can, I fail to understand the importance. Nick Gibb is an MP on one of my newspaper’s patch, who also happens to be Minister for School Standards. Writing in the Times…
First shoes lead to fascinating trip down memory lane
When the battered old suitcase comes out and your other half and mum are present, it’s usually a signal for the dust to be blown from those pictures of you in the bath. It was therefore a relief to me (and readers of this blog, no doubt!), that a post-Christmas visit to my home town…
Why we are caught in a vicious social media circle – and negativity won’t solve anything
Used well, social media can be an incredible force for good. But too frequently it descends into a playground to kick around the same old complaints, aimed at the same old targets. Retail is a regular recipient of fault-finding. Just days before Christmas, a Worthing Facebook group debated a deserted evening high-street scene. The majority…
Producing a newspaper at Christmas: behind the scenes in journalism
Christmas is a time to unwind – but for many local journalists, the big day is not so relaxing. Depending on their newspapers – and breaking news – reporters drawing the short straw this year would at the very least be expecting an unwelcome phone call to draw their lunch to a swift conclusion. Let’s…
Making national news and finally cracking sleep after 11 months
Everyday life is pretty hectic at the moment – and that has impacted on how much I’ve been able to write recently. But even then, a lot has been achieved in blog terms. My last post leapt to the defence of pregnancy and parenthood company Bounty after it received a bit of a battering in…
BBC’s Press: a drama to make us journalists cringe
The titles of new BBC journalism drama Press roll and it’s already irritating most of the journalists watching. There’s some fancy shots of notepads with lots of longhand. Where’s their shorthand? Did the reporter flunk their entry exams? Why are they being burned? Their owners must be pretty confident they won’t need to defend any…
Spotlight, Press and the inside story into a major investigative journalism team
Oscar-winning biopic Spotlight aired on BBC Two last night, giving viewers a thrilling insight into the United States’oldest journalistic investigations unit. It was a timely showing, with new show Press airing for the first time last week to some mixed reviews from journalists, who questioned the accuracy of the British journalism drama. While I’ve yet…
