News, a press release or just churnalism?

If newspapers were to sack every writer who’d used press releases as the basis for his copy, there wouldn’t be any newspapers  left. Being fired for using someone else’s words is the fate experienced by Steve Penn at the Kansas City Star who was given his marching orders for copying from press releases. He’s now … Continue reading →

David Cameron and the P-word

One definition of perception: “the way in which something is regarded, understood, or interpreted”. (Oxford English Dictionary). Fairly simple to understand, especially for a politician, you would have thought. It’s how the world sees you, through your words and actions. So why does David Cameron appear to find it so hard to grasp this concept? … Continue reading →

Sly Bailey part 2: Sly, a lame duck? It’s all quackers.

Apparently, the fragrant Sly Bailey could be making a quicker exit from Trinity Mirror than she had hoped (wishful thinking). Following a row over her £1.7 million pay package, she had decided to step down at the end of the year with a reported £1 million ‘goodbye’ pay-off. However, the fact that TM might have … Continue reading →

A £1 million farewell to Sly Bailey – the ugly face of modern capitalism.

Having closed countless newspapers and thrown thousands of employees onto the scrapheap, Trinity Mirror chief executive Sly Bailey is to walk. Her reward for the carnage – £1 million. According to today’s Independent newspaper, the fragrant Ms Bailey will pick up the seven-figure sum for being a “good leaver” – i.e she ain’t gonna kick … Continue reading →

And the Sun headline if the new England manager had been black?

Having won the League One title with Charlton Athletic, Chris Powell has just been announced as the new England football manager. Cue the headline “Here Ne-gro, Here Ne-gro, Here Ne-gro”. Unlikely on both counts but just imagine if it hadn’t been Roy Hodgson but a black manager appointed to lead England (will it ever happen … Continue reading →