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Newspaper's Jacko ebay auction nets £999

The Scunthorpe Telegraph has raised £999 for a children’s charity appeal by auctioning a signed Michael Jackson concert programme on ebay.

Last week we reported how the Northcliffe daily had received the 2001 programme from Mr Jackson’s friend David Guest after reporter Selina Maycock told him about the paper’s fundraising efforts.

The money will go to the charity When You Wish Upon A Star which grants wishes to seriously and terminally ill children.

Elsewhere on ebay, would-be journalists after a taste of life in a newsroom can bid for a day as a reporter with the Lancashire Telegraph.

Blackburn’s Empire Theatre has asked local companies to supply a corporate gift as part of a fundraising mission to mark the theatre’s 100th anniversary celebrations.

Successful bidders can “Be part of the day’s breaking news stories as they happen…..find the stories, meet the people and be part of the race to meet deadlines”.

Deadline for offers is this Sunday evening and at the time of writing no bids had been placed.


The National Union of Journalists has launched its first-ever training programme specifically for members in Wales.

The NUJ is hoping to create a Wales-based training facility to improve accessibility and cost-effectiveness for journalists and other media workers in the region.

Held in both North and South Wales, the course programme consists of subjects such as blogging, podcasting, sub-editing and feature writing.

For more information and rates email [email protected] or call 0207 843 3717.


Linda Tanner, education correspondent with Bristol’s Evening Post, was runner-up in the annual education journalist of the year awards.

She came second to Maggie Taggart from BBC Northern Ireland in the regional/local journalist category.

The awards honour the best in education journalism and are organised by the Chartered Institute of Public Relations Education and Skills Group.

Applications for next year’s awards will open in April and close on 4 June.


The Guardian Media Group has appointed Neil Berkett to its board as a non-executive director.

Neil is chief executive officer of entertainment and communications company Virgin Media.

Alongside national title the Guardian and Observer, GMG publishes local papers such as the Manchester Evening News and Reading Post.


Loughborough Echo editor Andy Rush joined a local MP and mayor on a catwalk as part of a Fairtrade event.

The trio were modelling fairly trade clothes at this year’s Fairtrade craft, gift and fashion market at Loughborough Town Hall.