Archive for category Journalism
Middle East unrest: the West is paying the price for its hypocrisy
Posted by Alan in Journalism on July 3, 2011
This is an opinion piece I wrote for an online news day on 25/02/11.
What scares the West most about the unrest is the lack of control they have
In Washington and London, those in power are watching events across the Middle East with fear and uncertainty.
For the first time people across the region – most of them young – are fighting to force change and reform. David Cameron and Barack Obama have spoken of the need for democracy to prevail and for the will of the people in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya to be respected.
But beneath the platitudes there is a fear of what lies ahead. What scares the West is the lack of control they have.
Historically they have been accustomed to having a much more hands on role. The truth is that Britain and the United States are no friends of democracy in the Middle East. Read the rest of this entry »
A good day to bury bad news?
Posted by Alan in Journalism on July 3, 2011
This is a leader I wrote for an online news day on 25/02/11.
The departure of Andy Coulson will raise questions about David Cameron's judgement
The thinking behind the timing of Andy Coulson’s decision to resign as Downing Street Director of Communications was politics at its most calculating.
He had made his mind up two days ago. Today seemed like a good day to bury the bad news.
The torrent of speculation surrounding Alan Johnson’s departure from his position as Shadow Chancellor was still swirling. The latest rumours suggest that Johnson’s wife was having an affair with his police protection officer.
And of course a certain tanned ex-Prime Minister was back in town, giving evidence to the Chilcot Inquiry into the Iraq War for a second time. Read the rest of this entry »
Strategic Defence Review: do what you think is right, Mr Cameron
Posted by Alan in Journalism on July 3, 2011
This is an opinion piece I wrote for a print news day on 15/10/11.
The warning from the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in a BBC interview was surprisingly blunt, in a diplomatic sense anyway.
Washington is ‘worried’ about the upcoming cuts to the £37bn defence budget.
The alliance with Nato – the most successful defensive alliance in the history of the world she grandly proclaimed– must be maintained. If Mrs Clinton is willing to voice her concerns so publicly, one wonders what she is saying behind closed doors. Read the rest of this entry »
‘We have to walk the hard road together’
Posted by Alan in Journalism on July 3, 2011
This is a leader I wrote for a print news day on 15/10/11.
“Fairness” is the poltical buzzword of the moment.
The coalition claims it is ‘fair’ that the better off share some of the burden by having their child benefits payments cut. The coalition is keen to ensure that any changes to university funding are ‘fair’. Ian Duncan Smith, the Work and Pensions Secretary, says his reforms to the welfare system fit a similar criteria. Read the rest of this entry »
Making some noise – Four Four Two layout
Posted by Alan in Journalism on July 3, 2011
Above is a layout I produced using InDesign in the style of Four Four Two during my second year of university.
I conducted the interviews and wrote the article.
The more the focus is on Gordon Brown, the more David Cameron benefits
Posted by Alan in Journalism on July 3, 2011
Allegations of bullying have shifted the focus onto Gordon Brown
This is an opinion piece I wrote for an online news day on 24/02/10.
Gordon Brown has every reason to be lobbing objects around Downing Street right now.
The political agenda is being dominated by questions about his character, and they are not the rather cushy ones put to him by Piers Morgan on ITV a couple of Sundays ago. Read the rest of this entry »
“The police will win but a show of force is needed”
Posted by Alan in Journalism on June 30, 2011
Saturday's protest is seen by the group I shadowed as the 'calm before the storm'
“Democracy has failed us on every level. The system in place is there to fail. It’s time to get rid of democracy and bring out anarchy in the UK.”
These are the words of a small but committed minority that want to use direct action to voice their anger on Wednesday, a day dubbed ‘Financial Fools Day’ by the G20 Meltdown group. The group aims to host a ‘carnival party’ at the Bank of England and overthrow capitalism.
All of this will be going on as leaders from across the world convene in the capital to discuss how to deal with the global recession. Read the rest of this entry »
We should not contribute to a bailout of Portugal says Conservative MP Mark Reckless
Posted by Alan in Journalism on March 27, 2011
Reckless says Britain's obligation to contribute to a bailout should be challenged
Britain should not contribute to a bailout of Portugal, according to Rochester and Strood MP Mark Reckless.
Any financial aid would be strongly opposed by Conservative MPs, he told the Centre for Journalism. Read the rest of this entry »
A long overdue update…
Posted by Alan in Journalism on March 9, 2011
This week is the start of Lent, when traditionally people give up something for 40 days. Sometimes it’s chocolate, or perhaps it’s alcohol. I should pledge to take up blogging again. Quite a lot has happened since I last posted.
Jon Snow: People will no longer read newspapers for news
Posted by Alan in Journalism on February 28, 2011
The media is undergoing a revolution in which people will no longer look to newspapers for news, according to Channel 4 News presenter Jon Snow.
Delivering the third Bob Friend Memorial Lecture at the University of Kent on Friday night, Snow said events in the Middle East demonstrate the benefits of social media websites but also that newspapers are becoming dated very quickly. Read the rest of this entry »