Journalism jobs and news from Holdthefrontpage.co.uk

August 2007 News

August 31, 2007

Growth in local press websites 'shows evolution of regional companies'
Annual Newspaper Society survey reveals almost 300 new web launches in 2006

Reunion planned for Ex-Express & Echo staff
Editorial staff who worked at paper between 1965 and 1995 will be among those to attend event

100 per cent increase in web visits for press flood coverage
Surge in traffic as local residents logged on for updates on the floods and water supply issues

Trainee reporter set for 180ft bungee jump
Guardian journalist's career is already coming on in leaps and bounds with daring stunt

Winners and losers reflect on ABC figures
Why some newspapers are claiming an increase in readership despite sales decline

August 30, 2007

Reporter steps in to save football club from fine
Journalist was on hand to deliver team-sheet after the team bus gets stuck on the motorway

News duo come to rescue of walker in fall
Woman was left covered in blood and with a cracked a rib after accident during 630-mile walk

Anfield's Everton tribute was sparked by idea from Echo journalist
Feature writer and Kop season ticket holder first floated the idea on his blog and fans responded

Why the movies turn journalists into action heroes
Mhairi McFarlane looks at how hacks are perceived in real life compared to the big screen

Trinity's Neil Benson to discuss global impact of local news business
Regionals boss will join panel for Journalism Leaders Forum

Check YOUR newspaper's circulation against that of your competitors
Click through for the full list

Latest regional press ABC figures are released
Snapshot of daily and weekly regional newspapers across the UK

August 29, 2007

Profit fall for Johnston Press - but ad revenue decline is slowing
Control on costs and new publishing initiatives lead to prediction of "satisfactory outcome" for 2007

News in brief
Plus: Sale of Trinity Mirror titles to Tindle is complete - and more news in brief

Journalist flies the flag for Britain at World Triathlon Championships
Reporter flies out to Germany to race for her country for a second time

Media ban leads to negative headlines MoD aimed to avoid
News editor says chance for positive PR was missed as paper is stopped from fully reporting homecoming

15 news staff in 80ft abseil for Evening News charity
Daredevils enjoy an "adrenalin rush" as they abseil down the side of newspaper's headquarters

August 28, 2007

How The Herald is reaching new audiences with social networking
Experimental work with third-party websites begins to show results for daily paper

'I took my chance to save a life' - journalist hopes his op brings a cure

'I took my chance to save a life' - journalist hopes his op brings a cure
Find out what happened when deputy editor learned he could be a match with dying leukaemia patient

August 24, 2007

75% of drivers would fail a driving test - so how did MEN's John Jeffay fare?
After more than 20 years of driving, would John be good enough to pass again?

News in brief
Plus: press columnist suffers alleged assault, online development for Archant, and more news in brief

Pics are snapped by editorial assistant as husband's car goes up in flames
Grab for camera after being woken at 4.30am as cars went up in flames

Regional press man was 'minutes from death' after severe reaction to sting
Photographer collapses with anaphylactic shock while out on assignment

Ex-News reporter enjoys sound of success as band front-woman
Group's new single getting airplay on Radio 1 and London's XFM

August 23, 2007

News in brief
Plus: Satellite delivery exit for PA, and a cucumber conundrum for the Keighley News

Seven pages of in-depth fire coverage from weekly with staff of four
Independent pulls out the stops for biggest story in decades

Super-local websites get warm welcome from community leaders
Online correspondents to cover "every village and suburb"

Trainee press photographer suffers serious injury in smash outside work
Snapper trapped in wreckage as car is pushed 30 metres along street

August 22, 2007

Double delight as trainee reporters win front page leads just hours into the job
Duo celebrate splashes in their first 48 hours at regional daily newspaper

Hack puts paid to theory that there's no such thing as a free... er, lounge
Reporter found, collected and constructed a completely free living room in just a day and a half

Festival feat sees Leader produce Welsh langauge editions all week
Welsh-speaking staff help major media project to support cultural festival

Exeter editor to take on new role in newspaper transfer
Company regroups after research showed readers look towards Exeter for jobs, leisure and shopping

August 21, 2007

Mercury breaks the mould with instant royal visit video
Reporters 'wing it' with little video training as weekly decides coverage is a must

Editor cycles from Brighton to Paris in three days
MD joins editor in 150-mile trip for The Argus Appeal

Daily Post credited with forging key links between Wales and Liverpool
"Paper has been a major influence on relations", claims cultural scholar

Ex-regionals' editor takes new job in Spain on paper for Brits abroad
Editor claims change will make thinkSPAIN/today Spain's first national English-language newspaper

August 20, 2007

Weekly's 2.30am update as huge blaze hits town
Early coverage pays off as reader pics and eyewitness accounts flood in

News in brief
Plus: charter for FOI complainers, and a new PCC member is unveiled - and more news in brief

Norwich Evening News editor is announced
Change follows the departure of David Bourn, who quit the post in May

Newsquest daily gets a new editor
Promotion for deputy editor from sister title

August 17, 2007

Match of the Wacaday!
Mail claims major transfer coup as legendary broadcaster Timmy Mallett joins its reporting team

From London to Mongolia - journalist's 7,000-mile crazy car race is complete
Erik spent three weeks on the road for international rally with a difference

'Street bail' plea for arrested journalists to cut risk of equipment seizure
Review of police powers is told that freedom of the press must be upheld

Praise in Parliament for investigative reporter's work
Former accountant-turned-journalist used his number skills to turn up stream of story leads

Front page news world record bid for Fleet Street institution
St Bride's 'Harvest Festival' with a difference is looking for donations of newspapers

August 16, 2007

Tributes pour in after death of Evening Times chief sports writer at 57
Sir Alex Ferguson among those who will miss Big Al, veteran of four World Cup finals and top sports events

News in brief
Plus: PA Sport joins Virgin media, green shoppers in Exeter and more news in brief

Newspaper owner who claims he was 'forced out' has appeal dismissed
Free newspaper proprietor said he was forced out of local market by Newsquest and Johnston Press

Shocking P1 shows true face of gun crime terror
MEN names all 55 victims as it reveals findings of its own investigation

Journalists 'expected to take on extra responsibilities without extra pay'
Collective grievance claim expected from NUJ members at a weekly newspaper group in Scotland

Journalist pens novel set in a Birmingham newsroom
Experience and imagination spark the story I Did A Bad Thing

August 15, 2007

NCE Newspaper Practice re-sit: Examiners’ Report
Find out where the candidates excelled - and went wrong - in their law and newspaper practice test

News in brief
Plus: keynote speaker for AOP event announced, and how Ian Murray helps the flowers to grow

Spooky night at haunted tower: Features editor goes ghost-hunting
Drama unfolds as news team trio braves the unknown

August 14, 2007

Networking 'wiki' site launched for digital news staff
Users invited to add content and sections to new knowledge base for media professionals

Paper makes formal complaint after reporter is barred from 'public' meeting
Council debate was labelled as public but changed to confidential after journalist arrived - claim

August 13, 2007

Bizarre coincidence as newspaper reunites father with long-lost daughter
She was in the background of appeal photo taken in busy shopping street

First journalist passes NCE for sub-editors
Courier man makes the grade with new standard launched to tackle shortage of qualified subs

76 per cent pass rate as journalists re-sit newspaper practice paper
35 trainees pass the test - leading to nine being awarded their full National Certificate Examination

Independent news group to launch new magazine
Success of double weekly launch leads to expansion of local news group portfolio

MEN Media switches Asian News newspaper to online only
Print publication ceases after ten years following increase in web visitors

August 10, 2007

Western Daily Press to revive dedicated Bath edition
Four journalists to be set on to fill gap left when Bath Chronicle goes weekly

Fishy tale sparks shark spat for local rival newspapers
Claim and counter-claim for Cornish titles as 'hoax' story is denied by paper that got nationals hooked

Schools 'can't use data protection to stop release of exam results to press'
New guidance to make schools aware of their rights - and obligations

August 09, 2007

Tale of city mobster's reign of terror is finally told after lawyers give go-ahead
Notorious criminal's trail of terror can be revealed as he had "no reputation to defend"

Changes to Star pave way for full colour papers across media group
Move to new press makes print colour offering "biggest in regional press industry"

Fresh Govt stance on detainees gives hope to Argus campaign
Press call for a fair trial could be answered if Guantanamo detainee is allowed 'home'

'Smallest paper' keeps one eye on developments in Bath
Midlands paper which survives on circulation of less than 10,000 has no plans to change

News team supplies minute by minute web coverage of breaking event
Website takes over as after-deadline emergency caught town's imagination

Bath Chronicle conversion team prepares for series of challenges
Editor reveals priorities as city's daily prepares for historic move to become weekly

August 08, 2007

Newspaper in remote video first as it mails report direct to web team at HQ
Web reporter uses new technology to send broadcast of Met chief straight from press conference

Sports journalists' gala dates are announced
Time to make an early booking for two sets of sports awards for journalists

Battle of the sexes as news teams face each other on the court
Did the boys beat the girls at their own game?
Click on the headline to find out...

Transplant journalist backs 'presumed consent' proposal on organ donation
Double lung transplant man calls for reverse of current UK laws

Trinity Mirror relaunches North East websites
Media company expects innovations to "reach out to the local community, engage, entertain and inform"

Archant chief hails financial results but newspaper profits are down
Recovery could be just around the corner in sector where "challenge is greater"

August 07, 2007

Magazine man sets up local internet TV station
Media entrepreneur who forecast the death of print makes his vision a reality

True cost of le Tour exposed by regional press journalist
Reporter who spotted warning signs is rewarded by finding the big story

Fifteen sign up to Gazette/University direct publishing programme
Link-up uses blogging technology to keep areas covered by ultra-local news

Management qualifications for newspaper staff
Fifteen claim their NVQ levels 3 or 4 - find out who passed the test

News in brief
Awards event booked, plus: NUJ acts on access to events, new motors webite and more news in brief

August 06, 2007

Gazette launches hyper-local papers after community website success
Six new 'post-code papers' concentrate on submitted material from citizen journalists

Industrial action called off in Glasgow
New talks to open on ramifications of new editorial system

News in brief
Plus: Why open justice should stretch to inquests
- and more regional press news in brief

Trio of female journalists to strip off for charity calendar
Find out why two reporters and a photographer want to bare all with Full Monty girls

Festival-goers targeted in new paper's subscription bid
Marketing campaign tackles captive audience at major cultural festival

August 03, 2007

Former westcountry editor dies,aged 72
Journalist worked at the Tiverton Gazette, Express & Echo and the North Devon Journal in 40-year career

Financial accounts slog trawls in the news
Close look at the council coffers digs up some major leads

Tables turned on editor as he faces the questions from Alexei Sayle
Documentary series visits the press as editor and comedian set the record straight

Ham & High journalists 'forced to accept' 2.5 per cent pay deal
Union to hold a post-mortem and talk tactics after disappointment on wage review

August 02, 2007

Earnings growth at Trinity Mirror but regional newspaper profits are down
Interim figures for the first half of the year are revealed

News in brief
Plus: Journalist's crime novel misses top prize, press club makes big donation - and more news in brief

MPs show support for union's national day of action
Parliamentary petition backs planned protest by National Union of Journalists

Death of former Midlands newspaper editor
Ex-Sutton Coldfield News boss had also worked for the Birmingham Post and Walsall Observer

Bath Chronicle to turn weekly
Speculation turns to fruition as daily paper makes the big switch

August 01, 2007

27 Trinity Mirror titles go to Tindle for £18.75m
South London Press, North London and Herts Newspapers and the Yellow Advertiser are offloaded

'Streamlined' Sunday Herald plans weekend launch despite strike action
Revamp to capitalise on newspaper's strengths and help readers who are pushed for time

News in brief
Plus: Late cartoonist's work is exhibited - and more regional press news in brief

GMG plans acquisitions on back of latest profits
"We are committed to investing in the future of journalism" - chief exec

Editor singled out 'for winning trust of the community'
Journalist chosen as best man for the job as event organisers look for someone with key community role