How to save newspapers: Buy One Anyway

Like So Much Fun It Hurts says, this is more sad than funny - and, given the number of journalists we know who have suddenly been made redundant in recent weeks, pretty painful, too.

But the fifteen second ad tacked on to the beginning of the video, that you have to watch before you get to see the 'Buy One Anyway' campaign? Now that's funny. Who said the advertising model was dead?

In defence of the News of the World

Oh please... enough with the mock indignation already.

The Guardian breathlessly reveals the second News of the World 'victim' to receive damages. The BBC reports the Metropolitan Police has 'started contacting people whose phones may have been hacked to warn them of what might have happened.' Get ready for another round of Max Mosley-style media self-flagellation.

(Actually, it's more like the MPs expenses scandal - something which everyone does and has been going on for years, but which has suddenly become national news off the back of one newspaper's investigation.)

Playing the Game, as usual, has it right:

Journalists often lie, cheat, beg, borrow, and steal for a cracking story.

But is using subterfuge really that bad to expose the porkie pies of others, especially celebrities. Those vacuous arseholes who only want publicity when it serves their own purposes but, in the words of Dad's Army, 'don't like it up 'em'.

I agree that it may got out of hand over at News Int's factory farming of mobiles (ALLEGEDLY) but, Christ, good intel is still good intel wherever it comes from.

Obviously the News of the World would have to go a long way to stretch the public interest defence to trawling celebrities' answer-phone messages. But equally, let's keep some perspective here - the alleged 'hacking' was phoning someone's mobile and trying out the default password when the voicemail kicked in. Not really James Bond, is it?

The job of a journalist, above everything else, is to find things out. Things that other people don't want you to find out. Occasionally, in some circumstances, that may involve breaking the law.

What do we mean by breaking the law? Well, sometimes it might be trying a childish trick like entering the default code for a mobile. Sometimes it might be something much more serious, like knowingly paying hundreds of thousands of pounds for stolen and classified documents. That didn't work out too badly, did it?

Summer party blues

Which news organisation reportedly served up a selection of sub-standard culinary delights at its informal summer party recently - a selection which the hacks there couldn't help noticing included raw chicken, later hastily withdrawn?

Here's a clue. It's still making a profit.

Senior Reporter - Kent & Sussex Courier

The Kent and Sussex Courier is looking for a senior reporter, to be based at its head office in Tunbridge Wells.

You'll need to have an NCTJ qualification or equivalent, have multimedia skills and be able to dig out off-diary stories. You'll also be working under new editor Ian Read, who we're told has 'big plans to develop the title both in print and online'.

Apply to Mr Read at ian.read@courier.co.uk. NB The deadline for this one is tomorrow, Friday 10 July, so if you fancy it, move fast.

Senior Reporter - Shropshire Star

The Shropshire Star - the UK's fifth-biggest selling regional - is recruiting a senior reporter, to cover its Bridgnorth patch.

You'll need to be NCTJ-qualified or equivalent, and able to dig out off-diary stories etc etc. No real other details given in the ad, though we'd expect driving licence would also be important, and local knowledge, while not essential, never hurt.

Apply to deputy editor Jon Simcock at jsimcock@shropshirestar.co.uk. Deadline next Thursday 16 July.

+ + + Murdoch papers 'paid £1 million to phone-hacking victims' + + +

Still too early to tell how big the Guardian's story this evening will be... On the one hand, it was a while ago, and not completely unknown, although the details are new. On the other hand, the News of the World may have pissed off some pretty powerful people.

One thing's certain. If anyone can stand the story up, and make it stick, it's Nick 'Flat Earth News' Davies...

Science, Health and Environment Editor - The Times

The Times is recruiting a senior editor to work across print and online in its Science, Health and Environment team.

The emphasis here is broad and extensive experience as a journalist rather than specialist knowledge. A science background is not essential, we're told, but you will need 'extensive' experience editing and commissioning words and pictures, and also be able to work closely with advertising and marketing to develop commercial opportunities.

Full details on Gorkana, not directly linkable. Email CV and application to managing editor David Chappell at david.chappell@thetimes.co.uk. Deadline Monday 20 July.

Start in the shower

So we're scanning through today's DWPub JournAlert, and the daily profile-of-a-freelancer is of one Josephine Murray (pictured). She's asked, 'What's the best advice anyone ever gave you?'

She says: 'When I was doing my Trinity Mirror certificate of journalism course, in order to progress from junior to senior reporter at The Press newspaper in north London, I learnt that ‘the best interviews begin in the shower'. I come up with my best ideas and interview questions when I’m not at my desk.'

Really, they said that? They taught you that all the best interviews 'begin in the shower'? That's what all the editors say...

Sports Editor - Leamington Spa Courier

The Leamington Spa Courier series is looking for a sports editor.

They want a jack-of-all-trades rather than an out-and-out sports specialist, specifying writing, contact-building, page-design, a willingness to work across the paper and 'creative ideas about print and digital'. You also need to have an NCTJ qualification and a proven track record of both writing and subbing.

Email your CV to martin.lawson@leamingtoncourier.co.uk. Deadline next Monday 13 July.

Should newspapers still be inventing bylines?

What do Oliver Clive, Austin Peters, Charles Carrick, Matthew Hannah, William Gray, Perry Crooke and Dan Harbles have in common?

Two things. One, they're all sports journalists over at the Telegraph.

And two? None of them exist.

Well, not according to Private Eye, that is, and not according to Martin Moore either, who's done a bit of digging.

To check this wasn’t an unfortunate recent graduate called Oliver Clive being told to churn out agency copy I called the Telegraph and asked to speak to Clive. He could not be found. I emailed him at oliver.clive@telegraph.co.uk. No answer. Nor has there yet been any response from the other six ‘correspondents’ (if there is I’ll update this blog and make that apparent).

I’ve since managed to track down someone at the Telegraph. He did not deny the Private Eye story but said he thought it was hypocritical of a magazine that uses many pseudonyms and that it ignored the fact that this is 'standard industry practice'. It was not, he suggested, a big deal - and was done more than anything for 'design reasons', because it looked odd to have an article without a byline.

It's an interesting post, but it gets even better in the comments, where opinion is divided between those geniunely shocked at such a practice, and the old-timers (one of whom claims to have written a 'reader letter' from one Ivor Smallun, Cockfosters - and got it past the subs).

But while we're never sorry to hear the tales of times gone by, this is one Fleet Street tradition that should be consigned to the dustbin of history.

Once upon a time, making up random/comedy names to ensure every downpage had a byline may have made sense. Now - when articles and their bylines are immediately accessible all over the world - it just looks ridiculous.

Far better surely to do what they do in America, where one journalist working for AP can typically have a byline on the front page of several hundred newspapers each morning. There, they attribute wire copy, and the papers are none the worse for it.

Or why not just get rid of the bylines in question altogether? After all, there's nothing wrong with anonymously written articles, collectively penned under a trustworthy brand? Is there?

Senior Reporter - Croydon Advertiser

The Croydon Advertiser is looking for a senior reporter.

It is, we're told, 'an exciting and challenging place to work' and 'an area never short of breaking news'. And while a lot of adverts say such things, FleetStreetBlues once met someone who used to work on the Croydon Advertiser, and it did indeed sound an interesting gig. Lots of court cases featuring local 'characters' and stories about local-girl-done-good Kate Moss... but in a good way.

So, they say the person they're looking for probably be an NCTJ-qualified senior reporter, but could be an outstanding trainee. And there's this - which judging by the person we met, is also very true:

The ability to build contacts and break stories is more important to us than how many followers you have got on Twitter - this is a job for a reporter who wants to get stuck in rather than sit behind a screen.

We'll second that. Email CV and covering letter to andrew.worden@essnmedia.co.uk. Deadline next Monday 13 July.

Too much Michael Jackson coverage?

The media grandees think Fleet Street went over the top. Roy Greenslade, Stephen Glover and to a lesser extent Peter Wilby all argue that the media went wacko over Jacko.

Readers - even the meeja types who comment on Greenslade's blog - seem less certain that coverage was, after all, out of all proprtion.

So what do you think? Let us know in the poll at the top right.

(Apologies for the sparse posting by the way, which has been noticed... Partly it's the technical problems, partly it's being busy. Normal service will be resumed shortly.)

Recession still biting

So lately, the spectre of the recession, redundancies and the journapocalypse seem to have receded slightly. A heatwave, Wimbledon and swine flu have taken over the news agenda, and bankers seem more optimistic as the stock market recovers somewhat. And for journalists, there's been a marked increase in the number of jobs advertised on HoldTheFrontPage and Gorkana.

Well, don't be fooled. Papers are still downsizing, journalists are still getting made redundant. And if you were in any doubt about how serious the situation still is, take note of the spate of voluntary redundancies announced at the Guardian yesterday.

The Guardian, let's remember, is probably the national newspaper best insulated against the effects of the recession, what with its public service advertising and Scott Trust backing.

Yet they were prepared to let go Westminster investigative lobby legend David Hencke, senior correspondent Duncan Campbell, former foreign correspondent of the year Audrey Gillan and a number of other respected figures.

This recession ain't over, not by a long shot.

Behind the camera

Ever wondered what it's like to be on the other side of the notepad/TV camera/digital recorder?

Journalists tend not to have much sympathy for most of those in the public spotlight. Crime victims, lottery winners, the accidentally famous - we can go easy on them. But polticians, business leaders and celebrities? Hey, they chose the life.

But - as every journalist secretly knows - it's an awful lot easier to sit behind the notepad/TV camera/digital recorder than it is to sit in front of it. And we defy you to watch this excruciating video and not feel a twinge of sympathy for Gordon Brown.



Spotted via Plenty2Say.

Chief Sub-Editor - Travel Weekly

Travel trade magazine Travel Weekly is looking for a chief sub-editor.

There's a full and rather wordy ad over on the RBI website, which you'll probably want to take a look at if you actually want to apply, but the key points of note are: a) as it's an RBI publication, it's based in Sutton, Surrey b) you'll be doing all the usual subbing things plus picture research and page layout, which means c) you need a 'high level of skill' in both InDesign and Photoshop.

Oh, and d) they're offering 29 days holiday, which is nice.

Apply via the RBI website.

Trainee Reporter - Yorkshire Post

As trainee reporter positions on regional papers go, this is particularly promising. Not that the Yorkshire Post would thank us for saying so - they seem to be in denial about being a regional at all, billing themselves twice in a three-paragraph advert as 'Yorkshire's national paper'.

In any event, they're hiring a trainee or newly qualified reporter, to be based in Leeds. There's no qualification or shorthand requirements either -all they ask for is 'somebody with bags of enthusiasm and the confidence to get to grips with major national stories'. There's that word again...

To apply, they don't seem to want a CV or covering letter specifically - instead they just ask you to email 'with the reasons why you should get the job.' Contact the editor Peter Charlton at peter.charlton@ypn.co.uk. Deadline Wednesday 15 July.

Faking it

What always amazes FleetStreetBlues, when we hear the old war stories from the old timers, is that they lived to tell the tale.

Did one of our former colleagues really once spark a 'crime wave' in a placid rural village after completely inventing a series of increasingly unlikely NIBs? Did our friends in America really once fall asleep at a major political conference and just, erm, make it up?

How did they get away with it?

And here's an on-the-record classic from veteran local newspaperman Mike Lockley, who regales the BBC website with a series of classic anecdotes:

Was it really 31 years ago that, as a cub reporter in a mining community on the fringes of the Black Country, I sat straining to hear details, in a cavernous courtroom, of an all-too-common tale of domestic violence?

After a three-year apprenticeship - "indentures" they called it - I was ready to cover court without being chaperoned by a senior. In Cannock, hardly the most refined destination on the fringes of the West Midlands conurbation, I had arrived.

The case was a sickening example of domestic violence. An enraged husband had struck his wife repeatedly about the head with a candelabra.

It made page three of the weekly newspaper, now sadly deceased like the mines that spawned Cannock. "Man bludgeons wife with candelabra", the banner headline screamed.

I returned to the same court next day - to be greeted by howls of laughter from ushers, solicitors, clerks… even defendants.

"Is this the level of reporting we can expect from you?" asked the chairman of the bench, studying my exclusive.

Nervously, I pointed out every detail had been checked: the charge, the attacker's name, age and address.

"Every detail," huffed the JP frostily, "except the implement used in the incident. I think you'll find it was a can of lager."

(Spotted via the still-great Playing the Game whom, we're sure, has a few tall tales of his own to tell).

Business Reporter - The Times

The Times, which is fast becoming known as the only national to regularly advertise its vacancies, is recruiting a stock market reporter for its business news section.

You'll need to be a top business/financial reporter already with a large number of contacts you can draw on from day one. The Times bills it as a 'key job at the centre of our financial coverage', and there's opportunity to develop the role, focusing on other markets and even doing broadcast interviews on behalf of the paper.

They want the next Robert Peston, in other words.

Full details over at Gorkana, not directly linkable. Apply with CV and covering letter to Business and City Editor David Wighton at david.wighton@thetimes.co.uk. Deadline next Friday 10 July.

Trainee Reporter - Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard

See, this is what we like when we read a job ad. Someone who's put a bit of work into a drop intro:

Some editors will tell you, in jest, that their reporters are a bunch of comedians but at the Wilts & Gloucestershire Standard it is no joke and one bright young trainee is giving up a brilliant career as a journalist in the Cotswolds and taking his chances on the stand-up comedy circuit in London.

So, the facts. The Wilts & Gloucestershire Standard want a trainee reporter, must have passed NCTJ prelims or equivalent and have at least 80 wpm shorthand. You also need a clean driving licence and your own transport, and 'an enthusiasm for online journalism would put you at a distinct advantage'.

Apply with CV and clips to the editor (Mrs) Skip Walker at editor@wiltsglosstandard.co.uk. Deadline Friday 17 July.

Can good news sell newspapers?

Ask that question to most Fleet Street veterans, and you'll get a short answer. One word, two letters, starts with an 'n'. What are you, crazy?

But among the wider public (aka our readers) there's a persistent fascination with the topic. Why are newspapers always full of bad news? And wouldn't it be nice if someone starting printing the good news for a change? And we've come across two examples this week of publications trying to do exactly that.

First up, Sideways News, a site which announced its launch on Gorkana promising 'news with a twist'. Billing itself as 'essential reading for enquiring optimists', at first glance it looks like any other mainstream website (not unlike the BBC's in fact) - but mostly missing the bad news.

So there are features on 'Spurs plan to build eco-stadium', 'Invisibility cloak beats quake' and 'Ethical eating on holiday' - all worthy and, dare we say it, a little dull. And while it's an interesting concept, there are signs too that the forced jollity is beginning to slip in places - a PA story headlined 'Doctor 'didn't give Jackson drug', for example. Michael Jackson's still dead, and he's still news, even in the creepy parallel happy-news universe.

And so to our second example, a living and breathing specimen of Roy Greenslade's most hated species, the council-run newspaper.

Flicking through a copy of East End Life, brought to you by Tower Hamlets council, it's immediately apparent what a happy and uplifting place Tower Hamlets is to live in.

Sure it has problems, but our noble councillors are on the case, as shown by the front page splash 'Crack house shut in drugs swoop', alongside a separate picture story of happy youngsters safely walking down the street, captioned, in case you didn't get the message, 'These streets were made for walking'.

The good news continues inside. On page 3, one of Britain's top Olympic hopefuls has backed the council's sports plan, while on page 5, the Queen has honoured prominent East Enders (who include the local NHS chief executive). There's a downpage on protests at cuts in college funds - but the only quote in the piece goes to to the college principal who explains 'reductions in funding are dictated through national policy and are out of the control of the college.' That's OK then.

And so it continues, page after page of Pravda-esque praise for the council - too many stories to mention, although this fairly typical downpage intro is worth quoting in full.

'The council's customer contact centre is going from strength to strength but borough bosses aren't sitting on their laurels.'

So, good news. There's plenty of it around. And if you're setting up a novel internet site or spending thousands of putting together a taxpayer-funded council newsletter, it's ideal material. Plenty of it around.

But selling newspapers? Sorry, this is journalism. If it bleeds, it leads.

Editor - Lincolnshire Free Press

The Lincolnshire Free Press and Spalding Guardian, two Johnston Press weekly titles, are looking for an editor.

There's not a huge amount of detail in the advert, but there is an emphasis on story-getting (they claim to often feed stories to the nationals) and online (they're very proud of their Twitter feed and a Facebook group).

In any event, you'll need to have relevant experience and skills - and they promise a car and 'the usual benefits' with the role.

Email CV and application to the secretary of group editor Jon Buss at denise.vickers@jpress.co.uk. Deadline Friday 17 July.

Swine flu hits journalism: some questions

Which household name news organisation based in central London has been hit by swine flu this week, with staff informed yesterday that at least one 'mild' case had been identified?

Is there really nothing more to be done other than advise workers there to 'avoid anyone with swine flu'?

Will journalists there be turning up to work today in facemasks? Will they be turning up at all?

And does failing to fix the aircon help or hinder the virus' spread?

Reporter - Garstang Courier

There seem to be a few more jobs about suddenly, particularly regional ones on HoldTheFrontPage. And here's another.

Two weekly-paid for newspapers in Lancashire, the Garstang Courier and Longridge News, are looking for a reporter or trainee reporter. They ideally want an NCTJ-qualified senior but would also consider a trainee - experience in digital journalism, particularly video, would be a 'distinct advantage'. Clearly multimeeja has made it to rural Lancashire.

Email your CV and application to the editor, Richard Machin, at richard.machin@lep.co.uk. Deadline Friday 3 July.

Online news editor - Press Gazette

It has, we're assured, absolutely nothing to do with the ill-advised tweeting. But Press Gazette news editor Paul McNally is off to pastures new (an English-language newspaper in the south of France, very nice) and so the Press Gazette is looking for a new online news editor.

The requirements are exacting (minimum of two years' experience working in a high pressure news environment, being able to find the time for your own off-diary exclusives) and a little old-school (NCTJ training or equivalent plus 100 wpm shorthand). And of course, this being an almost exclusively online position, you'll need to know your way around the internet.

In return there's the promise of lots of expansion, a move to Fleet Street from their current offices in Paddington, and a salary range of £25,000 - £29,000.

Apply to the editor, Dominic Ponsford, sending a CV and covering letter of no more than 200 words to dominicp@pressgazette.co.uk. Deadline Friday 3 July.

Reporter - Evening Leader

The Evening Leader, a local newspaper up in the North West/Wales covering Chester, Wrexham and Flintshire, is looking for a reporter.

There's no specific mention of NCTJ, but they do want a 'qualified' journalist, and you'll need to have 'a good range of skills' and a 'sharp news sense'. That's about as specific as the ad gets - we're guessing local knowledge might be a plus too.

Snail mail applications only - send your CV and letter of application to:

HR Department
NWN Media Ltd
Mold Business Park
Wrexham Road
Mold
Flintshire
CH7 1XY

Deadline next Wednesday 1 July.

A word of apology

You may have noticed we've been posting at some odd times lately. This is beyond our control unfortunately - Blogger's scheduled posting function is broken at the moment.

It's been broken since last week, so we're hoping they get round to fixing it sometime soon. They should do, the money we're paying them...

How getting facts wrong can prevent you being sued

This is a new one on us. The Intrepid Reporter, who writes mainly about football, tells us he's unable to give us the full fixture list for Newcastle United next season - because he'd have to pay to do so.

Apparently - and a quick Google search confirms he's correct - any media outlet, even bloggers, have to pay £266 + VAT to print one club's fixture list, and a whopping £3,931 + VAT to print the fixtures of every clubs. Not to advertise them, or use logos, or promote them in any way mind - simply print that this team will be playing that team on this date.

In other words, Football DataCo have somehow managed to achieve the impossible - they've copyrighted facts.

Nice work if you can get it, of course, but it does open a whole new revenue stream for all manner of companies. Why don't film producers copyright movie plots? Why doesn't Parliament copyright MPs' expenses? Why don't football teams copyright football results, for that matter?

It's outrageous... but there's a simple solution. Come August, every newspaper, blogger and media outlet in the country should simply print a completely made-up fixture list, causing chaos for fans and football revenues to plummet. They don't want us to print their fixtures? We won't.

For the first time in journalism, the only way to avoid getting sued is to avoid printing the truth.

Wanted: Our next redundant journo

So, the votes are in and the message is clear. Our Redundant Journo got hired a bit too quickly for FleetStreetBlues readers' liking - and they want another one.

A couple of people have kindly volunteered already, but we want to give everyone a shot at such a prestigious post, so here's your chance. We want someone who's desperately job-hunting at the moment, who's willing to let us share their trials and tribulations.

You need to be either a journalist who's been made redundant, or a soon-to-be-graduated student. It's not necessarily going to be daily, but you do need to be able to commit to a couple of posts a week, and make them good ones.

We know you're busy doing proper job applications so we won't ask for much, but we do want to check you fit the bill and can write. So email us a 50-100 word application telling us who you are and what you can offer. The email's fleetstreetblues@hotmail.co.uk. Deadline end of the week.

Gilligan going

So Andrew 'dodgy dossier' Gilligan, investigative reporter at the Evening Standard and journalist of the year at the 2008 British Press Awards, is moving onwards and upwards, to the Telegraph Media Group.

As London Editor he'll still be covering City Hall, of course. But don't be fooled by today's scoop about the deputy mayor, the expenses claims and the 23-year-old lover. Boris will miss him.

Reporter - Stranraer & Wigtownshire Free Press

There are small papers, and then there are small papers. And, with the greatest of respect, the Stranraer & Wigtownshire Free Press is a small paper.

They're recruiting a 'journalist' at the moment, and say it is a relatively junior position - suitable in fact for a newly qualified journalist. But at the same time, it is a relatively senior position - in addition to writing, you will 'help run the newsdesk' and 'substitute for the editor in his absence'. There's also some page make-up to do (experience preferred), and they require a full driving licence.

In fact, you may not be a junior or senior journalist at all - you may just be the only other journalist.

Send you CV, covering letter and clippings to the editor, Alan Hall, at alan.hall@stranraer-freepress.co.uk. Deadline Friday 3 July.