Friday 21st September 2018 is the United Nations Day of Peace on which a global invitation to a ‘cessation of hostilities’ is extended. I took this as the theme for Weekend Word.
Category Archives: PortfolioRadio
Good Friday – Weekend Word
‘Good Morning Wales’ programme, BBC Radio Wales with Felicity Evans and Wyre Davies.
BBC Radio Wales Film Review 2017
With Nigel Ipinson-Fleming and, down the line, Peter Francis of Gladstone’s Library I had the fun job of helping review 3 of this year’s major films, hosted by Roy Jenkins, for All Things Considered:
The programme will be broadcast on Sunday 10th December at 9.03am and will be available afterwards at BBC podcasts
Luther: the Media Campaign
Weekend Word, BBC Radio Wales ahead of the 500th anniversary of the start of the Reformation.
The illustration is from a pro-Luther illustration of the alleged corruption of the Roman Catholic church of his day.
Artistry & Poetry on the Jamie Owen Show
I first worked in radio for the BBC in Wales in 1981. I’m still learning. On the 2nd July 2017 on the Jamie Owen Show I learned: always have your opening prepared, no matter how informal the programme. The right blend of spontaneity and clarity flows more easily after that.
This show mixes recorded music, live performance, two guest commentators and two interviewees. The brief is weird and wonderful angles on the week’s news so, along with fellow commentator, comedian, Frank Honeybone, I enjoyed sharing some ‘couldn’t-make-it-up’ stories with listeners.
Reporting Belief 2017 – an appetite for engagement
A stimulating day on May 10th for journalists and ‘believers’ which contained a sharing of professional expertise, a chance for encounter and a special training session on the use of Social Media and How to Write a Press Release . See my blog on the NUJ Training Wales site. [Images by @HirstPhotos]
Continue reading Reporting Belief 2017 – an appetite for engagement
Cardiff Media Summit – Top, Tail and Follow-ups
Cardiff Media Summit 29 March 2017
My Intro and Conclusion plus Follow-ups. More on http://www.iwa.wales/click/
This Media Summit is being held on the day when Article 50 is triggered. Aimed at taking this country out of the EU, this will alter fundamentally the framework within which the UK is governed.
The referendum, like the election of Trump in the United States, raised major concerns about the quality of information put before the public, by both politicians and media. ‘fake news’ and ‘post-fact politics’. The founder of the internet, Tim Berners Lee, has gone public on his deep concerns at the capacity of big data companies to distort the democratic process.
These huge issues impact on us here in Wales. The media scenario is constantly developing and it’s going to get more complicated – which is one reason why the Institute of Welsh Affairs maintains a very necessary focus on media issues in Wales. The Audience, Viewers and Service Users are our prime concern. Continue reading Cardiff Media Summit – Top, Tail and Follow-ups
Contestable Funding for PSB genres – good for Wales?
A pot of £60 million to boost production in under-served genres of Public Service Broadcasting on TV and Radio sounds like good news but the DCMS consultation document gives cause for concern to the Nations and Regions.
Nowhere in the document is there evidence of an adequate understanding of the position of PSB output in Wales. Continue reading Contestable Funding for PSB genres – good for Wales?
Religion and Belief in the News – Training and Resourcing Journalists
Resourcing Journalists to Report on Faith & Belief
Many mainstream stories feature religion as an element in the mix. It might be the conjunction of religion and violence; the clash of ethnicity, faith and culture or controversy around the relation of secular ideology and faith-based values. Who takes responsibility for ensuring that journalism students and professional journalists are well-equipped to interpret the powerful impetus of religion at home and abroad – and not only religion but belief in a wider sense?
The answer, in Wales, has been almost no one.
But that is changing, and Wales is at the forefront. In Cardiff on November 8th a day-long workshop was held which it is hoped will have a positive effect on the training of professional journalists and on university curricula.
Continue reading Resourcing Journalists to Report on Faith & Belief