A first day back after a week off is never pleasant, but mine has been even more hectic than usual.
As of about 10pm last night, I was standing on a grass verge outside Gatwick Airport, with smoke pouring from my car, watching the town's finest firefighters push my four wheels out of the entrance to the Hilton Hotel.
Having been away from Crawley for a week, my first trip back to the town was about eight hours earlier than anticipated - sitting in my car as it was being towed along the A23, feeling cold, depresssed and slightly embarassed that I'd enlisted the help of our brave emergency services for what turned out to be "a bit of condensation".
To be fair, I thought it was smoke but whatever the problem, it's still cost me a neat £135 to get it fixed, not to mention a morning of unwanted hassle.
Things, as the great D-Ream once sang, can only get better.
Monday 31 March 2008
Friday 28 March 2008
Amazon adventure
With our fearless leader (Glenn) enjoying his extended Easter break, it has fallen to me to add the latest from the newsroom.
As you will see from our main news page, it has been a busy week for us since the long weekend. With so much "hard news" going on, I thought I would concentrate on something a bit more fun for this entry.
As you might remember from our Janury 30 edition, a Crawley man is one of two guys planning to become the first to walk the Amazon river. Like most men, I would like to think I could live in the jungle like Ray Mears but the reality is that I would starve in about 20 minutes.
Luke Collyer, who went to Thomas Bennett, and his friend Ed Stafford are up against all sorts of horrors which would be scary enough at home but will be truly terrifying so far from modern medical help.
Luke kindly explained to me what flesh-eating disease leishmaniasis does to the body. I won't spoil your Friday night with the details but rest assured it's not very nice!
Bearing in mind the risks, I can't help but feel inspired by these guys. Most of us will never do anything half as difficult or dangerous but they seem optimistic ahead of the challenge, which will take over a year even if all goes to plan.
I look forward to reading their blog entries and you can rest assured the News will keep you up to date as they pass through land shared by snakes, alligators, drug dealers and a million other perils.
As you will see from our main news page, it has been a busy week for us since the long weekend. With so much "hard news" going on, I thought I would concentrate on something a bit more fun for this entry.
As you might remember from our Janury 30 edition, a Crawley man is one of two guys planning to become the first to walk the Amazon river. Like most men, I would like to think I could live in the jungle like Ray Mears but the reality is that I would starve in about 20 minutes.
Luke Collyer, who went to Thomas Bennett, and his friend Ed Stafford are up against all sorts of horrors which would be scary enough at home but will be truly terrifying so far from modern medical help.
Luke kindly explained to me what flesh-eating disease leishmaniasis does to the body. I won't spoil your Friday night with the details but rest assured it's not very nice!
Bearing in mind the risks, I can't help but feel inspired by these guys. Most of us will never do anything half as difficult or dangerous but they seem optimistic ahead of the challenge, which will take over a year even if all goes to plan.
I look forward to reading their blog entries and you can rest assured the News will keep you up to date as they pass through land shared by snakes, alligators, drug dealers and a million other perils.
Wednesday 19 March 2008
Time for a break
Most people love Easter, but - much like Christmas - it's not a great time of year for newspapers.
The four-day weekend means less time to produce the paper, meaning we are already well into producing next Wednesday's edition of The News.
My day started badly, as two members of the same family threatened to sue me, but it has improved since then.
The fact I'm only one day away from a week's holiday and the prospect of scoffing lots of Easter eggs over the weekend also makes me pretty happy.
Speaking of which, I'll be leaving the paper (and this blog) in the capable hands of our fine reporting team for the next week, while I soak up the rays in sunny Nottingham.
See you soon.
The four-day weekend means less time to produce the paper, meaning we are already well into producing next Wednesday's edition of The News.
My day started badly, as two members of the same family threatened to sue me, but it has improved since then.
The fact I'm only one day away from a week's holiday and the prospect of scoffing lots of Easter eggs over the weekend also makes me pretty happy.
Speaking of which, I'll be leaving the paper (and this blog) in the capable hands of our fine reporting team for the next week, while I soak up the rays in sunny Nottingham.
See you soon.
Monday 17 March 2008
The Day Today
Still reeling from the news that Keith Chegwin backs National Chip Week (see below) I've done some extensive research (two minutes on my lunch break) and discovered there are dozens of these themed days/weeks. For instance:
The last week of January was 'Loud tie month'
April 24 is 'Take your sons and daughters to work day'
August 11 is 'International left-handers day'
May 11-17 is 'British sandwich week'
And, my absolute favourite,
'International talk like a pirate day'
September 19 if you're interested.
The last week of January was 'Loud tie month'
April 24 is 'Take your sons and daughters to work day'
August 11 is 'International left-handers day'
May 11-17 is 'British sandwich week'
And, my absolute favourite,
'International talk like a pirate day'
September 19 if you're interested.
Friday 14 March 2008
Junk Mail
Every now and then, our group editor Ian Carter likes to use his blog (see http://www.thisiscroydontoday.co.uk/ - do I get a pay rise for that boss?) to list a few 'highlights' from his inbox.
One of my first jobs every morning is to sort the wheat from the chaff in my email inbox. For every great story or letter, I get a dozens of pieces of bilge trying to flog me viagra, some terminally-dull business email filled with corporate speak or a 'letter' from some Z-list celeb, endorsing a product or another ridiculous cause.
Only from doing this job, for instance, do I know that Keith Chegwin was the official backer of National Chip Week recently.
Just to prove a point, here are a few items which have dropped into my inbox today:
'Design Agency Re-Brands Global Roofing Company'
'March's Healthy Hydration Tip from Direct Water Coolers'
'BFI announces two regional partner Mediatheques on anniversary of London launch' (What?!)
'Letter from Sally Gunnell OBE'
Do you think she personally wrote the letter? Does Cheggers really like chips? Who knows. Frankly, who cares.
Not me. If you are from a PR company and are reading this, please stop sending me your guff.
Moan over, this week's paper is already looking promising, which puts me in a much better mood for a weekend of watching football and celebrating my friend's birthday with a meal and a beer or three.
One of my first jobs every morning is to sort the wheat from the chaff in my email inbox. For every great story or letter, I get a dozens of pieces of bilge trying to flog me viagra, some terminally-dull business email filled with corporate speak or a 'letter' from some Z-list celeb, endorsing a product or another ridiculous cause.
Only from doing this job, for instance, do I know that Keith Chegwin was the official backer of National Chip Week recently.
Just to prove a point, here are a few items which have dropped into my inbox today:
'Design Agency Re-Brands Global Roofing Company'
'March's Healthy Hydration Tip from Direct Water Coolers'
'BFI announces two regional partner Mediatheques on anniversary of London launch' (What?!)
'Letter from Sally Gunnell OBE'
Do you think she personally wrote the letter? Does Cheggers really like chips? Who knows. Frankly, who cares.
Not me. If you are from a PR company and are reading this, please stop sending me your guff.
Moan over, this week's paper is already looking promising, which puts me in a much better mood for a weekend of watching football and celebrating my friend's birthday with a meal and a beer or three.
Wednesday 12 March 2008
All in a day's work
One of our reporters was subject to some pretty nasty abuse at the magistrates court this morning.
Regrettably, legal constraints prevent me from saying too much, but it was a damn unpleasant attack and shows how a section of the public still rank journalists on a par with traffic wardens, evil dictators and axe murderers in the hate league table.
Even worse, it seems the court ushers took it upon themselves to ask our reporter to "move along", rather than pinpointing the perpetrators of the incident.
The traditional image of the tabloid hack who will sell his or her granny for a scoop does us few favours but, while there are a few reporters out there with that attitude, most of us are lovely really.
Honest.
Regrettably, legal constraints prevent me from saying too much, but it was a damn unpleasant attack and shows how a section of the public still rank journalists on a par with traffic wardens, evil dictators and axe murderers in the hate league table.
Even worse, it seems the court ushers took it upon themselves to ask our reporter to "move along", rather than pinpointing the perpetrators of the incident.
The traditional image of the tabloid hack who will sell his or her granny for a scoop does us few favours but, while there are a few reporters out there with that attitude, most of us are lovely really.
Honest.
Tuesday 11 March 2008
A tough day
There is no better feeling as a journalist than the buzz of breaking news.
But it can be bloody hard work too.
As you will see from this week's paper, a lot has happened in the past seven days in Crawley, most of it pretty unsavoury.
For most of today, our reporting team has been focussed on the awful stabbing attack which has left a 16-year-old lad fighting for life in hospital.
Knife crime is the big issue at the moment and, sure enough, the national and local media turned out in force to cover this horrific case.
Hoepfully, as you read this, the young lad is on his way to making a full recovery in hospital.
But it is yet another worrying tale of how weapons, particularly knives, are becoming an all too regular part of youth culture.
But it can be bloody hard work too.
As you will see from this week's paper, a lot has happened in the past seven days in Crawley, most of it pretty unsavoury.
For most of today, our reporting team has been focussed on the awful stabbing attack which has left a 16-year-old lad fighting for life in hospital.
Knife crime is the big issue at the moment and, sure enough, the national and local media turned out in force to cover this horrific case.
Hoepfully, as you read this, the young lad is on his way to making a full recovery in hospital.
But it is yet another worrying tale of how weapons, particularly knives, are becoming an all too regular part of youth culture.
Friday 7 March 2008
Rude health
Yesterday I met with the communications officer from East Surrey Hospital.
Regular readers of the Crawley News will know East Surrey hasn't exactly had a good press recently - and why would it, its performance has been appalling in recent times.
Take a look at the homepage of our website and you will see a stinging attack from Francis Maude MP, about the current state of the hospital.
The communications officer assured me that things are on the up. The formerly cash-strapped hospital is set to break-even this year and is on target to get a better rating in the annual health check report.
Hard work is clearly going on behind the scenes but there is more to do if this hospital is to climb off its sick bed and convince patients it is on the up.
Judging by Mr Maude's comments - politically motivated or not - he is going to take even more convincing.
Regular readers of the Crawley News will know East Surrey hasn't exactly had a good press recently - and why would it, its performance has been appalling in recent times.
Take a look at the homepage of our website and you will see a stinging attack from Francis Maude MP, about the current state of the hospital.
The communications officer assured me that things are on the up. The formerly cash-strapped hospital is set to break-even this year and is on target to get a better rating in the annual health check report.
Hard work is clearly going on behind the scenes but there is more to do if this hospital is to climb off its sick bed and convince patients it is on the up.
Judging by Mr Maude's comments - politically motivated or not - he is going to take even more convincing.
Thursday 6 March 2008
Meet the team
I'm only now getting used to this blogging lark and, frankly, most days I'm still struggling to know what to write about.
The Crawley News is a broad church, so I've decided to to open the doors of the church and let a few other people stand at the lectern.
In other words, from now on, you will hear a bit from me on here, but you'll also be able to read the views and spoutings of a few other members of the News team.
As a taster of things to come, below you can see Kirsty Rigg's view on railway ticket wardens, Alex Morrison's take on the Crawley play centre debate and Michael Connellan's opinion on Crawley Town manager Steve Evans.
The Crawley News is a broad church, so I've decided to to open the doors of the church and let a few other people stand at the lectern.
In other words, from now on, you will hear a bit from me on here, but you'll also be able to read the views and spoutings of a few other members of the News team.
As a taster of things to come, below you can see Kirsty Rigg's view on railway ticket wardens, Alex Morrison's take on the Crawley play centre debate and Michael Connellan's opinion on Crawley Town manager Steve Evans.
Wednesday 5 March 2008
It's just not Fare!
AS I pulled into Crawley train station this morning, I saw an irritated flock of commuters trying to climb over each other at the station exit.
I wondered what might be going on – is there a casualty? Has something terrible happened? No - Ticket checks.
I rolled my eyes inherently as I prepared for yet another long wait while not one, not two, but THREE members of staff eyeball my ticket to make sure I’m not pulling a fast one. By the time they have finished with me, I’m not only late for work, but I actually start to feel like I might have done something wrong. I think it would be fair to say I am scared of the train people, like I was scared of my big mean maths teacher who would glare at me in detention because I hadn’t cleaned the tables properly.
I don’t think I’d dream of fare dodging with these guys around. I’m sure if I had, no amount of eyelash fluttering would help, they mean business.
In their defence, people do fare dodge, and the guys are just doing their job.
But seriously, in rush hour when there are hundreds of us commuters, these “checks” are taking 10-15 crucial minutes out of our ‘rush to work’ time.
There are so many of us, blocking up the small doorway like impacted hairs into a plughole. By the end of it we are irritated, late, and thinking about getting the bus home.
Surely if there were more nice train men ON the train itself, like they should be, none of this madness would occur?
Kirsty Rigg - Reporter
I wondered what might be going on – is there a casualty? Has something terrible happened? No - Ticket checks.
I rolled my eyes inherently as I prepared for yet another long wait while not one, not two, but THREE members of staff eyeball my ticket to make sure I’m not pulling a fast one. By the time they have finished with me, I’m not only late for work, but I actually start to feel like I might have done something wrong. I think it would be fair to say I am scared of the train people, like I was scared of my big mean maths teacher who would glare at me in detention because I hadn’t cleaned the tables properly.
I don’t think I’d dream of fare dodging with these guys around. I’m sure if I had, no amount of eyelash fluttering would help, they mean business.
In their defence, people do fare dodge, and the guys are just doing their job.
But seriously, in rush hour when there are hundreds of us commuters, these “checks” are taking 10-15 crucial minutes out of our ‘rush to work’ time.
There are so many of us, blocking up the small doorway like impacted hairs into a plughole. By the end of it we are irritated, late, and thinking about getting the bus home.
Surely if there were more nice train men ON the train itself, like they should be, none of this madness would occur?
Kirsty Rigg - Reporter
Play centres row
The argument over the closing of two play centres and two after school clubs looks set to dominate May's local elections. Crawley's Conservative-run council says they are underused and so don't justify the cost. Opposition councillors as well as hundreds of angry parents say the Tories are cutting vital services in the quest to save cash.
Many stories we report have a fairly obvious right and wrong but this one is more complicated. If the centres are underused, maybe the council is right to divert the £185,000 cost of running them to other services. Unfortunately, the people hurt by this decision will be parents and kids and many of them might rely heavily on the centres.
Labour leader brenda Smith makes one very good point in today's News - she says the benefit to so-called "latch key kids" may be worth more than the cost of running the centres. Giving vulnerable children a place to go where they can learn and socialse may be worth a huge amount in the long term.
I'm afraid I can't make a clear decision either way on this one. Hopefully the poll on our website will reveal what Crawley people think of the possible closures...
Many stories we report have a fairly obvious right and wrong but this one is more complicated. If the centres are underused, maybe the council is right to divert the £185,000 cost of running them to other services. Unfortunately, the people hurt by this decision will be parents and kids and many of them might rely heavily on the centres.
Labour leader brenda Smith makes one very good point in today's News - she says the benefit to so-called "latch key kids" may be worth more than the cost of running the centres. Giving vulnerable children a place to go where they can learn and socialse may be worth a huge amount in the long term.
I'm afraid I can't make a clear decision either way on this one. Hopefully the poll on our website will reveal what Crawley people think of the possible closures...
Unsatisfied Customer
I said our front page this week might divide opinion, but I wasn't expecting such instant derision:
"What a crap front page from a top local newspaper, and this is not a wind-up. What with all the news that has happened this week that effects the people of this area you lead with a civil dispute that headlined "smooth criminal".
One reader clearly didn't enjoy our front page when tucking into his Coco Pops this morning...
"What a crap front page from a top local newspaper, and this is not a wind-up. What with all the news that has happened this week that effects the people of this area you lead with a civil dispute that headlined "smooth criminal".
One reader clearly didn't enjoy our front page when tucking into his Coco Pops this morning...
Tuesday 4 March 2008
Let me entertain you
Someone in the newsroom asked me a good question earlier – what makes a really good front page story?
Many people, as I’ve explored in previous blog postings, believe local papers are there to educate and inform – entertainment isn’t our business.
Others would dispute this, including my first editor. He used to apply the ‘down the pub test’ as his barometer, the theory being a good story is one that gets people talking over their pints and peanuts down the boozer on a Friday night.
For what it’s worth I fall somewhere between the two, but believe the best stories are often those that involve a ‘human’ element – everyday stories and about people’s everyday lives.
This week’s likely front page won’t win any awards for groundbreaking investigative journalism, nor does it tackle a pressing, major issue.
But it certainly passes the ‘down the pub test’.
Many people, as I’ve explored in previous blog postings, believe local papers are there to educate and inform – entertainment isn’t our business.
Others would dispute this, including my first editor. He used to apply the ‘down the pub test’ as his barometer, the theory being a good story is one that gets people talking over their pints and peanuts down the boozer on a Friday night.
For what it’s worth I fall somewhere between the two, but believe the best stories are often those that involve a ‘human’ element – everyday stories and about people’s everyday lives.
This week’s likely front page won’t win any awards for groundbreaking investigative journalism, nor does it tackle a pressing, major issue.
But it certainly passes the ‘down the pub test’.
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