02/11/2009 by admin.

Above are two versions of the same story. The first was written by me a month ago and sent to both newspapers. The second newspaper chose to ignore it until Rochdale MP Paul Rowen issued a press release after the story had appeared in the railway press.

Now, I absolutely respect the right of any newspaper not to pay me. ..

But a MONTH????

Posted in Media, Journalism, Business, Transport | Print | 1 Comment »

23/07/2009 by admin.

1.       So-and-So commented: “…a comment is an opinion, not another word for said

2.       A spokesperson said: …apart from a few uses on the politically correct BBC, I have never seen the term used in a half-decent print publication. The word “spokesman” does not indicate gender.

3.       So-and-So Integrated Passenger Transport Authority is pleased to be associated with this wonderful…bet you £10 that if the reporter doesn’t, a sub will strike it out and replace it with “we”.

4.       So-and-So, Chair of Suchabody, said…a chair is a piece of furniture and, like spokesman, CHAIRMAN is gender neutral.

5.       “Safety is our first priority…even though six people have just died? 

Posted in Media, Journalism, Business | Print | 1 Comment »

10/06/2009 by admin.

Very amusing piece on BBC news about their discovery that an MP was being paid by the Caravan Club and asking questions about caravans and the Olympics.

It was a long piece and they had got somebody to drive a Jeep across Westminster Bridge so they could get the House in the background. There must have been a convenient turnaround somewhere because the same car and carvan drove past about six times!

Posted in Media, Travels, Motors, Politics, Transport | Print | 1 Comment »

13/03/2009 by admin.

How Do  interview with Mark Rix, former MEN MD:

Do you think the job losses will impact on the group’s position as the ‘voice’ of Manchester? Do you think the reduced teams will still be able to do their jobs?

The MEN Media portfolio has unrivalled reach in Greater Manchester built over a century of quality journalism – it will remain the Voice of Greater Manchester.  The board will have a clear and workable strategy for business continuity within their new structure.

And which particular planet did he got to when he left????

Posted in Media, Journalism | Print | No Comments »

14/01/2009 by admin.

About ten years ago, I was interviewed by Evan Davies, then for BBC2’s Newsnight, about Metrolink finances taking too long to get together. Naturally, I tuned in exitedly that night and was mortified when the package went ahead without me.

The man himself range me the next day to apologise and explain that there had been nothing wrong with what I had said but that another item had squeezed his slot and I had fallen victim to that.

Coming from an industry which routinely asks people to put themselves out for nothing ever to appear, I was surprised and delighted at the call.

So it was with some pleasure that I watched Davies’ hour-long explanationj of the banking crisis tonight. I had an epiphany, similar to one I had last year when I visted the Einstein museum in Geneva.

I just hope the understanding of the banking crisis stays in my mind longer than the theory of relativity did!

Posted in Media | Print | 1 Comment »