Thursday, 14 October 2010
Monday, 16 August 2010
Wednesday, 4 August 2010
Smog
Having been born in London after the industrial revolution their are some things i've missed out on.
The Bubonic plague for instance. Slavery is another, the Crusades could also be added to the list.
But every so often fate deals you a special hand and you get to experience what life would have been like had you been born in a bygone era.
Recently I moved to Moscow, and we are currently enjoying the hottest summer in Russia's history.
I use the word enjoying lightly because along with the sunshine came the bush, forest and peat bog fires, and the Smog.
Smog! That classic ailment for developing nations. I do hope it won't give me Cholera! In-fact it's more likely to give me malignant Lung Cancer.
I'm not a smoker. My whole of my life i’ve avoided smoking, even over here where it’s dirt cheap and a national hobby, but now I read that every time I spend a couple of hours outside i might as well have smoked TWO packets of cigarettes!
This turns going to work, posting letters , getting milk into a lifestyle choice - it's no longer just excessively boring. It does me physical damage....
This morning I saw a man in a cloud of smoke jogging next to River Mockba, I wonder if this guy knew his valiant effort to get in an early morning run was going to be rewarded with a tumor the size of a golf ball- mind you - I couldn't see if he was running from anyone.
The air in Moscow is 7 times more polluted than it was prior to the arrival of the hot, dense ,and pungent ash clouds that sticks you as you walk down the street, seeps through every window, door and crevice in a building, and is constantly trying to fool your brain into thinking people are celebrating Guy Fawks night at 5am on 4th August in city beyond the edge of Eastern Europe.
I know Guy Fawks was a bit of a rascal but that takes it too far.
So then I also found out the stuff that's burning at the moment are leafs, timber etc that could have been cleared years ago, so not only are my lungs being infested by filthy dirty smoke , but it's filthy dirty second hand smoke, i'm getting second hand smoke from a middle aged junkie who nobody has been arsed to pick up off the floor yet.
If this has told you anything, bygone era's sucked.
Sunday, 14 February 2010
Wednesday, 6 January 2010
London's 2010 Fireworks
I watched London's New Years Firework display from the rooftop of Westminster Studios. A truely breathtaking experience. Unfortunately my phone camera doesn't do the specticle justice.
Thursday, 17 December 2009
Tsar Tipped for Glory
'Tsar' lastest Russian film tipped for Oscar honours.
'Tsar' is a rich-looking historical epic set in 16th century Moscow, where the forces of good and evil square off in an epic struggle between the spiritual monk Filipp and his childhood friend Ivan, tsar of all Russia also known as Ivan the Terrible.
'Tsar' is a rich-looking historical epic set in 16th century Moscow, where the forces of good and evil square off in an epic struggle between the spiritual monk Filipp and his childhood friend Ivan, tsar of all Russia also known as Ivan the Terrible.
Pavel Lungin, winner of Best Director at the Cannes Film Festival for his film Taxi Blues in 1990, takes the helm as director and given the films infamous subject and high production values, he will be expecting more success with this film.
An insider on the Oscars panel said: 'the film is both a visual feast and a fascinating look into Russia's past, if it's chosen it could do very well'.
If 'Tsar' is chosen by the Russian Federation's Oscars National Selection Committee to be Russia's latest nominee for the Best Foreign Language film at the 2010 Oscars, it will continue the Russian Film industries rich and successful tradition in this catagory.
Russia's most recent film to scoop the prize in 1994 was 'Burnt By The Sun' directed by Nikita Mikhalkov and since then Russian films have been nominated an impressive 5 times for the award.
The Soviet Union also received a total of nine nominations, which included three winners before 1991.
Amid a Global economic downturn many film studios are struggling to make ends meet but with the Russian film industry producing movies of this quality it looks in rude health.
The announcement for this years nominees is scheduled for February 2nd and everyone involved with film will hope 'Tsar' will showcase the Russian Industries strength.
Wednesday, 9 December 2009
Bon Jovi and I at Work...
Just a quick shout out to the Legend Jon Bon Jovi. His new stuff aren't quite the same nostalgic, immense rock anthems we are all used to. But that is mainly because they are not meant to be and it takes time for songs to achieve that sort of credibility... However a great guy and true professional... Jon Bon Jovi you're a hero
Wednesday, 25 November 2009
Thursday, 17 September 2009
A Day In The Sun
So there I was listening to the 3rd day of the 5th Test live from the Oval in my living room on Radio 5 Live. When suddenly my phone rings.
'Hello, it's Si (One of my bosses), what are you doing tomorrow?'
'Nothing?' I respond.
'Okay, meet me at The Oval at 7am tomorrow' he says.
'Cool.' I say.
The next day i'm there at 6-30 am my mistake, bloody London transport, always gets you where you want to go.
Anyway, so it was an amazing day I have to admit although at first I was surpremely confident of England beating the Aussies for most of the day it was only until Freddy Flintoff ran out Ponting for 66, whilst the Aussies Captain was building up a solid partnership with Mike Hussey that I actually thought England would wrap up and win the Ashes before the 5th day.
Anyway, it was quite an achievement, both sides were weaker than in 2005 and as the Series wasn't on terestrial TV and I am no longer at Uni I got to watch alot less of it, which is inevitable.
10 Things We've Learnt This Week About The Champions League
My good friend Ibrahim Mustafa wrote one of these about the Premier League last season, so now i'm nicking his idea. Well done Ibs you've created a winning format...
10 things we learnt from this weeks opening games in 09/10 the Champions League.
1) Qualification from the group stages in the Champions League is now a complete formality for English sides. Missing key players (Chelsea - Drogba), having half your team missing (Arsenal - No keeper etc etc), playing poorly away (Man Utd) and completely lacking in proper form (Liverpool - victories against Burnley and Stoke at home don't count as form) means nothing when you're up against the sides that would struggle to stay up in the Premiership. Harsh??? I think not unfortunately.
2) Most of the sides in this years Champions League are won't be in it next season and for good reason. Wolfsburg, Zenit, CSKA Moscow, Athletico Madrid. One season wonders domestically - or have lost players over the summer.
3) Ibrahimovic is a better signing than Eto'o, yes!!! Eto'o looks slower older and more at odds with his teammates than the Slavic Swede.
4) The 3 of the 4 Italian teams will be lucky to get to the quarter finals and are shockingly short of quality and experience. AC Milan need a proper goalkeeper, not a 32 year old ex Messina and Perugia shot stopper who has never played in the Champions League before, or for that matter dealt with a cross. Juventus have a manager with no Champs League experience, Ciro Ferrara, and this showed in their dismal home display against Bordeaux, which ended 1-1. Fiorentina lost 1-0 Lyon. Nuff said...
5) As much as Jose Mourinho wants to hate Barcelona and win the Champions League he will achieve neither at Inter Milan.
6) Paul Scholes scores goals . Still!!!
7) Barcelona are still the most entertaining and best team in Europe. Real Madrid will push them close as their 5-2 win at Zurich suggests. But Messi is an act in himself.
8) Rangers will battle bravely to compete in their group but will ultimately end up throwing away their chances of qualifying by losing at home to Romanians Unirea Urziceni.
9) The inclusion of more teams from lesser footballing nations will improve the competition in the long term, but at the moment provides a uncompetitive 4th seed in each group.
10) After a long time in the dulldrums Bayern Munich will once again be a force to be reckoned with in Europe.
10 things we learnt from this weeks opening games in 09/10 the Champions League.
1) Qualification from the group stages in the Champions League is now a complete formality for English sides. Missing key players (Chelsea - Drogba), having half your team missing (Arsenal - No keeper etc etc), playing poorly away (Man Utd) and completely lacking in proper form (Liverpool - victories against Burnley and Stoke at home don't count as form) means nothing when you're up against the sides that would struggle to stay up in the Premiership. Harsh??? I think not unfortunately.
2) Most of the sides in this years Champions League are won't be in it next season and for good reason. Wolfsburg, Zenit, CSKA Moscow, Athletico Madrid. One season wonders domestically - or have lost players over the summer.
3) Ibrahimovic is a better signing than Eto'o, yes!!! Eto'o looks slower older and more at odds with his teammates than the Slavic Swede.
4) The 3 of the 4 Italian teams will be lucky to get to the quarter finals and are shockingly short of quality and experience. AC Milan need a proper goalkeeper, not a 32 year old ex Messina and Perugia shot stopper who has never played in the Champions League before, or for that matter dealt with a cross. Juventus have a manager with no Champs League experience, Ciro Ferrara, and this showed in their dismal home display against Bordeaux, which ended 1-1. Fiorentina lost 1-0 Lyon. Nuff said...
5) As much as Jose Mourinho wants to hate Barcelona and win the Champions League he will achieve neither at Inter Milan.
6) Paul Scholes scores goals . Still!!!
7) Barcelona are still the most entertaining and best team in Europe. Real Madrid will push them close as their 5-2 win at Zurich suggests. But Messi is an act in himself.
8) Rangers will battle bravely to compete in their group but will ultimately end up throwing away their chances of qualifying by losing at home to Romanians Unirea Urziceni.
9) The inclusion of more teams from lesser footballing nations will improve the competition in the long term, but at the moment provides a uncompetitive 4th seed in each group.
10) After a long time in the dulldrums Bayern Munich will once again be a force to be reckoned with in Europe.
Thursday, 20 August 2009
WESTMINSTER LIVE!!
I was recently given the opportunity to be the face of Westminster Live Studios in the middle of Westminster opposite the Houses of Parliament. I met some great people and very thankful to the team for the opportunity to be a leading figure in the progression of such a dynamic, imaginative and youthful team.
Saturday, 6 June 2009
FINAL CALL FOR THE FA CUP?
Last night a friend of mine brought up the small matter of whether the FA Cup is as important now as it was, let's say 10 years ago. A well documented subject but one none the less I feel needs to be discussed. I think it remains a landmark tournament and a trophy that every team would love to win.
However, it is now a fourth rate competition and if you consider side such as Manchester United can now win the Premier League, Champions League and League Cup all in one season, the FA Cup is no longer there only other chance at success.
In addition, sides like Arsenal, Aston Villa would rather qualify for the Champions League for financial reasons than have one day in the sun in North London. Not to mention sides in the Championship would rather get promoted and already have a huge fixture list, so the better ones don't really need the cash a cup run would bring and sides from the bottom half would rather avoid relegation.
This is not to say teams don't want to win the Cup, just incentives aren't there, the competition needs a cash injection. Sides need think of getting to the latter stages of the competition because it makes financial sense to attempt it rather than for prestige or a small cash injection.
The amounts need to be big enough that sides would rather gamble on the FA Cup rather than an outside chance of getting in the playoffs.
But as a spectacle, having been to a couple of finals now, and having watched Chelsea and Everton fans enjoying themselves so much during there day out last weekend. I know the anyone who says the FA Cup is dead, unimportant or worthless are just bitter they missed out on the showpiece final.
Wednesday, 27 May 2009
Premier League 08/09
So... A quick review of the Premier League season is in order.
Champions Manchester United are worthy winners, there squad starting eleven and manager at the best in the world and I expect them to go on and retain the Champions League this evening against Barcelona.
Liverpool have closed the ground on the Manks considerably this season, but I can't help feel, without Man Utd's fixture congestion makeing them constantly a point and two games behind Liverpool for much of the run in gave a false sence of rivalry.
Sure United stumbled, slowed and chuffed at times, but they were always capable of winning every game they player in their run in.
Chelsea were disappointing under Scolari and i can't wait to see who comes in for next season and what shape the team form under there leadership.
Arsenal were at times brilliant but generally lacked experience and the consistency that usually brings.
Villa,Fulham and Wigan deserve honourable mentions for performing well above their status.
As for the Relegation battlers. Hull benefitted from maximising their points against teams on poor form at the beginning of the season, i'm think of the Arsenal game fundementally. Newcastle were effectively relegated last season when they started this negative cycle of decline and no Masiah could save them and West Brom were great but came up abit short. Boro the less said about the better, nice Club, Manager, Chairman, but they needed there summer signing Alfonso Alves to come up trumps for them in the final third and he didn't. Top goalscorer Tuncay with just 4 goals will testify that he needed alittle more help on that front.
Champions Manchester United are worthy winners, there squad starting eleven and manager at the best in the world and I expect them to go on and retain the Champions League this evening against Barcelona.
Liverpool have closed the ground on the Manks considerably this season, but I can't help feel, without Man Utd's fixture congestion makeing them constantly a point and two games behind Liverpool for much of the run in gave a false sence of rivalry.
Sure United stumbled, slowed and chuffed at times, but they were always capable of winning every game they player in their run in.
Chelsea were disappointing under Scolari and i can't wait to see who comes in for next season and what shape the team form under there leadership.
Arsenal were at times brilliant but generally lacked experience and the consistency that usually brings.
Villa,Fulham and Wigan deserve honourable mentions for performing well above their status.
As for the Relegation battlers. Hull benefitted from maximising their points against teams on poor form at the beginning of the season, i'm think of the Arsenal game fundementally. Newcastle were effectively relegated last season when they started this negative cycle of decline and no Masiah could save them and West Brom were great but came up abit short. Boro the less said about the better, nice Club, Manager, Chairman, but they needed there summer signing Alfonso Alves to come up trumps for them in the final third and he didn't. Top goalscorer Tuncay with just 4 goals will testify that he needed alittle more help on that front.
Monday, 5 January 2009
DEFIANCE
NO PLOT SPOILER INCLUDED
Daniel Craigs latest offering to the big screen is Defiance and it's alright. The film follows the fate of a small group of Belorussian Jews who 'Defy' the Nazi occupation of Nowogrodek and Lida in present day Belarus and setup their own settlement in the forests.
Craig plays Tuvia Bielski a farmer who leads the large group for two years with the support of his hot headed brother Zus and his younger brother Asael Bielski, both played excellently by Liev Schreiber and Jamie Bell.
The Story is based on a true story and is a relatively unknown. I have studied History for all my life and have only ever given passing reference to it.
As for the film, the acting is great, the story is as original as a real story can be and you can feel the cold through the cinema screen. It is also a decent length, about 2 hours and doesn't depress you as certain films from that period can. I'm thinking of Roberto Benigni 's 'Life is Beautiful', which certainly proved life was far from Beautiful.
Being a natural Historian of 'Social Scientist' as we are now labelled, I really liked this film. However i will struggle to give it more than a 6.5 out of 10 because the film lacks mass appeal. Some will find it a solid historical account, some will find it a horrible dramatisation and hollywoodisation of the plight of the Jews during the Holocaust. Others will just find it boring. The film is basically set in one place, the forests, their is limited gun play, gripping horror and no grand battles, which i know attract many to the war genre.
If you know about the Final Solution, the Ghetto's, this is interesting and gives a look into the psychy of those inside them, if you do not you will not learn much. None the less I would encourage everyone to watch the film, the story is great and inspiration to us all.
Wednesday, 31 December 2008
New Readers
Good day one and all and a Happy New Year.
This is just a quick message to anyone who reads this blog regulary , by chance or have sought my mindless rambles for some entertainment.
Please leaves some comments for me and tell me what you think of my blog and how you have come to be reading my words.
I recently added a new feature to the blog called a cluster map, which gives a rough indication of where people log into this website from and I noticed someone from Romania has had a look, please say hi and let me know what you thought.
Happy New Year and a Merry Christmas to you all.
IT'S NOT THAT BAD
so I was reading an article about the worst albums and songs of 2008 and can't help but feel some music critics are a tad negative and general when they critise certain aspects of the music industry.
For those of you who haven't read many music critiques recently, the rough jist of this article and the general opinion held by many of my friends, is that commercial songs are rubbish and this year has seen a sharp increase in the amount of these types of songs and acts created.
The main arguement against ' commercial songs' is they lack soul and are aimed at the lowest common denominator. An article I recently read highlighted Katy Perry's I Kissed a girl, and Beyonce's 'If I Were a Boy' as the highest profile offenders of this crime. Their intention to shock and the basic narrative of the story being based on outdated and super imposed stereotypes of obvious targets, such as cheating men and confused teenage girls make them easy targets.
I would agree with this arguement to a point. The stories are hardly compelling and won't be challenging Bohemian Rhapsody in most peoples all time favourite songs. But to call these songs bad is wrong.
They are liked by people. Katy Perry's song and many similar songs have all done well this year and I don't mind them, and my favourite band is currently System of a Down.
Is this music snobbery on the behalf of music critics and many of my friends, come to think of it? Possibly, granted everyone has the right to an opinion, especially in the choice of Noise they choose to intake, but to call all these songs drivel is wrong.
The issue I think is quite different. It's the lack of follow up songs and hidden jems produced by the same artist that is what really gets peoples goat. Once you listen to the one song in the album that you have heard on the radio, in a club on the tv, you are unlikely to find another song that is either wholly different or better than the released single.
At this point I might state that I don't buy many albums, but I do listened to them.
The thing that makes songs, albums and artists like Michael Jackson and many other less amazing artist so popular is when you listen to their albums you can usually find at least one more song which wasn't released as a single which you find just as good. I'm thinking primarily of the whole of Metallica's Black Album and Snow (Hey Oh) from the Red Hot Chilli Peppers Stadium Arcadium.
I think this discovery point is what gets music junkies excited and earns artists cudos in their eyes. Abit of variety and depth for fans and listeners to study can make all the difference and give these obviously commercial artists a touch more credibility.
Obviously the name of the game of these artists and record labels is to both make money and entertain, not to earn the respect of audiences who don't buy their product, so it's unlikely much will change. But i do hope this degredation of pop music and those involved in it stops.
It's pop music and does what it sets out to do, be popular. It's always existed and always will, I hope people can accept it and appreciate it for what it is.
For those of you who haven't read many music critiques recently, the rough jist of this article and the general opinion held by many of my friends, is that commercial songs are rubbish and this year has seen a sharp increase in the amount of these types of songs and acts created.
The main arguement against ' commercial songs' is they lack soul and are aimed at the lowest common denominator. An article I recently read highlighted Katy Perry's I Kissed a girl, and Beyonce's 'If I Were a Boy' as the highest profile offenders of this crime. Their intention to shock and the basic narrative of the story being based on outdated and super imposed stereotypes of obvious targets, such as cheating men and confused teenage girls make them easy targets.
I would agree with this arguement to a point. The stories are hardly compelling and won't be challenging Bohemian Rhapsody in most peoples all time favourite songs. But to call these songs bad is wrong.
They are liked by people. Katy Perry's song and many similar songs have all done well this year and I don't mind them, and my favourite band is currently System of a Down.
Is this music snobbery on the behalf of music critics and many of my friends, come to think of it? Possibly, granted everyone has the right to an opinion, especially in the choice of Noise they choose to intake, but to call all these songs drivel is wrong.
The issue I think is quite different. It's the lack of follow up songs and hidden jems produced by the same artist that is what really gets peoples goat. Once you listen to the one song in the album that you have heard on the radio, in a club on the tv, you are unlikely to find another song that is either wholly different or better than the released single.
At this point I might state that I don't buy many albums, but I do listened to them.
The thing that makes songs, albums and artists like Michael Jackson and many other less amazing artist so popular is when you listen to their albums you can usually find at least one more song which wasn't released as a single which you find just as good. I'm thinking primarily of the whole of Metallica's Black Album and Snow (Hey Oh) from the Red Hot Chilli Peppers Stadium Arcadium.
I think this discovery point is what gets music junkies excited and earns artists cudos in their eyes. Abit of variety and depth for fans and listeners to study can make all the difference and give these obviously commercial artists a touch more credibility.
Obviously the name of the game of these artists and record labels is to both make money and entertain, not to earn the respect of audiences who don't buy their product, so it's unlikely much will change. But i do hope this degredation of pop music and those involved in it stops.
It's pop music and does what it sets out to do, be popular. It's always existed and always will, I hope people can accept it and appreciate it for what it is.
Sunday, 21 December 2008
Tuesday, 16 December 2008
Interview Adam Boulton
Do Specialist Journalists Benefit From Extra Insight Through Improved Sources Or Do They Lose Their Objectivity?
By Edward Asta 11289267
Legal fights, a contacts book filled with the most powerful names in British Politics and football games with the Westminster Press team. It’s all part of what makes Sky News Political Team one of the most uncompromising and informative specialist teams in the world. The man who handpicked and has run this team over the last 19 years is forty nine year old Adam Boulton, a man who the hosts his own award winning current affairs show on Sunday mornings and was once described by Former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, as ‘insanely clever’.
Boulton is widely considered one of the best political editors in the business and is the only reporter to have ever doorstepped the Queen. But Despite his close marriage to his work which includes a happy one to Blair’s very own spin doctor, Anji Hunter, he has managed to maintain a level of impartiality which has earned himself the love, respect and fear of all those who enter his circle of trust. In the midst of a slow Tuesday news day, I grab a quick coffee with the sharp witted and explosive character in is second home, Millbank studios.
The question on my lips is not do journalists get into bed with politicians to further their careers, individual cases are fraught with intricacies, but how does Boulton see the overall state of Political journalism in Britain and what has kept him the fly on the wall in the corridors of power for so long? overage of proceedings at Westminster is the oldest and most scrutinized specialist area in journalism, but why have Editors always considered politics to need expert knowledge from a trusted source. Adam Boulton explains.
News organisations are afraid of politics and feel they need trustworthy people who abide by the rules of impartiality and balanced reporting to do the job. For many people the idea of spending their time exclusively around Westminster is a drawback. As a result, despite Political editors being one of the most valuable assets to a newsroom it is not always the most competitive field.
The outcome of newsrooms needing people to explain complex political and financial matters, ranging from tax budgets to sex scandals and ideological debates, combined with the lack of reporters willing and capable of dealing with such an array of topics means the turnover of political journalists is slow. As a result reporters in Westminster can get too close to their subject matter. Boulton thinks his intimate knowledge of work has many positives, and doesn’t believe there is a natural progression to partisan coverage.
Being in a closed environment for a long time means you can get to know the politicians from the junior ranks as they rise up the pyramid, which can improve your understanding of a their methods and drive, it also means you get a feel for the seriousness of a particular story, for example if it can force a resignation or a major rebellion or more. The danger is some people get too native, as can happen, but we must remember we are always doing the basic job of telling general reader what you’re covering.
As long as journalists remain outsiders looking in and remain true to the core principles of the profession, which are clear and accurate reporting, specialist journalists can use there experience and cultivated bank of sources to shed light into holes where general reporters would struggle to find an entrance.
Alastair Campbell is the highest profile casualty in Politics to cross the line from being an objective news gatherer to becoming the object of the news. The line is also frequently crossed in the opposite direction. Nick Robinson, the current Political Editor for the BBC, is one journalist who has followed this path. It cannot be denied some journalists who work in Millbank, the epicentre for British Political Journalism, have or had a political stance or background. It is argued by Peter Hitchens, the Mail on Sunday columnist, a reporter with a political affiliation can no longer be trusted to deliver fair accounts. Yet Boulton thinks this comes with the territory and doesn’t affect their objectivity.
People who cover politics are quite often interested in the subject and at some stage it manifested itself in political activism, usually at a young age. Nick Robinson is well know Junior Conservative, and his former boss, Andrew Marr, was called Red Andy at Cambridge. I don’t hold people affiliations against them but it’s not my model. I’m not a political animal.
Despite accepting Political Journalists are capable of objective reporting despite being partisans in the past, Boulton does steer clear of making personal decisions relating to politics as he feels it makes his job harder and could compromise his objectivity.
Since I became a Political Journalist I haven’t voted. Making a personal decision just complicates the job and makes it harder for me to understand where other people are coming from. It’s a system I’m comfortable with and I know Sir David Frost is the same. A lot of us vote, I don’t blame them for that but I’m not fascinated in politics, I took this job because during the mid eighties politics was the biggest gig in town and I was offered a shot at it. What interests me is doing a public deliverance and informing people about what’s going on and allow them to make the decision.
Knowing people within your specialist patch through past experiences is always helpful for a young journalist starting out. In Political journalism this is no different but because the journalists cannot name their sources and the issues dealt with are so significant, viewers can conger romantic images of under cover reporters fighting for the truth or the opposite. Yet the reality is far less misty. Boulton explains more sources are developed through the day to day grind of producing news and dealing with people fairly rather than tip-offs.
Communicating is what politicians do, they want people to know what they’re doing, and therefore they are willing to speak to you. In television, what we do is conveying the information in a digestible form, if I want to do a story on housing I speak to the Housing Minister and they are usually happy to speak to me, it’s not all Watergate. The point is you get to know people doing the agenda stuff then your relationship improves and they start to let you know about gossip and other stories, equally it can be difficult sometimes you speak to people who you know are in trouble, so you need a due detachment.
For general reporters keeping a due detachment is easier, stories and people come and go at the whim of your superiors however specialists do not have this luxury. Having said that Politicians and journalists need to be in several places at once and when it is not possible for them to converse face to face or when the outlines of an interview need to be considered Reporters have to speak politicians Press Relations staff. To some, PR’s manipulate the coverage of an event to suit their employees’ line, thus reducing the objectivity of the primary evidence journalists work with, but PR’s do act as a much needed buffer between the specialist journalist and politicians. Adam Boulton sees truth in both arguments.
In most cases you don’t get a chance to speak to a politician directly but the party usually tries to push stuff to you, it can be a legitimate process. It can be the most efficient way of conducting business. They can be very good source. But it is a generational thing. People of the same age tend to get on better with each other and therefore your personal relationship with them grows. I know politicians of my age, for example Peter Mandelson, so if I need them I’ll ring them directly, but the young guy in our office has to go and play football with the PR’s because it’s important to us.
Maintaining a healthy working relationship with your subjects and giving air time to politicians, so they can explain there actions, is a legitimate process. All journalists rely on sources from previous stories to help further their knowledge on current stories and improve their coverage. This is no different for specialist journalists, but within the realm of politics these relationships can also provide a steady stream of major breaking news. Boulton thinks the contact list him and his team have created give them a competitive advantage.
As a result of these relationships we at Sky News have been able to give the result of the last two Liberal Democrat leadership contests, before they were announced.
For a newsroom exclusive inside knowledge is desperately sought after. But all the schmoozing and back slapping is worthless unless both parties accept they are in it for different reasons. There are certain ways that both parties are expected to act to preserve the flow of information. Boulton sheds some light on the Whitehall protocols.
The most important thing is too treat people fairly. When you tell them what you want to do, do it. People feel like they have been burnt when you ring them up and say you want to talk to them about one thing and then speak to them about another. At the same time you’re interested as a journalist and they are interested as a politician, your aims are not the same. Sometimes you just have to publish. On the other hand, Hilary Clinton was absolutely right to get annoyed with Gary Paige when he changed the terms of the interview without her knowledge.
Keeping your contacts informed about what you are doing with their information is essential for journalists to maintain trust with them. The danger comes when a specialist journalist is so well informed others can read too much into their words and start legal action. Boulton has not been in this situation himself, but realises the dangers associated with live broadcasting and Westminster’s rumour mill.
The type of journalism I do is mostly unscripted, so you have to be instinctively sure footed. You need to know what you can and can’t say and how to protect yourself. If you don’t know you can get into all sort of trouble fairly quickly. But it’s also its very very difficult to spot where legal troubles may arise.
Legal issues are a constant threat to all journalists but the nature of Politics throws a couple more curve balls at the Millbank elite. Members of Parliament fight tooth and nail to maintain their credibility, which means even the most obscure issue can cause a scandal. Boulton explains.
The two legal problems I have faced both came from unlikely situations. In one situation, I interviewed a Conservative who said a Labour MP was a liar. I reported this to the Labour MP, who then tried to sue both me and the Conservative MP! I won this case as it was deemed fair and accurate reporting. The other time I was sued for defamation because I used a cut away of the audience applauding Arthur Scargill and a left wing Trade Unionist woman in the audience didn’t want seen to be clapping him. The odd thing about legal issues is they tend not to result from the most difficult and most sensitive stuff.
So the specialists who have to broadcast do not face more unique legal issues compared to general reporters. Yet, there inside knowledge when dealing with squabbles and rumours can draw them into conversations a general reporter may miss.
To conclude, if we are to believe the BBC’s political correspondent Andrew Marr assertion ‘Journalism is the industrialisation of gossip’ we must accept that all journalists are expected to cultivate sources and to improve there and the publics understanding of a story. As a result of there constant exposure to there topic specialist journalists can gather better quality gossip, and some may loose their objectivity. However as long as journalists do not short change their viewers with the information they possess and try to adhere to the basic principles of fair and accurate reporting there is no natural progression for a journalist to partisan coverage.
Within the system there is room for political affiliations, being politically active in the past and knowing people within parties as a result does not necessarily lead to better stories.
When a journalist is so close to a subject for such a long time it can bring with it a lot of assumed knowledge, for instance people can read too much into your actions and reports. This can bring with it the threat of legal action. It does also work the other way around. If you are know as a straight talking person to your sources they will trust you not to talk in innuendos. Those who write about specialist and political journalism in such scandalous tones can be accused of the same tricks of all journalists are blamed of, which is over selling the story.
It’s Not All Watergate.
By Edward Asta 11289267
Legal fights, a contacts book filled with the most powerful names in British Politics and football games with the Westminster Press team. It’s all part of what makes Sky News Political Team one of the most uncompromising and informative specialist teams in the world. The man who handpicked and has run this team over the last 19 years is forty nine year old Adam Boulton, a man who the hosts his own award winning current affairs show on Sunday mornings and was once described by Former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, as ‘insanely clever’.
Boulton is widely considered one of the best political editors in the business and is the only reporter to have ever doorstepped the Queen. But Despite his close marriage to his work which includes a happy one to Blair’s very own spin doctor, Anji Hunter, he has managed to maintain a level of impartiality which has earned himself the love, respect and fear of all those who enter his circle of trust. In the midst of a slow Tuesday news day, I grab a quick coffee with the sharp witted and explosive character in is second home, Millbank studios.
The question on my lips is not do journalists get into bed with politicians to further their careers, individual cases are fraught with intricacies, but how does Boulton see the overall state of Political journalism in Britain and what has kept him the fly on the wall in the corridors of power for so long? overage of proceedings at Westminster is the oldest and most scrutinized specialist area in journalism, but why have Editors always considered politics to need expert knowledge from a trusted source. Adam Boulton explains.
News organisations are afraid of politics and feel they need trustworthy people who abide by the rules of impartiality and balanced reporting to do the job. For many people the idea of spending their time exclusively around Westminster is a drawback. As a result, despite Political editors being one of the most valuable assets to a newsroom it is not always the most competitive field.
The outcome of newsrooms needing people to explain complex political and financial matters, ranging from tax budgets to sex scandals and ideological debates, combined with the lack of reporters willing and capable of dealing with such an array of topics means the turnover of political journalists is slow. As a result reporters in Westminster can get too close to their subject matter. Boulton thinks his intimate knowledge of work has many positives, and doesn’t believe there is a natural progression to partisan coverage.
Being in a closed environment for a long time means you can get to know the politicians from the junior ranks as they rise up the pyramid, which can improve your understanding of a their methods and drive, it also means you get a feel for the seriousness of a particular story, for example if it can force a resignation or a major rebellion or more. The danger is some people get too native, as can happen, but we must remember we are always doing the basic job of telling general reader what you’re covering.
As long as journalists remain outsiders looking in and remain true to the core principles of the profession, which are clear and accurate reporting, specialist journalists can use there experience and cultivated bank of sources to shed light into holes where general reporters would struggle to find an entrance.
Alastair Campbell is the highest profile casualty in Politics to cross the line from being an objective news gatherer to becoming the object of the news. The line is also frequently crossed in the opposite direction. Nick Robinson, the current Political Editor for the BBC, is one journalist who has followed this path. It cannot be denied some journalists who work in Millbank, the epicentre for British Political Journalism, have or had a political stance or background. It is argued by Peter Hitchens, the Mail on Sunday columnist, a reporter with a political affiliation can no longer be trusted to deliver fair accounts. Yet Boulton thinks this comes with the territory and doesn’t affect their objectivity.
People who cover politics are quite often interested in the subject and at some stage it manifested itself in political activism, usually at a young age. Nick Robinson is well know Junior Conservative, and his former boss, Andrew Marr, was called Red Andy at Cambridge. I don’t hold people affiliations against them but it’s not my model. I’m not a political animal.
Despite accepting Political Journalists are capable of objective reporting despite being partisans in the past, Boulton does steer clear of making personal decisions relating to politics as he feels it makes his job harder and could compromise his objectivity.
Since I became a Political Journalist I haven’t voted. Making a personal decision just complicates the job and makes it harder for me to understand where other people are coming from. It’s a system I’m comfortable with and I know Sir David Frost is the same. A lot of us vote, I don’t blame them for that but I’m not fascinated in politics, I took this job because during the mid eighties politics was the biggest gig in town and I was offered a shot at it. What interests me is doing a public deliverance and informing people about what’s going on and allow them to make the decision.
Knowing people within your specialist patch through past experiences is always helpful for a young journalist starting out. In Political journalism this is no different but because the journalists cannot name their sources and the issues dealt with are so significant, viewers can conger romantic images of under cover reporters fighting for the truth or the opposite. Yet the reality is far less misty. Boulton explains more sources are developed through the day to day grind of producing news and dealing with people fairly rather than tip-offs.
Communicating is what politicians do, they want people to know what they’re doing, and therefore they are willing to speak to you. In television, what we do is conveying the information in a digestible form, if I want to do a story on housing I speak to the Housing Minister and they are usually happy to speak to me, it’s not all Watergate. The point is you get to know people doing the agenda stuff then your relationship improves and they start to let you know about gossip and other stories, equally it can be difficult sometimes you speak to people who you know are in trouble, so you need a due detachment.
For general reporters keeping a due detachment is easier, stories and people come and go at the whim of your superiors however specialists do not have this luxury. Having said that Politicians and journalists need to be in several places at once and when it is not possible for them to converse face to face or when the outlines of an interview need to be considered Reporters have to speak politicians Press Relations staff. To some, PR’s manipulate the coverage of an event to suit their employees’ line, thus reducing the objectivity of the primary evidence journalists work with, but PR’s do act as a much needed buffer between the specialist journalist and politicians. Adam Boulton sees truth in both arguments.
In most cases you don’t get a chance to speak to a politician directly but the party usually tries to push stuff to you, it can be a legitimate process. It can be the most efficient way of conducting business. They can be very good source. But it is a generational thing. People of the same age tend to get on better with each other and therefore your personal relationship with them grows. I know politicians of my age, for example Peter Mandelson, so if I need them I’ll ring them directly, but the young guy in our office has to go and play football with the PR’s because it’s important to us.
Maintaining a healthy working relationship with your subjects and giving air time to politicians, so they can explain there actions, is a legitimate process. All journalists rely on sources from previous stories to help further their knowledge on current stories and improve their coverage. This is no different for specialist journalists, but within the realm of politics these relationships can also provide a steady stream of major breaking news. Boulton thinks the contact list him and his team have created give them a competitive advantage.
As a result of these relationships we at Sky News have been able to give the result of the last two Liberal Democrat leadership contests, before they were announced.
For a newsroom exclusive inside knowledge is desperately sought after. But all the schmoozing and back slapping is worthless unless both parties accept they are in it for different reasons. There are certain ways that both parties are expected to act to preserve the flow of information. Boulton sheds some light on the Whitehall protocols.
The most important thing is too treat people fairly. When you tell them what you want to do, do it. People feel like they have been burnt when you ring them up and say you want to talk to them about one thing and then speak to them about another. At the same time you’re interested as a journalist and they are interested as a politician, your aims are not the same. Sometimes you just have to publish. On the other hand, Hilary Clinton was absolutely right to get annoyed with Gary Paige when he changed the terms of the interview without her knowledge.
Keeping your contacts informed about what you are doing with their information is essential for journalists to maintain trust with them. The danger comes when a specialist journalist is so well informed others can read too much into their words and start legal action. Boulton has not been in this situation himself, but realises the dangers associated with live broadcasting and Westminster’s rumour mill.
The type of journalism I do is mostly unscripted, so you have to be instinctively sure footed. You need to know what you can and can’t say and how to protect yourself. If you don’t know you can get into all sort of trouble fairly quickly. But it’s also its very very difficult to spot where legal troubles may arise.
Legal issues are a constant threat to all journalists but the nature of Politics throws a couple more curve balls at the Millbank elite. Members of Parliament fight tooth and nail to maintain their credibility, which means even the most obscure issue can cause a scandal. Boulton explains.
The two legal problems I have faced both came from unlikely situations. In one situation, I interviewed a Conservative who said a Labour MP was a liar. I reported this to the Labour MP, who then tried to sue both me and the Conservative MP! I won this case as it was deemed fair and accurate reporting. The other time I was sued for defamation because I used a cut away of the audience applauding Arthur Scargill and a left wing Trade Unionist woman in the audience didn’t want seen to be clapping him. The odd thing about legal issues is they tend not to result from the most difficult and most sensitive stuff.
So the specialists who have to broadcast do not face more unique legal issues compared to general reporters. Yet, there inside knowledge when dealing with squabbles and rumours can draw them into conversations a general reporter may miss.
To conclude, if we are to believe the BBC’s political correspondent Andrew Marr assertion ‘Journalism is the industrialisation of gossip’ we must accept that all journalists are expected to cultivate sources and to improve there and the publics understanding of a story. As a result of there constant exposure to there topic specialist journalists can gather better quality gossip, and some may loose their objectivity. However as long as journalists do not short change their viewers with the information they possess and try to adhere to the basic principles of fair and accurate reporting there is no natural progression for a journalist to partisan coverage.
Within the system there is room for political affiliations, being politically active in the past and knowing people within parties as a result does not necessarily lead to better stories.
When a journalist is so close to a subject for such a long time it can bring with it a lot of assumed knowledge, for instance people can read too much into your actions and reports. This can bring with it the threat of legal action. It does also work the other way around. If you are know as a straight talking person to your sources they will trust you not to talk in innuendos. Those who write about specialist and political journalism in such scandalous tones can be accused of the same tricks of all journalists are blamed of, which is over selling the story.
It’s Not All Watergate.
Saturday, 6 December 2008
CAUROSEL
So i'm late again for another Grand opening for a West End show, this time it's Caurosel at the Savoy Theatre.
After light refreshments at the bar, whilst waiting for the next chance to get to our seats I take a look around the Savoy theatre. I quite like it, the staff are friendly the service good and having once worked at the Savoy Hotel, taking coats, I can't help but feel slightly nostalgic.
So we're Kindly shown to our seats, people stare, as they do, and I get the chance to watch the latest reincarnation of Richard Rodgers musical. This time starring Lesley Garrett as Nettie Fowler.
As I sit down I'm instantly stuck by the behind the stage Graphics which I have yet to see the like of in other productions. At times my interest in this exceeds that of my interest in the play.
It's not that the play is not interesting, It's a classic story, well told and features excellently coriographed dances and fighting. I enjoyed the shows songs , i had to refrain myself from joining in with the chorus of ' you'll never walk alone' on several occasions. However i'm a dialogue man.
I like the Sopranos because of how it happens, rather than what actually visually happens and in the second half of the play a girl dances for forty minutes without and dialougue. It's a nice dance full of meaning and development. None of which is lost on me, please don't misunderstand my meaning, the dance is .... great, but is still a forty minute dance.
So in conclusion a good play, but not really my type. Lesley Garrett does well and the dancing and fighting is both well choreographed and prolonged. The Savoy theatre is now one of my prefered theatre's in the West End and I'm sure unlike oterh recent shows which opened recently Caurosel will survive comfortably.
6/4
After light refreshments at the bar, whilst waiting for the next chance to get to our seats I take a look around the Savoy theatre. I quite like it, the staff are friendly the service good and having once worked at the Savoy Hotel, taking coats, I can't help but feel slightly nostalgic.
So we're Kindly shown to our seats, people stare, as they do, and I get the chance to watch the latest reincarnation of Richard Rodgers musical. This time starring Lesley Garrett as Nettie Fowler.
As I sit down I'm instantly stuck by the behind the stage Graphics which I have yet to see the like of in other productions. At times my interest in this exceeds that of my interest in the play.
It's not that the play is not interesting, It's a classic story, well told and features excellently coriographed dances and fighting. I enjoyed the shows songs , i had to refrain myself from joining in with the chorus of ' you'll never walk alone' on several occasions. However i'm a dialogue man.
I like the Sopranos because of how it happens, rather than what actually visually happens and in the second half of the play a girl dances for forty minutes without and dialougue. It's a nice dance full of meaning and development. None of which is lost on me, please don't misunderstand my meaning, the dance is .... great, but is still a forty minute dance.
So in conclusion a good play, but not really my type. Lesley Garrett does well and the dancing and fighting is both well choreographed and prolonged. The Savoy theatre is now one of my prefered theatre's in the West End and I'm sure unlike oterh recent shows which opened recently Caurosel will survive comfortably.
6/4
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