What went wrong with last week’s election? In media terms, clearly, it was a lack of narrative. How could the media make sense of the voting patterns in 2010? Massive swings to the Tories in unexpected seats, solid swings away from Labour in others. But swinging to where? Sometimes to Tory, sometimes to Labour, sometimes […]
The latest argument for a “Progressive Rainbow Coalition Government” in the UK comes from the Scottish Nationalists, who argue that a LibCon arrangement would be resented by the 83% of people who didn’t vote Conservative in Scotland. I’m sure the 100% of people who didn’t vote SNP in England will welcome a government that includes the […]
I usually love elections, but, despite the fact that this is the most unpredictable, closest-run contest I’ve known, I just can’t seem to get worked up about this one. I’ve always enjoyed them. Appropriately enough, the first election I was really aware of was in 1974 – the last time that we had a minority […]
[Part 1] [Part 2] [Part 3] [Part 4] [Part 5] The last in our series of tips for media freelancers is from freelance production editor David Powning, who follows his first rule and goes the extra mile to give us half a dozen pieces of excellent – if hardcore – freelance advice. Go the extra […]
One perennial feature of British elections is the amusing consumer barometer of political affiliation. This year we’ve had the Radio Times variant Dalek cover – in red, yellow or blue – and a potato crisp sampling campaign by Real Crisps, which seems to find that Clegg Crisps are way out in the lead with a […]
[Part 1] [Part 2] [Part 3] [Part 4] [Part 5] Today’s tips come from long-time freelance sub-editor Loveday Cuming, who recognises the importance of interpersonal skills to freelance success, particularly when it comes to office-based subbing and production shifts. Be proactive with your network It’s all very well having a bulging contacts book of potential […]
[Part 1] [Part 2] [Part 3] [Part 4] [Part 5] Third in our roster of freelance advisers is freelance writer and editor Stuart Derrick. Like many in the world of business print publishing, he’s found his niche specialisms and their attendant titles disappearing, and his old media skills under threat from the digital revolution. In […]
[Part 1] [Part 2] [Part 3] [Part 4] [Part 5] Second in the series of tips for freelancers features writer, editor, trainer and Londoner Martin Cloake. Martin has more than 20 years’ experience in journalism and writes books about Tottenham Hotspur Football Club – the latest being The Pocket Book of Spurs. Because it’s not […]
[Part 1] [Part 2] [Part 3] [Part 4] [Part 5] Things are getting a tiny bit easier in the media employment world – more subbing and production shifts are on offer, and some freelance writing is starting to surface. But we’re hardly out of the woods. So this week I’m going to be running another […]
This one’s aimed at sub-editors again – or whoever overruled the sub who may have objected to this dreadful headline in today’s Metro. Drug death student took meow meow Well – that’s clear enough, surely? Some hard-partying student took the narcotic du jour and it killed her. Make it illegal quickly and with little rational […]