Po-faced BBC cracks a smile

Stories posted on BBC News Online - even those written by local BBC reporters - almost always stick to the standard BBC formula. Deviation, invention or editorialising is strongly discouraged - and for many, that's the beauty of the site.

But just occasionaly a gem slips through. And we liked this one, from the report on U2's 'surprise rooftop gig' on top of BBC Broadcasting House last night (although any time the BBC wants to stop covering, well, itself, that would be cool...)

Anyway, here's your moment of zen.

Radio 1 also apologised on-air immediately after Bono used an expletive to describe Coldplay's lead singer Chris Martin.

The BBC said it had received no complaints about it.

The Scottish hacks who want to turn gamekeeper

Westminster villager Guido Fawkes strayed a little onto FleetStreetBlues' patch this week with a fantastic nugget on the Scottish newspaper journalists all apparently looking to jump ship. (Guido insists on referring to newspapers as Dead Tree Press, but hey, what do bloggers know?)

Apparently North Lanarkshire council, currently recruiting a new Head of Corporate Communications and Marketing, inadvertently managed to post the entire list of job applicants on its website.

They went with Scotland on Sunday deputy ed Thomas Little in the end, but the five other journalists in the running may not be best pleased that their interest in the job - and their failure to get it - was made public. Their editors won't be either...

UPDATE: We stand corrected. According to Journalism.co.uk, Thomas Little apparently turned down the role, and it ended up going to Sunday Herald deputy editor Stephen Penman instead.

Slashing subs: 'utter bollocks', or the future of an industry?

Northcliffe Media's plans to create two giant production hubs covering the East Midlands and the North East - slashing up to 50 sub-editing staff in the process - have been met with outrage from rank-and-file journalists. The comments below are furious. 'Utter tosh, the whole thing,' says one. 'Any subs left to tackle that last post?' asks another.

And when Northcliffe explain they made the move 'to meet the rapidly changing needs of the industry,' Grey Cardigan likewise deploys his trademark bluntness to good effect. 'Utter bollocks,' he reckons.

The natural instinct of all good journalists, of course, will be to rally round their brethren. You can't slash 50 subs without it having a major impact not only on house style and basic grammar, but on headlines and local knowledge and fact checking and everything else in between. And you certainly shouldn't be doing so to maintain juicy profits in a downturn.

But... how many reporters and editors might have a sneaking suspicion that Northcliffe, too, have a point? The industry is changing, and in a world where reporters are expected to file online instantly, and multi-task at anything else, the huge sub desks of yore do seem increasingly anachronisitc.

It may not be right, but it may also be the way we're moving as an industry. Perhaps that Northcliffe Media spokesman should have been blunt too. Hey, don't blame the player, blame the game...

Editor - Local Government Chronicle

If you're anyone likely to be a serious candidate for this role, chances are you know all about the Local Government Chronicle already. But suffice it to say, it's a weekly trade mag for 'local government professionals', and Emap publication, and pretty well respected. And they're looking for a new editor...

At this sort of level and for this sort of role, job descriptions and desired candidate attributes are pretty much redundant. The ad does have a long list - but really, the job description is editing a top trade magazine, and the candidate attributes are that you have the ability to edit a top trade magazine. Job done. They're similarly vague about the salary, as you might expect, although they do promise an 'excellent package'.

And as befits this kind of senior post, there's a different application route. Us grunt reporters are asked to fire off a CV and a covering letter to a random email address. But for an editor, while they do take CVs - jobs@emap.com - the Emap ad suggests you call Kathryn Harrison for a 'confidential conversation' on 0207 728 3786, so that would probably be your best bet first.

Deadline Monday 23 March.

What should journalism should give up for Lent?

Today, as you're probably aware, is the day before Lent - or as it is more widely known these days, Pancake Tuesday. So in the kind of calendar-based feature beloved of local papers the length and breadth of the land, we wanted to ask our assorted journalist readers what they would like journalism to give up for Lent.

Here's five of FleetStreetBlues' suggestions to get you thinking. Add your own thoughts at the bottom...

1) Stop writing articles about Twitter. Yes, we get it, it's a way for people to look busy when standing in the corner at parties, and yes, Stephen Fry likes to look busy when standing in the corner at parties. It's new - but there's not that much to say about it. Enough already.

2) Stop printing pictures of 'brave Jade Goody'. She may well be brave, and she's going through a truly terrible experience. But every time one of her former tabloid tormentors prints another photo with some crawling, disingenous caption, it makes me want to vomit. Readers aren't stupid. We remember the names you used to call her. She's not the People's Princess, she's just a tragically unlucky young woman. Leave it.

3) Celebrity coverage in the London Lite and thelondonpaper. Please stop writing meaningless drivel about Amy Winehouse, Lily Allen et all. Yes we read it, because we want something to look at on the way home from work and we're too tired to do more than look at the pictures. But it's rotting our brains slowly.

4) Editors, give up your inflated multimeeja expecations. No, I can't 'whip up' a podcast. I've already done an online news story, blog and short video clip on it, and I have real stories to write. And it's only half ten.

5) Stop the jobs drought. It's killing us, seriously. If you're a new student journalist looking for a job, there's nothing. If you're looking to jump ship from your existing publication, there's nothing. And even if you're happy where you are, the lack of alternative options out there encourages publishers to work you hard and pay you little.

So for the next 40 days only, let's have a jobs free for all. Every publication should hire a new journalist, and hang the expense. Think of it as a delayed New Year's Resolution.

Crime Reporter - Aberdeen Evening Express

As British journalism slowly disappears up its own arse in a flurry of multimeeja projects and rewritten press releases, here's a chance to be an old-school hack.

The Aberdeen Evening Express, Scotland's second-highest selling evening newspaper, is looking for a new crime reporter to replace the previous incumbent who's left to go travelling - and there's not podcasting requirement in sight.

Instead, they ask that you're a senior reporter with experience on a daily or weekly newspaper, with a driving licence and 100 wpm shorthand. They want you to hit the streets - and come back with 'a stack of superb exclusives and in-depth investigations.' Old-school.

Interested? You need to email a covering letter, CV and clips to deputy editor Richard Prest at richard.prest@ajl.co.uk. Deadline next Monday 2 March.

Return to the fray

A week off, and we return to ever-grimmer news. The economy is plummeting. Jobs are being slashed. This time next year we'll all be working in McDonalds...

Well fear not, FleetStreetBlues is back, refreshed, and ready to go. If you want to get involved or would like us to cover something, email us at fleetstreetblues@hotmail.co.uk. Check back here daily to read the latest on what's happening in the industry, who's up and who's down - and who's hiring. And keep reading. The future of journalism is at stake...

On hiatus

Sorry guys, we're going to be on break for the next few days. Don't forget us, keep those bookmarks. But no need to come back daily until we return on Monday 23 February.

Senior Sub-Editor - Veterinary Times

To get this job, it will obviously help to be able to spell Veterinary without needing to check. FleetStreetBlues won't be applying.

But if you're an experienced senior sub, and don't mind working in Peterborough, then this could be for you. You'll be working on the Veterinary Times mainly, but also on related products, the Veterinary Business Journal, Congress Times and so on. The ad is otherwise straightforward - offering a 'competitive' salary and 'friendly working environment.'

Send a CV and a covering letter by snail mail, to:

Paul Imrie, Editor

Veterinary Times

Veterinary Business Development

Olympus House

Werrington Centre

Peterborough PE4 6NA

Deadline Monday 23 February.

Crossing the floor

Guido Fawkes reports this morning that the former political editor of the New Statesman has followed in the footsteps of Melanie Philips and Paul Johnson, and is now writing for the Spectator.

A daring transfer if ever we saw one, the media equivalent of moving between two teams with little love lost. Very Sol Campbell.

Reporter - FoodProductionDaily.com

A reporter vacancy here on a big industry website, FoodProductionDaily.com, which covers food processing, packaging and safety. Ideally you need industry experience or a technical, engineering background - it's intially for six months as maternity cover so they clearly want someone who can hit the ground running.

Full details here - send a CV and relevant cuttings to Mike Stones at michael.stones@decisionnews.com. Deadline Friday 27 February.

What's a pay rise?

Don't feel sorry for yourselves today, feel sorry for journalists at Agra Informa, struggling to get by on a 3% pay raise.

The NUJ's Maglight magazine reports:

'Members at Informa, which publishes the shipping daily Lloyd's List, were pleased to see the 5 per cent rise in their January pay packets. A performance-related bbonus, promised as part of the previous year's pay round, is also being actively prusued by officials.

Unfortunately, Michael Hobbs, manager of Agra Informa, based in Tunbridge Wells, has refused to agree to the centralised settlement, and has instead imposed his usual pay increase of 3 per cent.'

3 per cent! Poor dears...

Trainee Sub-Editors - Daily Mail

A rare advertised opportunity on a national newspaper, and a trainee one to boot. The Daily Mail is publicly recruiting trainee sub editors, and with competition likely to be fierce, you should get your application in asap.

It's a one-year course, with the chance to work on regional papers, for the Press Association, and for the Mail itself - they will also pay you a 'competitive' salary while you train, and promise 'long-term career opportunities.' And a long-term career opportunity in the world of subbing right now is a mythical beast indeed.

It's open to graduates, post-graduates or trainee journalists already working on regional papers. Apply in writing with full CV and examples of your work to:

Michael Watson

Daily Mail Course

The Press Association

292 Vauxhall Bridge Road

London

SW1V 1AE

Deadline Sunday 8 March.

Quote of the Day: 4 February 2009

Former Mirror editor Piers Morgan, on why he doesn't miss journalism:

'I contrast my new life, starring in America’s number one TV show in Hollywood, to my old life, spending 16 hours a day in an East End tower block, slaving away in a slowly dying industry. And I think ‘Oh God, I wish I was back in Canary Wharf…now, pour me another pina colada, Scarlett, and help me try to get over it’.'

Editor - Gig

The ad for this one starts: 'Have you got what it takes to be the editor of Gig, the leading business-to-business classical music and performing arts title?' To which the obvious answer is: well, what does it take?

Quite a lot, it transpires. You'll need good writing and editing ability, obviously. QuarkXPress and web skills, too. You need to be 'well-connected', which would probably imply prior knowledge of the classical music industry. Oh, and 'language skills would also be an advantage.'

If you're still in the running after all that lot, then leading the publication of this fortnightly title could be for you (you'll be supported by a deputy editor). It pays around £25k. Send a CV and covering letter to Marcus Netherwood at mnetherwood@impromptupublishing.com. Deadline Friday 20 February.

The Times' new Health Editor

Looks like FleetStreetBlues called this one wrong.

From Gorkana:

The Times
Sam Lister has been appointed the new Health Editor of The Times, taking over from Nigel Hawkes who has retired. Previously, he was working as Assistant News Editor, and before that Health Correspondent and Home News Reporter. He will be writing on health issues across the newspaper and Times Online. Sam can be reached on +44 (0)20 7782 5865 and sam.lister@thetimes.co.uk

Reporter - Third Sector

Third Sector, the Haymarket weekly for the charity and voluntary sector, is looking for a general news reporter.

As well as doing the usual things a reporter on a busy trade weekly would do, you'll be specifically tasked with covering communications and management, and editing the specialist communications and management pages for the At Work section of the magazine.

A warning, they're advertising for an 'experienced journalist', so first-timers need not apply. Fresh from a local paper would be ideal. And they also ask for a 'proven interest in social policy in relation to the voluntary sector'. So dust off the 'hobbies and interests' section of your CV, people.

Apply via the Haymarket website. Deadline Friday 20 January.

A clarification and a half

Celebrity journalism these days generally has a fairly low fact threshold - which may be partly what the Heat generation now increasingly turn to blogs, like Perez Hilton or The Superficial, to keep abreast of who was seen where with whom. But even so, the London Lite freesheet has today hit a spectacular low.

Spotted in this evening's edition (splash headline 'I may be some time...), the following 'clarification' in its celeb column London Eye:

DAVID WALLIAMS

We have been asked to clarify that the picture with our article 'Walliams swaps his page 3 playmate' (17 October) was made up of separate photographs of David Walliams and Peta Todd. We are happy to do that and apologise for not making it clear previously. We are also sorry for giving the wrong impression that they were in a relationship, and for suggesting that David Walliams 'kicked' Keeley Hazell out of a cab when in fact he provided her with a lift to her final destination.

Consider yourself 'clarified', London Lite. The wheels of celebrity PR grind slowly, but...

Reporters and Subeditors - Bermuda Sun

Here's a what if? moment for a cold Sunday evening. The Bermuda Sun - in sun-kissed Bermuda, natch - is looking recruiting, and if you're a journalist with at least five years' experience, they want to hear from you.

The advert on HoldTheFrontPage lists two vacancies - one for a sub-editor/writer, the other for a writer/sub-editor (it's a subtle distinction). Whichever you apply for, you're going to need to be trained in all things multimeeja - digital photography, Quark and Photoshop, etc - plus be a great hack with clippings to match.

In return, they promise, well, the chance to live in Bermuda. Plus an income-tax free salary, like you needed the extra incentive. Email a CV and covering letter to editor Tony McWilliam at tmcwilliam@bermudasun.bm. Deadline Friday 20 February.

The strange case of Harry Nicolaides

An interesting column in last week's Spectator about the strange case of Harry Nicolaides, an Australian writer who was sentenced to three years in jail for insulting Thai royalty.

Hugo Rifkind writes:

Here’s an odd one. Harry Nicolaides, an Australian writer and teacher, has been sentenced to three years in a Thai jail for insulting the Thai royal family. Four years ago he wrote an apparently rubbish novel called Verisimilitude, which included one short passage which said something rude about a fictional crown prince. This was a self-published novel and it’s not entirely clear how many copies he sold, although the BBC put the figure at seven. This has been reported around the world, and everybody agrees that it is an appallingly silly situation.

And yet the story has a big black hole in the middle of it, because despite being appalled, nobody, anywhere, will tell you what he actually wrote. I’ve been Googling like a fiend and, although I have now learned that the offence takes place on page 115, I haven’t been able to discover much more.

Inasmuch as I can establish, there is a fictional King who had a fictional son who had lots of fictional wives. In this passage, he is the subject of a vicious fictional rumour. Out in the real world, nobody seems to be suggesting that this fictional rumour is anything like a real rumour. You’re just not allowed to be rude about the monarchy in Thailand, and that’s what poor Nicolaides has apparently done. He’s now hoping for a royal pardon.

Three years over a fictional rumour, and no publication across the globe will tell you what this fictional rumour was. CNN wouldn’t broadcast it. The BBC kept it vague. Somebody must know. The seventh and final copy of Verisimilitude, I gather, is still on a shelf in the Thai National Library. Couldn’t somebody go and look it up?

When the Ayatollah issued his fatwa against Salman Rushdie over The Satanic Verses, at least it was possible to find out what his problem was. The situation seems more reminiscent of the fuss about those Danish cartoons of Mohammed a few years ago. Only I’m pretty sure that newspapers would not be targeted by mobs of suicidally angry Thai monarchists. So? Are networks and newspapers worried that their Thai correspondents will be jailed? Is there some sort of plush media convention on in Bangkok this summer? Or is it simply that the book is so bad that nobody can get beyond page 114? I really want to know.