Why on earth does Easter fall so early this year?
I've asked several people this question and so far the answers have ranged from "it's something to do with the moon", to "Glenn, it just does."
When I was at school, Easter always meant mid to end of April - this year we get to tuck into our eggs before the clocks change.
If you could help me out on this one, feel free to get in touch.
Wednesday 27 February 2008
Monday 25 February 2008
Deadline Day
Almost time to wrap up another edition of the paper. It's looking pretty good this week, a decent mix of stories - some very serious issues, some not so serious.
This afternoon, for example, we were treated to the sight of a free magic show in the office. No sign of the lovely Debbie McGee I'm afraid but good fun and a good, entertaining story for this week's paper.
We've also conducted what I think is a interesting experiment, to get people's views on their home town. Do you think Crawley is cool or "uncouth"? Find out what others reckon on Wednesday.
Finally, just to abuse my position slightly, I'd like to say a big hello to all the Chelsea fans out there.
I think you will all agree, the best team won on Sunday.
This afternoon, for example, we were treated to the sight of a free magic show in the office. No sign of the lovely Debbie McGee I'm afraid but good fun and a good, entertaining story for this week's paper.
We've also conducted what I think is a interesting experiment, to get people's views on their home town. Do you think Crawley is cool or "uncouth"? Find out what others reckon on Wednesday.
Finally, just to abuse my position slightly, I'd like to say a big hello to all the Chelsea fans out there.
I think you will all agree, the best team won on Sunday.
Thursday 21 February 2008
The running man
A pretty misleading title really. The 'non' running man would be more appropriate.
Foolishly perhaps, I put my name forward for July's 10k run in aid of St Catherine's Hospice.
It is a great cause and I'm actually quite looking forward to the day - it's just the six months of hell leading up to it that is proving tricky.
An athlete I aint. Well, I'm okay at racket sports, can play a passable round of golf and play a mean forward defensive. I also once threw a 180 at darts (does that count as a sport?)
Running is my big problem. It bores me, frankly, plus I run like an elephant on acid - all flat feet and flailng arms.
10k is a bloody long way too you know - much further than I thought.
As it stands, I'm just about to leave the office to go for a run, before watching the mighty Spurs hopefully cruise through to the next round of the Uefa Cup.
Or maybe I'll just eat a lot of food instead.
Foolishly perhaps, I put my name forward for July's 10k run in aid of St Catherine's Hospice.
It is a great cause and I'm actually quite looking forward to the day - it's just the six months of hell leading up to it that is proving tricky.
An athlete I aint. Well, I'm okay at racket sports, can play a passable round of golf and play a mean forward defensive. I also once threw a 180 at darts (does that count as a sport?)
Running is my big problem. It bores me, frankly, plus I run like an elephant on acid - all flat feet and flailng arms.
10k is a bloody long way too you know - much further than I thought.
As it stands, I'm just about to leave the office to go for a run, before watching the mighty Spurs hopefully cruise through to the next round of the Uefa Cup.
Or maybe I'll just eat a lot of food instead.
Wednesday 20 February 2008
Casting The Net
THE website has been up and running for a full week now but this is the day we are expecting an increase in the amount of traffic, as the techno types like to call it.
This is because we made a pretty bold effort at plugging the website in this week's paper, as those of you who have seen it today will no doubt have noticed.
Feedback is going to be vital to us. We want to hear from as many of you as possible. What do you think of the site? What do you like about it? What can be improved?
Please send your comments, suggestions, heck even insults if you like, to editor@crawleynews.co.uk
I'll do my best to respond to as many as I possibly can. If my blasted computer starts working properly that is.
This is because we made a pretty bold effort at plugging the website in this week's paper, as those of you who have seen it today will no doubt have noticed.
Feedback is going to be vital to us. We want to hear from as many of you as possible. What do you think of the site? What do you like about it? What can be improved?
Please send your comments, suggestions, heck even insults if you like, to editor@crawleynews.co.uk
I'll do my best to respond to as many as I possibly can. If my blasted computer starts working properly that is.
Tuesday 19 February 2008
Tomorrow's Paper
Another week wrapped up for us.
With all the excitement of a new website to contend with it would have been easy to forget there was the small matter of a newspaper to put out.
Despite a few staffing issues and some computer glitches, the troops have pulled through and I'm pretty happy with tomorrow's edition.
Usually, for well established reasons, the front page of a newspaper tends to revolve around a negative issue, often crime. But every now and again, it's nice to do something a bit different with the splash.
Without giving much away, it's pretty safe to say we've done that this week......
With all the excitement of a new website to contend with it would have been easy to forget there was the small matter of a newspaper to put out.
Despite a few staffing issues and some computer glitches, the troops have pulled through and I'm pretty happy with tomorrow's edition.
Usually, for well established reasons, the front page of a newspaper tends to revolve around a negative issue, often crime. But every now and again, it's nice to do something a bit different with the splash.
Without giving much away, it's pretty safe to say we've done that this week......
Friday 15 February 2008
Heart-less?
I really don't get Valentine's Day
To me, it just seems like an excuse for card companies, florists and other retailers flagging after the festive season to make a few quid in that void between Christmas and Easter.
Sucker that I am, I succumbed and got my other half a card. Thankfully she stands on the right side of high maintenance and shares my apathetic attitude towards the day of love.
I can go for a romantic meal any time of the year. Why would I want to go on a night when all the restaurants are packed and everything costs twice as much?
I can shower my loved one with gifts and flowers whenever I want to - why should I do it on a day when I'm going to have to pay through the nose for the pleasure?
Last night I, to my mind, spent a perfect Valentine's Day - drinking wine and watching football.
That said, we have a lovely Valentine-related story in next week's paper that warmed even my cynical old heartstrings.
Read next Wednesday's News to see if it does the same to you.
To me, it just seems like an excuse for card companies, florists and other retailers flagging after the festive season to make a few quid in that void between Christmas and Easter.
Sucker that I am, I succumbed and got my other half a card. Thankfully she stands on the right side of high maintenance and shares my apathetic attitude towards the day of love.
I can go for a romantic meal any time of the year. Why would I want to go on a night when all the restaurants are packed and everything costs twice as much?
I can shower my loved one with gifts and flowers whenever I want to - why should I do it on a day when I'm going to have to pay through the nose for the pleasure?
Last night I, to my mind, spent a perfect Valentine's Day - drinking wine and watching football.
That said, we have a lovely Valentine-related story in next week's paper that warmed even my cynical old heartstrings.
Read next Wednesday's News to see if it does the same to you.
Thursday 14 February 2008
Broadly Speaking
I went along to the town hall last night, for a meeting of the council's "media scrutiny panel".
Beforehand I was a bit suspicious about the whole thing - had we and our rival newspaper in the town just been invited along for a couple of hours of bear bating?
In the end, it proved to be a worthwhile and pretty constructive meeting, though one suggestion from the panel particularly threw me - that the Crawley News should 'go broadsheet' to avoid a 'sensationalist' tone.
I'm not convinced that a broadsheet paper is what the people of Crawley want, particularly at a time when both the national and regional trend is to go tabloid.
Besides, as reporter Alex Morrison quite rightly pointed out, how would you get a broadsheet through the door?
Beforehand I was a bit suspicious about the whole thing - had we and our rival newspaper in the town just been invited along for a couple of hours of bear bating?
In the end, it proved to be a worthwhile and pretty constructive meeting, though one suggestion from the panel particularly threw me - that the Crawley News should 'go broadsheet' to avoid a 'sensationalist' tone.
I'm not convinced that a broadsheet paper is what the people of Crawley want, particularly at a time when both the national and regional trend is to go tabloid.
Besides, as reporter Alex Morrison quite rightly pointed out, how would you get a broadsheet through the door?
Wednesday 13 February 2008
Welcome
Hello everyone. Welcome to the brand new Crawley News website.
It has been a long time in the making but we are now ready to launch the town's new number one source for breaking news.
Whether you are in Beijing or Brussels, Stuttgart or Sydney, Rochdale or Rio De Janerio, you will be able to access the latest news from Crawley at the click of a mouse.
We want this to be a website that Crawley can be truly proud of. We will feature the very latest news from your neighbourhood, tell your stories and invite your comments on the big issues facing the town.
There will be the latest from the town's schools, previews of new shows at The Hawth and all the news from Crawley Town FC.
This blog will also be updated daily by the News team, who will bring you the latest from the newsroom and put forward their musings about life in Crawley.
Please take a look at the site today and let us know what you think. If your workplace has a strict internet user policy, what the heck, just log on anyway....
As I say, I want this to be a site the town can be truly proud of.
Enjoy...
Glenn Ebrey
Content Editor
It has been a long time in the making but we are now ready to launch the town's new number one source for breaking news.
Whether you are in Beijing or Brussels, Stuttgart or Sydney, Rochdale or Rio De Janerio, you will be able to access the latest news from Crawley at the click of a mouse.
We want this to be a website that Crawley can be truly proud of. We will feature the very latest news from your neighbourhood, tell your stories and invite your comments on the big issues facing the town.
There will be the latest from the town's schools, previews of new shows at The Hawth and all the news from Crawley Town FC.
This blog will also be updated daily by the News team, who will bring you the latest from the newsroom and put forward their musings about life in Crawley.
Please take a look at the site today and let us know what you think. If your workplace has a strict internet user policy, what the heck, just log on anyway....
As I say, I want this to be a site the town can be truly proud of.
Enjoy...
Glenn Ebrey
Content Editor
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