The Training Zone
-
Handbags, Peanuts and Quavers
Despite the subdued nature of some delegates this morning – presumably reflecting my own hangover – there’s been plenty of shouting. The Finance paper is normally pretty fiery, but even moreso this year because of the Union’s financial crisis. Even before we get down to debating the controversial subs increase, a long line forms of…
-
A Radio Station, a Piper and a hangover
Conferences cam be relentless affairs. Sitting in a hall for the best part of seven hours, attempting to interpret arguments and counter arguments can all be very confusing and draining. Which is why socialising is an equally important part of post conference business. On Friday night I met up with Simon, a former student member…
-
Member of Honour
To many outsiders, the idea of slapping a colleague on the back at a works do means nothing. But this isn’t just any other slap on the back. Each year the NUJ bestows its highest accolade – the Member of Honour – on a senior member. And this year it’s the turn of John Barsby…
-
Community Treasures
So we’re finally up and running, with proper motions being discussed. For those not familiar with the terminology, that’s not just idle chat about the digestive system. In fact, there’s a rather neat motion being proposed by the Trinity Mirror chapel. In order to stop the closure of local newspapers, a campaign to designate the…
-
Let’s Gerron Wi It!
The morning’s proceedings have been dominated by two significant events. I say significant – to be honest they’re the only two things that have diverted my attention from a succession of speeches to do with the Annual Report, which consist of sometimes interesting information, but usually delivered with outstanding dreariness. So, significant event number one.…
-
Whine on the Tyne
Normally, the first day of the NUJ conference proper sees most people in fairly fresh form. But thanks to a combination of hospitality and hostility last night, it’s a fairly subdued start to proceedings. Here’s my view for the next three days. And here’s the conference hall, in the distinctly 1960s surroundings of the Newcastle…
-
Talk Of The Toon
Traditionally, August is seen as the silly season in journalism. The general rule of thumb being that everyone’s on holiday so not much gets done. And what follows the silly season? It is, of course, the conference season. But whilst your TV screens have probably mostly been filled this week by Labour and over the…
-
A Cymru Conundrum
The thing about Heart is, it always sounds the same, no matter where you’re listening. Unless you’re in North East Wales. Heart Cymru is somewhat unique in Global Radio’s network of female-skewed pop music stations. And it’s all down the history of the licence. Heart Cymru was the product of merging two licences – Marcher…
-
Don’t Shoot The Messenger
The phrase “damned if you do and damned if you don’t” frequently comes up in newsroom conversations. Whatever you do or don’t do as a journalist, someone will already be lining up to attack you. And nowhere more so than within the BBC, which this week has had to explain the background to a series…
-
One View Over The Cuckoo’s Nest
As a postscript to this week’s earlier blog, it’s been interesting to see our friends at the BBC Local Radio Forum dismissing points made by members who disagree with its founders. Make your own mind up : And then one of their supporters telling another member to “get a life”, an abusive comment supported by……
TravelCaster 