Category Archives: The Training Zone

I should open this blog with a disclaimer that these are my views as a Journlaist, and not necessarily those of my employer. The piece is meant as an observation of the relationship between reporters and their sources, and may well stimulate some debate on the subject. Since the start of the year, I’ve beenContinue reading “Rocks and hard places”

Last week the latest audience ratings for UK radio were published. As usual there was more spinning from station managers than Alistair Campbell in a gym class armed with comedy plates. And, as usual, the raw numbers can never tell the whole story. In unashamedly blowing my own trumpet, I’d like to think that myContinue reading “Ratings or Reputation?”

Here’s a question. What actually constitutes news these days? Of course, there are as many answers to that question as there are listeners to your radio station of choice. And it’s long been claimed that “the news” is gradually being dumbed down by just about anybody from Radio 4 downwards. Targeting the news to a particularContinue reading “A Matter Of Factual”

On a thoroughly dark day for journalism – in which two US journalists were apparently shot dead by one of their own disgruntled colleagues, it’s easy to see why our profession has something of “a reputation” – and all too often, the wrong reputation. However, it’s worth reminding ourselves – and the rest of society – whyContinue reading “Katrina – and the radio waves.”

Any radio producer will be familiar with the newsroom conversation when it comes to inviting contributors on air. Inevitably, the question will be asked : “Can you come into the studio?” Seasoned guests know the form. An interview just tends to work better if it’s face to face. And the perception is that the audience getsContinue reading “The Skype’s The Limit”

There can be little doubt that Cilla Black was one of those figures rightly described by man as a “national treasure”. And her death at the weekend rightly deserved top billing in the news. But suggestions that the BBC was too slow to report her demise are somewhat wide of the mark. Rod McKenzie, theContinue reading “A Lorra Lorra Gaffes”

The pesky BBC. Filling our nation with all of those radio stations, enriching our listening experience and – get this – having the cheek to do it with your money. Honestly, if you believed some of the rants in recent days from apparently well-educated and well-heeled radio professionals, you’d wonder why the BBC was everContinue reading “Let’s (Not) Talk About It”