What if a degree in PR and journalism was actually good for journalism?

It emerged this week that the University of Salford was running a degree course which combines both PR and journalism, two professions/trades/jobs which are inextricably linked through the skills they are built upon, but poles apart from the view of the world they take. For as long as I can remember, it’s been reasonably common

2016: Some of the people who helped shape regional journalism

If there’s one thing journalism doesn’t need going into 2017, it’s another clutch of gongs. For an industry which is constantly facing negative headlines (often understandable, of course), we still do a great job of celebrating our achievements. And if you cut beyond the headlines and the punditry, there is a lot to celebrate despite

How do you put the reader at the heart of every newsroom decision? Share the data, and love the data

A whole bunch of articles have been written in recent weeks about the plan the company I work for, Trinity Mirror, has to introduce individual audience goals for reporters at the Birmingham Mail. It’s been a project I’ve been heavily involved in and one, which as I said in a post the other week, believe

Why audience targets can be good for journalism

Journalists want people to read what we’ve written. Audience targets can help make sure we’re reaching as many people as possible The issue of audience targets became a hot potato this week – and I can see why. But the reaction that seeking to write content which will be popular means we at the same

How to handle a mistake after it has gone viral

Few journalists like it when they see they’ve made a mistake in public. Mistakes, obviously, vary in significance – from a typo which might get people grumbling in the pub through to the sort of errors which land the editor-in-chief in court. Focusing on the lower end of the spectrum, digital publishing has made the

Seven advertising department influences which can help make a digital newsroom great

ONE of our newsrooms was described to me this week as being run ‘like a finely-tuned advertising department.’ Now, there was a time when that would have been seen by journalists as some sort of insult. Those who can see where the future is going won’t see it as an insult – just proof that

Journalists and readers: The question at the heart of the future of journalism

At the heart of the future of journalism is a question all journalists will find themselves having to answer: Just how involved are you prepared to let readers become in your work? New platforms may have be the physical manifestation of change in our industry,  but platforms come and go. What ‘the internet’ and 21st

Introducing Shed Journalism. Something you never want to do

At the Society of Editors seminar in the Midlands on Monday, Liverpool Echo editor Alastair Machray was one of a number of editors to answer the question: “Is sport still important?” Actually, Ali also answered the question: “How we will make sure we’re important to fans?” as well, because the actual title of the session

So, what does a great journalist look like in a digital newsroom?

One of the things I get asked most often – generally by university lecturers, or at least those who realise it’s good to talk to the industry into which they send hundreds of graduates every year – is this: “What do you need a good journalist to be these days?” A similar, but slightly different,

The Duke of York was right: Journalism needs apprentices

It’s not often I nod along in agreement with a member of the Royal Family, largely because I’ve never spoken to a member of them. But the Duke of York, speaking at a seminar focusing on the regional press held by the Society of Editors, appeared to be on my wavelength – or me on