Thursday, October 29, 2009

Media ownership - a Skye high

Marvellous news from our friends in the far north. The West Highland Free Press is to become that rarest of rare entities - an employee-owned local newspaper.
Press Gazette blog The Wire is reporting that the title's owners have agreed to sell to their staff who are supported by ownership investment vehicle the Baxi Partnership.
This is a refreshing outlook from all three key parties and my best wishes go to the Isle of Skye's terrific ten. Here's to you, here's to success - and here's to the ripple effects of your inspirational move.
The paper may have a weekly sales figure of under 9,000 but it's a respected provider of a crucial local service and, importantly, is an enterprise with a long and very relevant future.
Encouragingly, there are strong indications that the new owners will not simply produce a decent paper. The Wire reports that the WHFP - meshed by an employee benefits trust to hold staff shares and maintain independence - wishes to create a news agency and further develop digital platforms.
Looking at the broader picture, a press release on the Baxi website states: "This year the UK Employee Ownership Index (EOI) revealed that employee owned companies outperformed the FTSE All-Share in the second quarter of 2009 by 19.9%."
Co-operative Development Scotland (CDS) has played a big part in this development which was unable to tap into traditional routes of finance. CDS chief exec Sarah Deas is quoted as saying: "Research shows that employee-owned businesses are more productive and sustainable, so there is enormous potential for this type of ownership model to contribute to the development of Scotland's economy. Encouraging more business owners to consider an employee buyout is a priority and we are working to build awareness across the business community.”
There's so much food for thought here that I couldn't possibly manage another mouthful of this evening's neeps and tatties.

More
http://blogs.pressgazette.co.uk/wire/5756
www.baxipartnership.co.uk
www.whfp.com

Thanks for the tip-off
Ms Victoria Trott, one of Wales' finest travel writers - www.victoriatrott.com

Monday, October 26, 2009

Beatbloggers prepare to operate the parish pump

"Local meetings and events ... identifying grassroots issues of importance to residents ..."
The work of your trusty local newspaper reporter? Maybe, but the words actually appear in a sits-vac ad for the rather more broad-church Guardian. They've coined the word "beatblogger" to cover a new role to be employed in three UK cities - Leeds, Cardiff and Edinburgh.
Guardian Local is, according to those recruiting, a small-scale experiment in local news gathering and the beatbloggers will be at the coalface. They'll report from events and meetings using a range of tools – text, photos, video and audio, they'll identify and link to material produced by bloggers, journalists and other sources and they'll build a network of community contacts.
There's a lot more too - the beatblogger will identify opportunities for partnerships and collaborations to build content, he or she will nourish links to other online resources and will be responsible for ensuring all elements of the local page are fresh and relevant.
There's a whole lot more too - check out the job description at http://bit.ly/2Ph9qi - so could this be an intriguing peek into the future or will the experment fizzle out like a Cheryl Cole solo project?
Launch editor Sarah Hartley is quoted as saying she's impressed by the "range and depth of coverage from local websites and blogs." Indeed, this material has been evolving beautifully - and there'll be many more great advances to come.
A piece from the Guardian (below) also touches upon the themes of local being important, of one US broadcaster winning huge public funding for a local news project and of the possibility that the Press Association could be subsidised to cover local courts and councils.
So let's hope the Guardian invests in (and appropriately rewards) genuine journalistic talent to fill its beatblogger roles - and let's hope even better things come of the wider movement back towards local accountibility

See http://bit.ly/yxDN

Friday, October 23, 2009

Oi, Rusbridger - take ' em camping!

A week into our Guardian subscription and I have a message for the good newspaper folk at the Scott Trust: "You've missed a trick!"
Me and Claire plumped for the pre-October subscription "sale" because we knew it'd save us cash ... and because we love the paper. It's quality, it's fun and it airs opinions that are always carefully thought through and argued. It's so good, in fact, that we plunged all the way in and now have vouchers for every day of the week.
The recent sales pitch that hooked us in was prolonged, intense, colourful and thoroughly credible. But it wasn't without its faults.
And here's why the newspaper sales manager needs a good talking to. Not once in the pitch did he or she flag up the bounteous beauty of picking up a morning paper once again.
With just five editions under my Pepe Jeans belt I've managed to enjoy more early morning birdsong than even that time in the mid-80s when Beast and Browny suggested: "Let's spend a couple of nights kipping under canvas in the foothills of Pen-y-ghent - either side of torturing ourselves with the Three Peaks Walk."
This season's black 7am autumn skies are necklaced by seafront streetlights around Swansea Bay. Even better, at that time the world hasn't yet been sullied afresh by humankind in the gas-guzzlers that plummet down Wimmerfield Drive towards another day of office oblivion.
So thanks, Guardian, for enlivening each day with nature, a refreshing complement to your prose and pictures. But do yourselves a favour before the next big sales push ... send the subscription marketeers on a camping weekend somewhere remote.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Business assistance - frustration's setting in

We're 12 days away from our next meeting to discuss the union-triggered journalism co-op. I sincerely hope our working party members are able to report some progress that night - because embracing public sector-sponsored help is starting to frustrate.
All the individuals we've met as we seek guidance and assistance have been decent, good-humoured individuals with good credentials but, blimey, they ain't half hamstrung by the system.
Costa Coffee in Swansea - opposite Ann Summers, nudge, nudge, wink, wink - was the venue for today's lunchtime chat with a business advisor appointed by the Swansea Business Centre. She was attentive, understanding, ready with ideas and thoughtful in her approach.
However, we were left with a feeling of: "We've come this far - we've ploughed through meeting after meeting - but we're not much further forward."
It was the nth time we'd outlined our plans and aspirations, it was another blast of espresso for the body to fight and it was another valuable two hours out of a day.
The time has come to be decisive and forceful. Our November 2 gathering must deliver some significant advances, including an agreement to formally register the company.
It's also clear that we need cash from somewhere to pay for a development go-getter to kick-start this Vespa that we want to be a Harley. Without a couple of months hard graft from him or her the progress of our willing volunteers will be severely hampered.
There's a thrilling uphill adventure in prospect - but we've not yet starting packing the tent poles for base camp.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Why memories are Ev's goal tonight

Holmfirth High School 1976-81 offered much to the aspiring traveller.
Cross-Channel trips took us to Paris coinciding with the delicious final sprint of the Tour de France, Lille before it became moderately trendy and gale-blasted Le Touquet on the exposed Normandy coast. There was even a detour into Belgium one day along with a few days at the small market-square town of Hazebrouck about as far north as the teachers could take us in France.
Powerful memories? The throbbing aroma of breakfast-time non-filter Gitanes which intrigued us pre-health-warning teenagers, the soup bowl-sized mugs of hot chocolate - Choky - and the salty mounds of French fries well before McDonald's copycat pallid gunk had given the treasure a bad name across Europe.
Best of all, as geology O'level approached, a week in Buttermere Youth Hostel, a converted Lakeland slate house, a smooth grassy rise away from Crummock Water. As we paired off with fellow voyagers there were clambers up the stream rushing down from Blueberry Tarn, scrambles up the scree slopes and plunges down towards the flanks of Ennerdale Water.
Great opportunities ... but put into stark contrast tonight as we await the first big school trip of Ev. Aged 13, the lad has his bag packed, his foreign currency crisply tucked into a Post Office card wallet, his squad windcheater Cellophaned and his football boots tucked away. Dimples for Astroturf, studs for the real stuff.
In an hour's time he and 40 others from the local comp head off for 10 days ... in Florida (or What? Nine-hundred quid!? as it's now known).
For this is Olchfa School, Swansea, 2009. In store for them are two soccer matches, several theme parks, the Kennedy Space Center and the ubiquitous, worrying, "shopping day" at somewhere known rather morbidly as Florida Mall. An annual stroll up and down Newton Road, Mumbles, is sufficient for most of us.
Still, good luck to 'em ... and if Ev flies back with as many lifelong memories as those trips to the remaining Vimy Ridge trenches and Lake District glacial deposits then every penny of that £900 will have been worth it.
I think.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Stradey Park's final whistle - a year on

Phew! What a year since Bristol RFC arrived at Stradey Park to help bring down the curtain on 129 years of history at one of world rugby's most famous arenas.
There's been a move to a new stadium, a change of senior management at the club, a radical re-think of how the Scarlets connect with their fanbase - and lots of highs and lows on the playing side.
Of course, there had been a big media build-up to that still, black night of Friday, October 24, 2008. Two weeks before the final whistle there had been Heineken Cup defeat in Llanelli as Harlequins produced a stirring second-half display to win 29-22. A week before the West Countrymen arrived there had been more jitters as Llanelli RFC - the "originals" some will insist - lost 16-10 to Pontypridd on a bright Saturday afternoon of Principality Welsh Premiership rugby.
But now the scene was set for the last rip of the studs on the Stradey turf. And the Scarlets were in no mood to let the occasion pass quietly, quaintly or submissively. There would be pride, there would be flair, there would be a win.
In advance of the 7.10pm kick-off came a hurried and scurried few hours of activity.
The media were there early - more than 250 media personnel would rush in and out through the course of the day. The BBC were broadcasting from breakfast time and the story would move up the Beeb's news agenda as time went on. Eventually BBC News 24 were running hourly updates.
The Scarlets staff were there hours ahead of usual, checking ticket allocation, health and safety measures, food and drink supplies, marquee requirements, sound systems, the pitch, programme deliveries and stewarding levels.
Former captains gathered in one marquee, chatting, laughing, backslapping, reminiscing. Names included Leigh Davies, Scott Quinnell, Wayne Proctor, Robin McBryde, Ieuan Evans and Rupert Moon. There was Phil Davies, Phil May, Derek Quinnell, Phil Bennett and many more. They were eventually paraded onto the pitch escorted by Llanelli Schoolboys U11s.
There was a special presentation to former coach Gareth Jenkins, presentations to past chairmen and presidents, half-time music from Caryl Parry Jones and a final team photo of past captains, chairmen and presidents on the half-way line.
The Scarlets Choir and Cor Meibion Llanelli sang Sosban Fach and Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau. There were fireworks.
You know what? There was a match too! The EDF Energy Cup challenge of Bristol was swept aside by waves of emotion and passion. Former Bristol centre Rob Higgitt scuttled over for Stradey's last try; Stephen Jones kicked the last points.
The teams remained together on the pitch after the final whistle in a thrilling moment of sporting camaraderie. The Scarlets gave a warmly applauded lap of honour, wing Mark Jones carrying around his tiny baby son.
A few beers later it was all over. It was time to move on. Artefacts were sold as the stadium was stripped by men with screwdrivers and stepladders, the keys for Parc y Scarlets were handed over ... and a new chapter began.
It still feels like it's just beginning, of course. There are plenty of stories waiting to be written about Scarlets rugby.
Few, however, will match the power of that single autumn night when Bristol came to town.

Monday, October 19, 2009

20 blogs - base camp to a holy (financial) grail

Blogdistributor (http://www.blogdistributor.com/) has just raised its head above the laptop's parapet. It reckons to be a service which links bloggers with commercial operations ... and one which will pay for penning prose via the pixels.
Just one initial problem in my case - any writer wishing to be signed up to become an overnight star needs to have posted 20 blogs and the one you're adoring right now is somewhere around my 16th.
The consequences? A flurry of blogs from Wordsmith For Hire over the next day or two in a bid to unlock the door to global recognition and respect.
To be fair to the Blogdistributor folk, they make no real promise of instant riches and I'm no believer in that possibility. However, in the interests of ongoing research into online communications as a PR tool, you'll soon see me hit the 20 mark.

The town hall's all a-twitter

The communications team at Swansea Council is in the process of embracing social media ... and all that entails. Tweets and video shorts are among the items now being discussed and planned at weekly news meetings.
A couple of months ago they asked me and a fresh-from-college techno-dude (Sam Nicholls aka Studio8) to report on the positives and negatives of hoisting the authority's messages onto Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and further across the blogosphere. We were delighted to do so.
What we found was a UK public sector already showing encouraging signs of moving with the times and - for this sector - relatively quickly.
Years ago it would have been that local councils didn't keep up. Photography may not have arrived in some town halls until the 1970s - and then banned again once the Pistols turned up. Indeed, in some respects, they still don't keep pace - too many council departments are still working independently of teams performing the exact same function for neighbouring authorities, for instance.
However, look at how some authorities are taking online social networking to heart and I think we're seeing innovations which some private sector media operators could learn from.
Liz Shellard, the Swansea marketing unit's web development manager is inspirational in this regard. She has a close focus on building the council’s search engine rating, achieved largely by luring increasing numbers to authority websites and existing social media platforms.
Social media, she says, is a highly effective way of getting messages to those who don’t wish to get information from the traditional media or from the council website.
Yes, it can be hugely time-consuming if not carefully managed and policed, but tomorrow's information consumer will demand bespoke, personalised services - and that's the way it's going.
Liz told me: “Let’s take them with us – let’s communicate with them how they want. In future years it will be increasingly important for Swansea Council to adapt the way we communicate to take such trends into account.”
Well said, Liz. Enjoy the ride.

More info If you'd like more detail about my Swansea Council social media report, just reply to the blog.

Monday, October 5, 2009

Heartstrings and headlines

The story of the out-of-work Welsh journalist may not tug at the heartstrings and it's unlikely to hit the headlines. A cocktail of inhuman old stereotypes and distant mega-media managements in self-preservation mode will ensure the lack of furore.
Yet the work sector in which these (mainly) hardworking, modestly paid professionals operate is undergoing a revolution. It's difficult to predict who the winners will be. Or whether there'll be any.
Radical times call for radical thinking and that's what's been occupying the minds of a working party from the National Union of Journalists' Swansea and District branch.
For two months the group has been considering options with one common aim: creating work for freelance and out-of-work journalists based in south-west Wales.
Experts have been consulted, gatherings of interested individuals called, miles clocked, coffees consumed and valued new acquaintances made. Those in the know from the worlds of business start-ups, the co-operative movement and the community regeneration sector have been encouragingly helpful and supportive.
Now - crucially - a marketplace has been identified, trading principles agreed and options for business models are on the table. It may well be that this is an opportunity not to be missed.
It's also time for the union to hand over the reins to a team of members who are passionate about going it alone (with the branch's wholehearted backing and support, of course) and who will take the project forward.
As cliches go, it's now or never - the idea, the marketplace and the professional assistance awaits. All that's needed now is hard work, vision and a great dollop of the teamwork ethic.

Let's get together To find out more, to get involved, to get energised and to start generating work meet up on Monday, October 12, from 6-7pm in the Swansea Yacht Club, close to the maritime quarter's Dylan Thomas Centre.

Details Andy Pearson - 07758 745 240, andy@hopestreetmedia.co.uk