Just received another of my favourite PR emails:
"Research has revealed that Britain’s mums think that Fern Britton has the perfect balance of family life. The study shows the lovable TV host has been named the UK’s favourite celebrity mum, knocking Posh Spice off her pedestal and giving royalty a run for its money, with Sarah Fergusson coming in joint bottom."
Looks like all is forgiven following 'gastric band' gate then.
Friday 27 June 2008
Thursday 26 June 2008
Tragic story
It's been three weeks since we first reported the story about Kieran Lindsey's tragic death and still, understandably, feelings are running high.
It is a horrid, tragic case which re-inforces the dangers of dabbling with any sort of drug, particularly class A substances.
Our coverage on this was pretty forthright and made for disturbing reading and, because of this, a few readers weren't too happy with the picture painted.
While a police investigation is still ongoing, I can't say too much (though I really wish I could)
All I will say is that the people at that party took a lot of drugs and, as a result, a young lad tragically lost his life.
You can blame lots of people for that but a newspaper isn't one of them.
It is a horrid, tragic case which re-inforces the dangers of dabbling with any sort of drug, particularly class A substances.
Our coverage on this was pretty forthright and made for disturbing reading and, because of this, a few readers weren't too happy with the picture painted.
While a police investigation is still ongoing, I can't say too much (though I really wish I could)
All I will say is that the people at that party took a lot of drugs and, as a result, a young lad tragically lost his life.
You can blame lots of people for that but a newspaper isn't one of them.
Wednesday 25 June 2008
Greatest Hits
Thought you might be interested to know the five most popular stories since the website began. You'll soon notice a pattern emerges:
1. Former Crawley Town FC coach driver claims the club owe him "thousands"
2. Ex-Reds' owner Azwar Majeed jailed
3. Angry pupils storm school
4. Fire destroys recycling centre
5. Reds play waiting game as goalkeeper stalls
Three of the five relate to the town's football club. When it comes to getting the hits, us newshounds like to think our great scoops attract the readers where, in reality, news on Crawley Town's star striker or midfield destroyer is far more likely to generate traffic.
1. Former Crawley Town FC coach driver claims the club owe him "thousands"
2. Ex-Reds' owner Azwar Majeed jailed
3. Angry pupils storm school
4. Fire destroys recycling centre
5. Reds play waiting game as goalkeeper stalls
Three of the five relate to the town's football club. When it comes to getting the hits, us newshounds like to think our great scoops attract the readers where, in reality, news on Crawley Town's star striker or midfield destroyer is far more likely to generate traffic.
Tuesday 24 June 2008
Techno, techno, techno, techno
Forgive the awful 2 Unlimited reference in the headline for this blog, I'm slowly being driven nuts by my painfully slow computer.
Isn't technology just great?
Once I finally get the piece of junk to work properly, this week's paper should be an absolute cracker.
Very few stories actually make me gasp and utter expletives out loud - but one in particular had just that effect on me this week.
All will be revealed tomorrow.
Isn't technology just great?
Once I finally get the piece of junk to work properly, this week's paper should be an absolute cracker.
Very few stories actually make me gasp and utter expletives out loud - but one in particular had just that effect on me this week.
All will be revealed tomorrow.
Monday 23 June 2008
A tough course
Apologies for the lack of blogging last week. I spent Thursday and Friday on a course at our Reigate office.
The course was on recruitment and selection - basically the process that has to be followed if and when we need to recruit a new member of staff.
I won't bore you with the details here, except to say that I hope and pray no one leaves the Crawley News anytime soon.
I'm very happy with the team we have here and, more to the point, my tiny brain couldn't handle the amount of paperwork/admin/general faffing around a new recruit would involve.
Moving on to this week's paper, it's been another busy week in Crawley.
I'll update you on what's in store for this week's News tomorrow once deadline is safely (hopefully) negotiated.
The course was on recruitment and selection - basically the process that has to be followed if and when we need to recruit a new member of staff.
I won't bore you with the details here, except to say that I hope and pray no one leaves the Crawley News anytime soon.
I'm very happy with the team we have here and, more to the point, my tiny brain couldn't handle the amount of paperwork/admin/general faffing around a new recruit would involve.
Moving on to this week's paper, it's been another busy week in Crawley.
I'll update you on what's in store for this week's News tomorrow once deadline is safely (hopefully) negotiated.
Tuesday 17 June 2008
Fuelling a crisis?
It is all too easy to blame the media.
Sports stars, in particular, and politicans are often guilty of saying "it's all the media's fault" when, usually, they are the one's perpetuating the stories in the first place.
Now and again, however, the media is guilty as charged, the so-called petrol 'crisis' this week being a prime example.
Every time I switch on the TV I have a news reporter telling me about panic buying and a fuel crisis - yet I haven't seen a single queue at a petrol station or any closures over the past few days.
Is there really a spate of panic buying at the pumps? Or do the news hounds just wish there was?
Without dumping on some of my fellow journalists, this is where I think 24 hour news falls down.
Sky News, the BBC, etc.. have so much airtime to fill that they feel obliged to talk up stories that, well, aren't really stories.
Sports stars, in particular, and politicans are often guilty of saying "it's all the media's fault" when, usually, they are the one's perpetuating the stories in the first place.
Now and again, however, the media is guilty as charged, the so-called petrol 'crisis' this week being a prime example.
Every time I switch on the TV I have a news reporter telling me about panic buying and a fuel crisis - yet I haven't seen a single queue at a petrol station or any closures over the past few days.
Is there really a spate of panic buying at the pumps? Or do the news hounds just wish there was?
Without dumping on some of my fellow journalists, this is where I think 24 hour news falls down.
Sky News, the BBC, etc.. have so much airtime to fill that they feel obliged to talk up stories that, well, aren't really stories.
Monday 16 June 2008
Happy Days
The paper is coming along nicely at the moment but, on a complete tangent, a few things which are making me happy at the moment:
My perceptive £5 on Croatia to win EURO 2008
Having the thrilling Dutch as my team in the Crawley News sweepstake for the above tournament
Kevin Pietsersen's incredible "reverse hitting" in the cricket yesterday
Ice-cold Strongbow cider
The joys of shopping for a new bathroom (I never knew taps could be so much fun)
The new 'Crawley News' frisbees we've had delivered to the office. Much better than the pens, which are about as robust as a feather in a gale.
Back to the paper, last week was probably one of the most dramatic and busiest here for a long time.
This week has been calmer, but there are still a few things bubbling under the surface including our likely front page, a story sure to enrage and worry parents in equal measure.
My perceptive £5 on Croatia to win EURO 2008
Having the thrilling Dutch as my team in the Crawley News sweepstake for the above tournament
Kevin Pietsersen's incredible "reverse hitting" in the cricket yesterday
Ice-cold Strongbow cider
The joys of shopping for a new bathroom (I never knew taps could be so much fun)
The new 'Crawley News' frisbees we've had delivered to the office. Much better than the pens, which are about as robust as a feather in a gale.
Back to the paper, last week was probably one of the most dramatic and busiest here for a long time.
This week has been calmer, but there are still a few things bubbling under the surface including our likely front page, a story sure to enrage and worry parents in equal measure.
Wednesday 11 June 2008
Getting shirty
I love the sunshine and this time of year, except for one thing.
Why, oh why do men (normally very ugly, tattoed ones) feel the need to disrobe and go topless at the first sign of sun.
On the beach? Fair enough. On a building site? Understandable.
But when I'm out shopping, going for a walk or, worse, eating, the last thing I want to see is some oik showing off his bare torso.
Take a walk around Crawley today and you'll see it. A few well-honed torsos yes, but mostly it's man boobs o' clock.
Enjoy the sunshine lads by all means but, please, put it away.
Why, oh why do men (normally very ugly, tattoed ones) feel the need to disrobe and go topless at the first sign of sun.
On the beach? Fair enough. On a building site? Understandable.
But when I'm out shopping, going for a walk or, worse, eating, the last thing I want to see is some oik showing off his bare torso.
Take a walk around Crawley today and you'll see it. A few well-honed torsos yes, but mostly it's man boobs o' clock.
Enjoy the sunshine lads by all means but, please, put it away.
Thursday 5 June 2008
Worrying times
Without wanting to sound like a contributor to the Daily Mail (bang goes my promotion) these are worrying times in which we live.
The violence on our streets is reaching a totally unacceptable level. Hardly a day goes by without another young person needlessly losing their life.
Call it gang culture, weapons culture, whatever. It is deeply concerning.
It was brought home to me this week when I was weighing up our choice of front page story.
I decided against the story about the 13-year-old taking a BB gun into Thomas Bennett college because, frankly, everyone I spoke to didn't seem that shocked about it.
When teenagers carrying guns (imitation or not) into the classroom becomes commonplace, it really is time to start worrying.
The violence on our streets is reaching a totally unacceptable level. Hardly a day goes by without another young person needlessly losing their life.
Call it gang culture, weapons culture, whatever. It is deeply concerning.
It was brought home to me this week when I was weighing up our choice of front page story.
I decided against the story about the 13-year-old taking a BB gun into Thomas Bennett college because, frankly, everyone I spoke to didn't seem that shocked about it.
When teenagers carrying guns (imitation or not) into the classroom becomes commonplace, it really is time to start worrying.
Tuesday 3 June 2008
Decisions, Decisions
Two stories were vying for our front page this week - both of which, I think, will provoke shock and despair in equal measure.
One of the stories revolves around the very topical (but worrying) subject of youths, crime and possessing weapons they really shouldn't.
However, I plumped for a twist on an old favourite - Crawley's depleted health service.
What happened when a girl was diagnosed with appendicitis at the Crawley walk-in centre?
Find out by visiting this site tomorrow morning....
One of the stories revolves around the very topical (but worrying) subject of youths, crime and possessing weapons they really shouldn't.
However, I plumped for a twist on an old favourite - Crawley's depleted health service.
What happened when a girl was diagnosed with appendicitis at the Crawley walk-in centre?
Find out by visiting this site tomorrow morning....
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