The Sun sets on Labour

ON Wednesday September 30, as Gordon Brown anxiously awaited the public verdict on what many will consider his last ditch attempt to save his party in the polls, the Sun, who have unfalteringly backed Labour since the Blairite campaign of 1997 publicly pulled their political support.

In a move which has angered several Labour MPs, Murdoch’s project has become the target of much criticism: Peter Mandelson allegedly branding them “chumps” and the Prime Minister himself rushing to exit an uncomfortable interview with Sky News’s political editor Adam Boulton.

Although a highly provocative political move, and one which will undoubtedly please the Conservative Party, the Sun’s infamous front page is first and foremost an unabashed and astounding media stunt.

Fresh from James Murdoch’s grating Edinburgh speech on the overpowering dominance of the BBC, as well as reports that the Times readership is suffering a fall due to increasingly available free web content, the Murdoch dynasty appear to have taken matters into their own hands.

Famed for creating the news as well as reporting it, the Sun has now put itself into the headlines of most national newspapers and news broadcasts for a long period to come. It remains to be seen whether Dominic Mohan, the newspaper’s latest editor, had much influence in this decision, but it will be interesting to see how the once red Sun sells now that it is blue.

One suspects that by tapping into the public consciousness the Sun will see sales improve, and even non Sun readers will be overcome with the temptation to try out a paper which is so brazen.

The Labour Party has been losing public interest ever since Gordon Brown took over as Prime Minister. Despite the many good measures put in place by Brown both as PM and particularly as Chancellor, these can easily be overlooked due to his uncharismatic presence and lack of media savvy.

Cameron knows how to court the Press: he’s slick, knows what the media wants and will provide that snappy little quote every reporter is searching for. For Cameron, his party’s relationship with the media is a reciprocal one. For Brown, it is a necessary inconvenience, and therein lies his lack of media and public appeal.

To be PM is to be the face of the country: to be a confident, unashamed and sociable-seeming head. Look at Obama: a family man who is witty, can hold a conversation with the American youth without once seeming cringe-worthy, and dare I say it, a rather sexy man. Brown could have the greatest policy Britain has ever known, but with his hunched stance and lack of media savvy, no-one wants to hear it.

All that the Sun has done is realise that it was flogging a dead horse and switched allegiance. Murdoch’s personal politics aside, the switch is sure to boost paper sales and perhaps also boost the newspaper industry. The media is about provoking a reaction, and the Sun has come to be the modern day definition.

The media industry, like politics, is all about survival, and with Labour losing votes, so was the Sun. Now the paper has done all it can to save itself, and after all, is responsible only for itself and its readers, not for a flagging political party.

Making the news!

Hold the Front Page article on Journalism Diversity Fund recipients at
http://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/training/090803diverse.shtml

Regional press news - this story published 03 August 2009
Students benefit from training grant boost
by holdthefrontpage staff

Six student journalists have received a welcome financial kick-start to their careers after qualifying for the Journalism Diversity Fund.

Administered by the National Council for the Training of Journalists, the fund offers to pay some or all of a student's tuition fees for an NCTJ-accredited course.

The sextet were chosen from 57 applicants and selected based on diversity criteria and their potential for a career in journalism.

The interview panel, which met in June, included Financial Times executive editor Hugh Carnegy and Eastern Daily Press senior content editor Paul Durrant.

The Journalism Diversity Fund was set up to support the training of journalists from ethnically and socially diverse backgrounds, aimed at people lacking the financial means to attend NCTJ training courses.

The six journalism trainees due to start courses who received bursaries are:
India Adams: MA News Journalism at the University of Sunderland
Martin Graham: MA Multimedia Journalism at Glasgow Caledonian University
Amanda Hall: MA Print Journalism at University of Sheffield
Sophie Maden: PgDip in Print Journalism at University of Sheffield
Nneka Opara: Pre-entry newspaper journalism course at Lambeth College
Nicola Williams: Fast-track newspaper journalism course at Harlow College

A further 68 applications were received for the Journalism Diversity Fund deadline in June and a shortlist of applicants for interview will be announced later this month.

Editors and senior journalists are needed to sit on the panel which interviews applicants for fund.

Email christina.johnson@nctj.com to get involved.
The next deadline for bursary applications is 30 October – visit journalismdiversityfund.com for more information and to download an application form.

A new intern to oversee and promote the Journalism Diversity Fund has been appointed by the NCTJ. Christina Johnson, who is currently completing the MA in Newspaper Journalism course at Nottingham Trent University, will help oversee the administration, organisation and promotion of the fund.

Theatre Review: Wicked!

Wicked! Apollo Victoria, London, 10/08/09

After watching a production of Wicked! a year ago, I immediately became a huge fan. Though I haven’t read Gregory Maguire's novel, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West upon which the show is based, the sparkling script and alternative underdog story makes for an amusing, sprightly and thoroughly enjoyable musical. The story of the Wicked Witch of the West is imaginatively told in this show, where an amusing and sometimes cruel turn of events allow a different perspective on ‘wickedness’ itself.

Having previously seen a production of Wicked! two years before this, it was difficult not to compare the two shows and their casts. The 2007 production featured Kerry Ellis as an effervescent Elphaba, and her magnificent and powerful voice teamed with an overwhelming stage presence made a lasting impression. This year it was the turn of Alexia Khadime to depict the green-skinned, ill-fated young witch, and she had big shoes to fill. Although a hugely talented performer, Khadime did not quite have the vocal power which Ellis exuded, nor was her stage presence as evident. Although I agree that there is a certain beauty in an understated performance to match an understated song, I could not help but feel that Khadime was somewhat let down by the production and direction. I’m Not That Girl, for example, arguably one of the tenderest pieces in the otherwise vivaciously energetic piece, was played down with a bare set and a dim spotlight, whilst Khadime herself barely moved. Rather than understated, it was rendered unexciting and uninteresting. Defying Gravity too, the climax of Act One failed to deliver its usual goose bumps for me, and even the dramatic staging and ascension of the young witch failed to impress as it should. It all seemed a little stale and in need of some rethinking.

Where Khadime did, however, succeed was in her delivery and accent. Wicked! is Americanisation to the extreme: high energy scenes, the typical American high school element, and characteristically nasal, over-the-top songs. Elphapa however was one of the few cast members to maintain a strong American accent. Boq the munchkin, for example, played by Alex Jessop, seemed determined to transport the audience to the North-West of England, and also missed a few key comic moments which could have been better capitalised on.

True of both performances, however, was the shining performance of Galinda, otherwise known as Glinda the Good. When we left the 2009 performance, the very first thing my companions, having seen the show for the first time commented upon, was just how irritating Glinda was. Job done, I thought. The screechy, girly, annoying character of Glinda was perfected by both Helen Dallimore of the 2007 and Dianne Pilkington of the 2009 production. If possible, Pilkington managed to bring even more comedy and melodrama to the role of Glinda, making even potentially poignant moments, such as Elphaba’s quest for her dead sister’s shoes, undercut by humour, and making Popular an even more irritatingly catchy and funny song.

On the whole, the 2009 production was pulled through by two strong, confident female lead performances, underpinned by a solid script and fantastic music. The production at times let this performance down, proving that you can’t rely on a brilliant adaptation to make a performance memorable. Perhaps the show is in need of some new staging concepts and direction to match the new cast, who I am sure will grow into their roles more with each performance.

Verdict: Still a fantastic show, but no longer a Wicked! production.

Next to be reviewed......Oliver! at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.

The Failure of Success

Well, I’ve finally done it: after four years of frustration, last minute cramming, tears (and let’s be honest, a hell of a lot of good times), I have just graduated with a 2:1 in Combined Arts from Durham University. This also included a First in my Shakespeare module, a personal achievement after my struggle with the Bard’s babble at A-level. I’ve even secured a bursary from the Journalism Diversity Fund to sponsor me through my Masters in September having impressed the panel including the editor of the Financial Times enough for them to grant me this fund.

All this success, however, means absolutely zilch when it comes to finding a summer job, and if anything, just makes you sound a bit stuck up to potential (minimum wage) employers. Now they say of course that ‘It’s grim up North’, but after speaking to fellow graduates, it seems it’s grim everywhere. Many graduates want to use the summer to earn a little money whilst deciding what to do with their futures. The majority, however, seem to plump for the dole, a route which I myself am heading towards.

Not only is this year a difficult one for graduate employment (as the BBC insists on reminding us, even gate crashing graduations in Durham to remind us happy students of the reality of a degree’s insignificance), but it would seem our success is almost detrimental to the securing of summer employment. I’ve been turned down by call centres, summer camps and jewellery stores, and the most I’ve managed to secure so far is a week chopping salad in a kitchen. Seriously, I’m not even allowed near the till.

I knew before I began my degree that it wouldn’t necessarily land me an amazing job, head and shoulders above others who had not pursued higher education, but I naively thought it might prevent me from scrubbing ovens for the summer. In reality however, we are no different than the spotty 16 year olds looking to earn some cash to buy cider to drink in the park at the weekend. In fact, I’d go as far as to say that these lower paid, lower educated candidates are more sought after in the summer job department than someone who has spent four years and I can’t imagine how much money to get no further when it comes to summer employment.

To be, or not to be (a journalist)

As I come ever-closer to the journalism career I have always wanted, new pressures arise which could alter my entire career...

Having just completed my university finals, I now face the gut-wrenching wait for those all important degree results. For me, the pressure is immense, as that final verdict could change my entire career path.

I decided a long time ago that journalism was the only career for me, and I have thrown myself into gaining work experience, at great individual expense. Not only are newspaper work-placements unpaid, but they do not even cover the expenses incurred by enthusiastic would-be journalists, most of whom, like me, are struggling to survive on their student loans and surrounded by a mountain of ever-increasing debt.

This year I have spent a lot of time sending off applications to journalism graduate schemes, NCTJ postgraduate courses and bursaries, and my student railcard has been used to the max travelling to various interviews. At the end of all that, I have now settled on taking up a place as a postgraduate at Sheffield University, on the condition that I gain a 2:1. I also have an interview shortly with the Journalism Diversity Fund panel, comprising of the executive editor of the Financial Times, Glen Oldershaw, head of accreditation at the NCTJ, as well as representatives from The London Paper and the Eastern Daily Press. This is where it gets serious.

My commitment to and passion for journalism are not to be questioned, as I said, this is the only career which appeals to me. But that does not mean I am narrow-minded: journalism itself is a very diverse, exhilarating career and I am keeping my mind firmly open about the different paths my career as a journalist could take. Up until recently, too, my answer to questions such as 'How would you justify cold-calling a family who have recently been bereaved?' have been simple, direct and confident: it is an opportunity for the family to put things in their own words, and the paper is in a sense providing a public service. Over the last couple of weeks however, my solid stance has been somewhat shaken.

At 21 years old, I like to think that my parents now trust my maturity enough to be direct and honest with me about all aspects of life. A few days ago, however, I discovered the media input surrounding my grandmother's death when I was seven years old and it really brought the reality of this question home. It transpires that when my grandmother died, our local paper, who I would unknowingly voluntarily write for thirteen years later, had been somewhat evasive and misleading about the facts in this case. The paper had chosen not to contact the family for their views, and instead printed an article which would lead readers to believe that my grandmother had lived alone, and was not cared for by her family, which was far from the case and caused a great deal of emotional harm.

Whilst this confirms my thoughts about the necessity of allowing the family the right to voice their thoughts, I am fairly confident that had the paper contacted my parents, the phone would have been firmly put down. This now makes me think that this question is somewhat paradoxical. Yes I feel it is important that families be given the chance to present their own views following a bereavement, but at the same time, the harsh timeframe of losing a loved one and then having to publicly speak about it means that often families are unwilling to comment, leaving the paper little choice but to print whatever information they have.

I am learning as I go that journalism is not an easy profession, nor are journalists respected by all members of society. I know that my family will support me in all I do, but knowing now their individual experiences with journalists, it is a bitter pill to swallow. Nothing could ever deter me from this career, and I think better understanding the true effects of journalism will help me to act in the best way possible, and to be the best reporter I possibly can.

Britain Needs to Tackle its Binge-Drinking Culture

The Scottish government has unveiled plans to prevent cut-price promotions on alcohol, by imposing a minimum price for goods sold in supermarkets and off licences. Scottish ministers believe that cheap deals on alcohol are to blame for the increase in binge-drinking, as well as the rise in alcohol-related health problems.

The government plan comes after it emerged last month that Scotland has the eighth-highest level of alcohol consumption in the world. The proposals, which are unlikely to be passed, want in particular to target young drinkers, who are in danger of over-consumption, leading to a generation of failed livers and other health issues.

Although I would class myself as part of the ‘binge-drinking generation’, in some ways I welcome the ideas proposed by the Scottish government. Britain undoubtedly has a huge drinking habit, which is so widespread it has become dangerous. Like many others, I too have been known to indulge in a little too much alcohol during my time at university, but the more I realise the effects which these social habits will have upon our generation, the more I want to put the glass of wine down.

The problem, clearly, is not with the price of alcohol in Britain, but with Britain’s culture and social habits themselves. In other European countries, alcohol is notoriously cheap, yet the drinking habits of these countries are far less pronounced. Why is this?

True, Britain’s drinking habits have begun to impose themselves upon other countries, although surely to a far less degree. Take France for example, where they have even had to adopt the English term ‘binge-drinking’, as the habit stems from British influence rather than French.

The French government also announced this week its plans to ban ‘open bars’ in the country, where clients pay an entrance fee upon arrival at a bar and can then drink as much alcohol as they wish without having to pay extra. In taking this action, France is acting upon a rising problem of binge-drinking before it becomes detrimental and irreversible. Perhaps Britain should have taken similar measures sooner.

After upping taxes on cigarettes and banning their advertisement and promotion, the Scottish government suggests that the government could now take similar measures to benefit problems with alcohol abuse. Now, while I’m not suggesting that hiking up the taxes on one of life’s few affordable luxuries in these difficult times is plausible, I do agree that something needs to be done to tackle this issue.

If removing attractive, brightly coloured promotions in supermarkets meant that you only buy the one bottle of wine, rather than an unnecessary three, “because it only costs a tenner”, then I see this as positive move. Or even relegating alcohol displays to less accessible areas of shops, rather than strategically placed next to the comfort food, so that when you’re planning a quiet night in, the alcohol offers are just too tempting.

It’s about time that Britain admitted that the elegant, wine-sipping socialites in the adverts are not the reality. The truth of it is that generally, that one bottle will be for one drinker, and will result in a very difficult journey home after Klute.

Admittedly, the recent ad-campaigns, including two very graphic television adverts, brought issues of binge-drinking to the forefront, but it will take far more to change the habits of an entire generation, and far more needs to be done to tackle the problem.

As the first real ‘binge-drinking generation’, a number of health problems await us later in life, which will undoubtedly put even further pressure on an already crumbling National Health Service. Maybe this current debate on issues of alcohol abuse could, if nothing else, remind the British public of the dangers of binge drinking, and persuade them to think twice before over-consuming until they can no longer remember.

The current binge-drinking generation are so hooked upon the habit that they no longer realise the damage they are doing to their bodies. NHS statistics published last week showed that there were 42,430 drink-related discharges from general hospitals in 2007-08. Sales figures also showed that nearly 50 million litres of pure alcohol were drunk in 2007 - the equivalent of 11.8 litres for every person over the age of 16.

Whilst I believe that this habit will not be so easily erased by these measures, what it could well do is prevent the next generation indulging to the extent that ours has, and to reinstate alcohol as a luxury which should be enjoyed only in moderation, rather than in excess.

So, whilst a fixed price for alcohol seems an unlikely measure to be adopted by the government, hopefully the Scottish government’s controversial proposals will persuade our government to actively tackle issues of binge-drinking, be that through advertising, further alcohol awareness campaigns, or simply better health education.