Obama

As the week in which Barack Obama was elected the 44th President of the United States draws to a close, it seems that everything there is yet to say about him has already been said - somewhere or other.
The scale of his amazing impact is well-reflected in the UK's regional media, where put-upon newsdesks are vox-popping their own readers/viewers/listeners to discover the local view on the first African-American President.
Of course, such an approach is a quick and readable filler piece, but does it have any real relevance to those forking out 40p to the newsagent? I'm not suggesting that the Wirral Globe starts asking what an Obama White House will mean for Birkenhead, but would something midway between the two extremes be too much to ask?

We're all doomed!

It's a time of gloom and doom in local newspapers ... 'twas ever thus.
These observations on how social changes may be responsible for hitting local papers where they hurt are nothing new, and there may be truth in the premise that many people now have little interest in the community in which they live.
But I don't think it's the whole story. After all, populations have always shifted, eventually they settle and an individual's interest in local issues grows. Perhaps more important is how local newspapers in general have failed to nurture that potential.
Wherever you look newsroom staffing levels have shrunk and duties have swollen. Your average overworked, underpaid journalist has striven to produce the quality stories his or her predecessors did, but they can only do so much. Time out of the office to dig around for stories became a luxury long ago.
So, over the past 15 years (at least) there has been an inevitable drop in quality and the punters aren't daft. Even those who do part with their 30-odd pence have probably noted today's edition contains nothing from today at all, since most papers are now completed the previous evening to reduce costs. Could these also be reasons why news is being sought from other sources?
Whatever the truth, it's a real pity. If the decline is irreversible the only winners are those whom local papers have traditionally harried.

"Day return to Lime Street, please."

As kind of predicted yesterday ... here is the inevitable fall-out from Leunig-gate: he's offered to do a Boris.

Leunig Toons

Say again? A right wing think tank has published a report by economist Tim Leunig suggesting Northerners head South because our great cities are in irreversible decline? And he's only ever been up here once before?
Delicious. And excellent grist for the North's news mills.
As 'named' cities, there was huge fun to be had at the Sunderland Echo while the Bradford Telegraph & Argus treated it a bit more seriously.
But perhaps the best coverage (unsurprisingly) was in the Liverpool Echo, which has its home in the other notable city named in the report. Under the headline Meet the boffin who says 'abandon Liverpool' it went on to publish his email address at the London School of Economics.
Genius.

"Quite extraordinary"

Could the word "extraordinary" be the most commonly heard adjective in BBC News programming?

Certainly, you can't throw a brick at Radio 5 Live without hitting a presenter mid-use. Someone should tell them that news, by its very nature, is extraordinary. I'll stop moaning now.

The Castleford Project

A Big Issue in the North job took me to Castleford, West Yorkshire, last week where Channel 4 are filming a town-wide makeover programme.

The Castleford Project started out back in 2003 and was finally completed earlier this month with the opening of a sleek, contemporary footbridge over the River Aire. It was just one of 11 improvement projects commissioned from top architects by the town's residents.

I saw a few of the outcomes and it seems to have been a worthwhile exercise in regeneration and community pride. Hopefully it'll be good telly too; the resulting documentary series will be broadcast in four parts throughout August.

But after five years of work and millions of pounds in complicated mixed-source funding, I can't imagine it'll become a series.

Watch yer!

Get a load of this on HoldtheFrontPage.
It suggests the Home Secretary will cast a blind eye should the police decide to "restrict or monitor" journalists at public events.
Journalists have always had the same rights as any other law-abiding member of the public - it's the basis on which we attend court hearings or local authority meetings for example.
The extract from Jacqui Smith's letter makes me wonder what constitutes a "public event" and the reasons why police officers may choose to take action against the media . . . the protection of crime scenes is an obvious motive, but maybe demonstrations too? Surely not Golden Wedding celebrations?
I expect the loan reporter, perhaps accompanied by a photographer, to be the most obvious target for this kind of measure, not press packs or TV news crews who can film back.
Monitoring is one of the issues tackled in this is interesting documentary:

Freed 'em

A striking article in the Edinburgh Evening News reports the successful release of dozens of women who had been forced to work in the sex trade.
Earlier this year I met Nick Kinsella, the man responsible for coordinating the Pentameter Two operation which culminated in today's raids. Kinsella heads the UK Human Trafficking Centre, a remarkable organisation which plans for months to win battles like today's.
Part of my interview with him, which was published by the Big Issue in the North, can be found here (I haven't yet got the technology to post the whole piece).

Fish 'n' tiffs for 'two cods'

A great little piece in the Hull Daily Mail detailing how former deputy PM and self-confessed bulimic, John Prescott, won't be too welcome at his local fish and chip shop from now on.
Prezza, once nicknamed 'two Jags' for his favoured mode of Government transport, may end up regretting his take-away tangle more than this.

All at sea . . . the pools are closing

Just two weeks ago the Government announced its plans for free swimming for the elderly and under 16s to celebrate the 2012 Olympics in London.
Strange then that local authorities like that in Bradford, W. Yorkshire, are paying consultants to advise on the closure of public pools.

"We are IN the tornado!"

Idiots.

Panorama?

Jeremy Vine tackles his toughest investigation yet.

World news round-up

Angry Kenyan commuters file an extreme complaint against their bus company. The long arm of the law finally catches up with Bombay's most elusive pervert. Finally, an 'attitude' headline from (where else?) New York.

Super Raf Banana

Liverpool has a Super Lamb Banana. It's had one for ten years now. The much-loved sculpture (far left) moves around the city so you never know quite where you'll bump into it. But your chances of doing so increase this summer when, as part of the European Capital of Culture year, 100 replicas dolled up in the style of Mersey landmarks and icons go on display. The Liverpool Echo reports that the very ace one on the right is a homage to Liverpool FC's Rafa the Gaffer. It's all reminiscent of the excellent Berlin bears, and the Liverpool event takes place over ten weeks beginning in June.

Obama who?!

It's dragging on, they haven't even settled on the candidates yet and still the US election process manages to maintain its mesmerisingly odd momentum. Check out this opinion piece in the New York Daily News which outlines why Obama's middle name has now become an issue. Astonishing.

Now where did I leave Manchester? Oh yes, in Leeds.

Simple mistake

Aren't the rock stars of my youth getting older? More pertinently, aren't news subs getting younger? And terrible things happen when those two phenomena crash.

Unfortunately this is the best picture I could find to illustrate the cruel slap in the face dealt to '80s Scot-rockers Simple Minds earlier today (it's a real pity Sky News tidied it up for their video web service). The channel's exclusive report on the new Mandela concert featured an interview with Jim Kerr and captioned him as being of Scottish Minds.

Any way, you'll just have to imagine it now.

Good carbon news

The Norway Post (the self-proclaimed Doorway to Norway - brilliant) has reproduced a press release on a local carbon storage project.
This is nothing new, in fact Norway itself already has another storage programme bigger than this one. I just point it out because it's a bit of good enviro-news and they seem way ahead over there.

The Bridge

The Sydney Morning Herald picture made me look twice. And it made me Sydney-sick - even though its raining.

Edyookayshun

Earlier this month there was near anarchy over plans by Buckinghamshire New University (the dreaming spires of High Wycombe?) to offer a degree in 'selling beds'.
Any how, they've now been outshone by San Franciscan academics - a pot school no less. Genius.

Asbo-ronomy

Excellent footage of the Sun 'dissing' a comet shows why the kids might be right to stick to their tanning salons after all.

Completely Tesco

Feisty gran Dot Reid is 'sticking it to the man' using his own red tape.
I can't imagine Sir Terry will be losing any sleep over Dot's gesture, but what a gesture. Isn't it a belting Echo story? Warms your heart.

First things first

I've always hated workplace blogs.
They're usually pompous and bone-achingly dull even to those inside the organisation.
But, being self-employed and with a newly born website, I felt it was probably time to grasp the grenade. Everyone else has.
In keeping with that position here's my Mission Statement; I intend for my blog to be as pompous and dull as any other damn blog out there.
Good luck.