Who won the TV Election?

Lawyers and Journalists - bedfellows or enemies?

Lawyers and Journos - bedfellows or enemies? from Ryan Mahan on Vimeo.

Britain's New Media Election - Narcissistic Tosh or Big Step Forward?

As reported elsewhere on Journalism.co.uk, last night City University London hosted the ‘Will 2010 be the first new media election?’ event, supported by the Media Society and the Media Trust.

• Listen to Evan Davis talking to Journalism.co.uk at this link: the BBC Radio 4 Today journalist posed, rather than answered the ‘how much influence will social media hold’ question, but said both new and media forms have their merits. “What might be quite interesting is the way they interact: the way old media results get amplified through the new media and the way the old media events are interpreted through new media.” Both these events will have more resonance together than they would on their own, he said.

• Listen to Google’s director of communications and public affairs (Europe, Middle East and Africa) DJ Collins talking to Journalism.co.uk at this link: “The great thing about the internet is that it’s not national, it’s not local, it’s everywhere. Ordinary people can interact in way they couldn’t before, with traditional media.”  Collins agreed with the BBC’s Nick Robinson that “strong” viewpoints were aired online, but said “you’ve got to trust people to make their own minds up” about the quality of blogs and comments.
• Watch the video here.

Will Self on TMS Award Honouree Melvyn Bragg

"While other pupils have come and gone, he remains; and when it was announced last year that, after 30 years, Bragg’s principal vehicle, The South Bank Show, would be ceasing transmission, there was – among those I spoke with – a feeling that this was the end of an era: the barbarians were at the gate. Moreover, we would miss Melvyn’s perkily browned features – like those of a handsome walnut – as the camera cut away from this or that artistic nabob, to show him bobbing and grinning assent (shots that are known in the industry as ‘noddies’)."


Read the complete article in the London Review of Books.

Max Clifford Speaking...

Finally, is it any wonder that the News of the World apparently sought advantage in a phonehack of Max Clifford's mobile. The man just can't leave the thing alone. They were bound to find out something. Appearing as part of a high-powered panel on a platform at Westminster University this week, Max alone was hindered from making a focused contribution by the fact that his mobile kept going off and that he kept answering it. Ring! Ring! "Hello Mischon de Reya … I am at Westminster City College [sic]. Can I call you back later?" Aside to the audience: "They pay my salary so I have to answer." Ring! Ring! "Hello. I'm in a live debate." To the audience: "I adore anybody who pays me a fortune." I'm here for free, whereas all these people pay me, he told them, and then… Ring! Ring! "The fame game is a drug," he explained. "You spend your life sucking up to egomaniacs." Ring! Ring! Poor Max.


John Mair

The Feral Beast of Media Excess?

LSE Report on the state of English libel law

TMS in the Daily Mail Diary

He helped propel Margaret Thatcher into Downing Street - and keep her there through three elections - so PR guru Tim Bell is in a unique position to judge the fitness for office of Tory leader David Cameron and Shadow Chancellor George Osborne.

While valuing his friendship with the pair, Lord Bell does not pull his punches. 'David believes in meritocracy,' he says, 'but he hasn't yet got the ruthless streak that will make him want to cause pain and be a great Prime Minister - George has.'

Speaking to The Media Society, Bell also had some advice for the duo over policy: 'Stop trimming.'

John Mair

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