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Kettering Hospital Radio - news archive

This is an archive of news about Kettering Hospital Radio. Some links may no longer work, due to the transient nature of the internet.

Kathryn Flett on television: It's all done in the best possible taste...
From Media Guardian. Posted October 11 2008, 11.06pm
Kathryn Flett on television: The X Factor, ITV1; British Style Genius, BBC2; Twiggy's Frock Exchange, BBC2 (more)

TV contest tries to change the face of beauty
From Media Guardian. Posted October 11 2008, 11.04pm
Gok Wan's new show to judge women on their confidence, sex appeal, spirit and brains (more)

Peter Preston: Danger lurks for BBC's bloggers
From Media Guardian. Posted October 11 2008, 11.04pm
Peter Preston: The speed of blogs is part of their attraction, and we've reached a stage where one man at his terminal can rain billions over Britain (more)

Analysts warn of fall in TV advertising
From Media Guardian. Posted October 11 2008, 11.04pm
UK advertising market could fall by up to 10 per as companies reign in spending (more)

The X Factor panel is missing someone
From Media Guardian. Posted October 11 2008, 11.03pm
Louis Walsh once accused Paul Morley of knowing nothing about pop. Is it payback time? (more)

Andrew Anthony: Put it away, boys, it isn't big or funny
From Media Guardian. Posted October 11 2008, 11.02pm
Andrew Anthony: The puerile standard of British humour is put into sharp focus by America's finest comedians (more)

ITV stars ?must take a pay cut?
From The Times. Posted October 11 2008, 10.40pm
SOME of ITV?s biggest stars may have to take a pay cut as the broadcaster battles to trim its budgets while advertising income plunges. (more)

2.3m interested in 'American Future'
From Digital Spy. Posted October 11 2008, 6.40pm
Simon Schama's new series on the history behind American political issues makes a decent start for BBC Two. (more)

Still a print journalist at heart
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted October 11 2008, 5.40pm
As journalism moves more and more in the direction of multimedia, I find myself torn. It’s not that I don’t like audio or video journalism, or that I’m not at least somewhat capable of producing such multimedia, it’s just that I enjoy traditional print journalism much more, even with what some call a limited capacity [...] (more)

Universities lose millions in Icelandic collapses
From Daily Telegraph. Posted October 11 2008, 3.27pm
The Open University has more than �6 million on deposit in the crisisridden Icelandic banking system The Sunday Telegraph can reveal. (more)

'Natural Born Sellers' tanks for ITV
From Digital Spy. Posted October 11 2008, 1.43pm
A new Apprentice-style reality show fails to draw much interest for ITV1. (more)

How is the Economic Meltdown Affecting Radio?
From radio.about.com. Posted October 11 2008, 1.29pm
That's a good question and recently addressed by Brian Maloney of Radio Equalizer. According to a recent blog post entitled Radio Broadcast Industry Teetering On Brink Of Collapse Maloney wrote: "...most... (more)

Absolut Vodka sues Britain?s Absolute Radio for trademark infringement
From Media Network Weblog. Posted October 11 2008, 12.46pm
The owner of Absolut Vodka is suing UK commercial broadcaster Absolute Radio, the rebranded Virgin Radio, for trademark infringement. Drinks company V&S Vin&Spirit, owner of the Swedish vodka brand and music project Absolut Tracks, has issued a writ against Absolute Radio for infringement of its trademark and “passing off” its services as those of Absolut. [...] (more)

Continental Electronics under new ownership
From Media Network Weblog. Posted October 11 2008, 12.23pm
Continental Electronics Corp, a maker of radio-frequency transmission equipment, has changed hands. The business, which has been based in South Dallas for all of its 62 years, was purchased for $24.5 million by Lone Star CRA Fund LP of Dallas. The seller was New York-based Veritas Capital. The privately held Continental manufactures radio-frequency transmitters used [...] (more)

'Silent Witness' wins Weds 9pm battle
From Digital Spy. Posted October 11 2008, 9.32am
Silent Witness pulls in over 6 million viewers in the competitive Wednesday 9pm slot. (more)

C4 pulls the plug on digital radio plans
From Financial Times. Posted October 11 2008, 3.00am
Channel 4 yesterday blamed the economic crisis as it announced it was cancelling plans to become a digital radio broadcaster and pulling out of a consortium in which... (more)

Sir Alan surprises market with 3.9% Woolworths stake
From Financial Times. Posted October 11 2008, 3.00am
Sir Alan Sugar, the founder of Amstrad computers and host of BBC television's The Apprentice , has built a 3.9 per cent stake in Woolworths, the retailer... (more)

All that Caz Jazz
From Financial Times. Posted October 11 2008, 3.00am
Former JPMorgan Cazenove chief Robert Pickering seemed relaxed, just back from Buenos Aires, as he mingled with aficionados for the relaunch of Jazz FM radio... (more)

Organ Grinder: The X Factor first live show
From Media Guardian. Posted October 11 2008, 1.15am
It's the first live show! Don't tell me you're not excited. I'll be here from about 7pm to blog the build-up and the performances of all 12 X-Factor finalists (more)

Hard-up Channel 4 axes digital radio plans
From Media Guardian. Posted October 10 2008, 11.09pm
Broadcaster to cut 150 jobs as part of an attempt to save £100m over the next two years (more)

US critics savour first taste of Life on Mars
From Media Guardian. Posted October 10 2008, 11.09pm
Britain's latest TV export is a hit, despite Gene Hunt's 'over-ripe' one-liners (more)

?It?s irrational fear. The markets will trash anything that walks?
From The Times. Posted October 10 2008, 10.40pm
?This is worse than a divorce. I?ve lost half my net worth and I still have a wife,? said one shell-shocked share trader at the end of the worst day on the stock market for twenty years. There was the usual grim and politically incorrect humour. There was the usual blaming of everybody else, particularly the politicians. But the main emotions were panic and fear. Panic at what was happening and fear that it might get worse. It wasn?t supposed to be this way. The Bank of England?s half-point interest rate cut on Wednesday was supposed to show its determination to prevent an economic slowdown turning into a slump. The �500 billion support package for Britain?s banks was supposed to restore confidence in the financial system. But, of course, the unprecedented moves also sent another signal. If the Bank and the Government are prepared to take such desperate measures, they must be really worried. The biggest worry is not that the actions taken by the Government -which are likely to be copied by other countries - will not work to stabilise the financial system. The worry is that even if they do work they will not prevent a deep worldwide recession. It was that fear that lay behind yesterday?s panic in the markets. The crisis has spread way beyond its origins in the US financial system. One of the triggers for the latest stockmarket slump was concerns about General Motors, whose shares tumbled 31 per cent to their lowest since 1950 on Thursday on worries that it might go bankrupt. And investors fear that the economic slowdown in the US and Europe is now spreading to fast-growing Asian markets. The panic in London started as soon as traders saw the slump in New York trading on Thursday night. A sudden collapse in the last hour of trading left American shares down about 7 per cent. Many London traders saw the news on TV screens in City bars where they were quenching the ?Thursday thirst?. They left early to get into the office first thing next morning. When they arrived they surveyed the damage in Asia, where the Tokyo market dropped almost 10 per cent, for a fall of 24 per cent on the week. Within minutes of the London market opening at 8am, the FTSE 100 index was down 10 per cent, as more than �100 billion was wiped off the value of Britain?s top 100 companies. Shares swung wildly during the day and the losses were pared back in the afternoon, helped by a rally in early New York trading. But as US shares slumped back London followed, driving the FTSE 100 back down to close 8.9 per cent lower at 3,932. Investors dumped shares and anything deemed remotely risky, putting the money into gold and cash. ?There are only two positions you can have in this market: cash or foetal,? was the gag going round the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. The volume of trading was relatively light with the big pension funds and insurance companies sitting on the sidelines. This gave the optimists some hope. They argued that much of the fall was due to selling by hedge funds and other investors that had debt secured against their shareholdings. When these fell in value they were forced to sell by their banks, putting further pressure on share prices. Some of the selling was by investors who had been lent money by Icelandic banks that were pulling in their loans after being nationalised this week. But the pessimists said there could be further to go. ?The market is trying to find the bottom and it?s just not there,? said the head of one of Britain?s biggest banks. ?Irrational fear has gripped and it seems that markets will now trash almost anything that walks. For now it is unstoppable,? said Howard Wheeldon, senior strategist at BGC Partners. The collapse was particularly alarming as it came after this week?s emergency half-point interest rate cuts by Western central banks and the unveiling by the Government of a �500 billion plan to support Britain?s top banks. ?We may well see another round of interest rate cuts next week,? said Mr Wheeldon. ?Whatever, it is increasingly clear that attempts by the US and UK government to address the vast number of capital market issues just isn?t enough.? The bank support plan was widely acclaimed as stopping the rot in the financial system by forcing the banks to raise more capital, with taxpayers? money if need be, and by guaranteeing new bank borrowing. In particular, it was hoped that the plan would boost confidence in the banks who have become unwilling to lend to other banks because they fear they may not get the money back. But the interest rate at which banks are prepared to lend to each other has increased since the support plan was unveiled. The head of one of Britain?s leading banks said that confidence should start to improve over the next few days. But some bankers say it is essential that other countries follow the UK lead by forcing their banks to raise capital. Other countries are examining the British plan and the US Government is looking at offering taxpayers? money to inject into American banks, and considering guaranteeing bank debt. In London, banks were the biggest fallers with Royal Bank of Scotland down 25 per cent and HBOS down 19 per cent, as investors worried about how much the value of existing shares will be diluted by the news of the capital that must be raised. Shares in big mining companies fell sharply on fears that lower growth in India and China will reduce demand and hit metal prices. This also weakened the oil price which fell almost $8 to $78.86, compared with a high of $147 in July. But gold, seen as a safe haven in the current turmoil, rose. There were wild swings in currencies, with the pound falling to $1.69, its lowest level for five years against the dollar, and it was down 1.2 per cent against the euro. Shares in fund management companies fell sharply amid fears that retail investors will pull money out of unit trusts. European stock markets were down in line with London while trading in Moscow was suspended. The meltdown was being dubbed the Crash of 2008 and older traders were comparing it with Black Wednesday in 1987. The fall this week of 21 per cent was not as bad as the 28.3 per cent fall 21 years ago. But some traders were saying it was worse. $?At least then it was a short, sharp, shock on one day. This has been relentless all week.? All eyes are now on the meeting in Washington of finance ministers and central bank chiefs from the West?s leading economies. The US stock market recovered towards the end of trading and the Dow Jones average closed down only 1.5 per cent. If governments can provide some reassurance in Washington the optimists say that shares could rebound on Monday, when New York trading is closed. The doomsters say the FTSE 100 has another 1,000 points to go before it hits bottom. Traders are expected to be in early again on Monday morning. (more)

Channel 4 abandons digital radio ambitions
From The Times. Posted October 10 2008, 10.40pm
Channel 4 has abandoned its plans to launch three digital radio stations, saying that it can no longer afford the �10 million cost of launching the service as advertising revenues collapse in reaction to the credit crunch. (more)

15 jobs lost at C4 Radio
From Radio Today. Posted October 10 2008, 9.58pm
The closure Channel 4's radio division, as announced today, will involve up to 15 job losses, although staff will be consulted about possible redeployment within the Channel 4 Group. (more)

DRDB regrets Channel 4’s decision
From Radio Today. Posted October 10 2008, 9.43pm
Digital radio industry trade body DRDB, which encompasses commercial radio companies and the BBC, is regretful about Channel 4's decision to withdraw from the 4 Digital Group consortium. (more)

'Emmerdale' knocks 'Enders to 5.5m
From Digital Spy. Posted October 10 2008, 7.47pm
The latest hour-long Emmerdale has a 1 million lead over EastEnders. (more)

New Richard & Judy show drops to 45,000
From Digital Spy. Posted October 10 2008, 7.21pm
Richard & Judy's New Position falls to just 45,000 viewers. (more)

US election: Barack Obama negotiates 30-minute TV spot with CBS, NBC and Fox
From Media Guardian. Posted October 10 2008, 6.56pm
Ad blitz represents the most ambitious and costliest use of media in a presidential election (more)

ABC deems Al Gore's non-profit Alliance for Climate Protection advert too 'controversial' for television
From Media Guardian. Posted October 10 2008, 5.29pm
Network refused to air an advert produced by Alliance for Climate Protection after presidential debate (more)

Wotherspoon blasts 'desperate' Sophocles
From Digital Spy. Posted October 10 2008, 5.19pm
Alex Wotherspoon criticises his Apprentice rivals for craving media attention. (more)

‘Dragon’s Den’ styled competition spawns wikinortheast.co.uk
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted October 10 2008, 5.04pm
Eager to find a new innovative project, Trinity Mirror launched an ‘in-house’ competition in the style of ‘Dragon’s Den’. The winner, Louise Midgely, a web developer at their north-east division, NCJ Media, won a cash prize and a share in future profits for her idea - to create a wikipedia specialising in the northeast area [...] (more)

The Guardian publishes first ‘geolocated’ article
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted October 10 2008, 5.03pm
The Guardian has published its first article including geolocation data and is using geographic tagging to track reporters covering the US presidential race. Every time a reporter posts a blog their location will be highlighted on a Google map. Geotagged content has been around for a while now, but is starting to take effect in the [...] (more)

Carbon monoxide poisoning newspapers
From Media Guardian. Posted October 10 2008, 4.57pm
How carbon monoxide poisoned 150 newspapers (with a little help from their prejudices) (more)

Sun pushes 30p cover price with TV campaign
From Media Guardian. Posted October 10 2008, 4.28pm
The Sun is launching a TV ad campaign to promote its weekday 30p price, with a TV ad set to an upbeat version of Depeche Mode's Just Can't Get Enough. By Mark Sweney. (more)

Video: Watch the Sun's 30p promo ad
From Media Guardian. Posted October 10 2008, 4.28pm
The Sun is launching a campaign to promote its national weekday cover price of 30p with a TV ad set to an upbeat version of Depeche Mode's Just Can't Get Enough (more)

Sunday Telegraph appoints the Daily Mail's Tim Jotischky as deputy editor
From Media Guardian. Posted October 10 2008, 4.14pm
The Sunday Telegraph has recruited Daily Mail head of sport Tim Jotischky as its new deputy editor. By Oliver Luft (more)

HTFP: Keith Perch rejoins Northcliffe as digital development director
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted October 10 2008, 3.45pm
Perch takes up the newly-created role following stints as regional director of Northcliffe Electronic Publishing and managing director of Associated Northcliffe Digital's digital publishing division. (more)

Tony Ageh appointed BBC Controller of Archive Development
From BBC Press Ofice. Posted October 10 2008, 3.45pm
The BBCs Director of Archive Content Roly Keating has made his first appointment with former BBC Controller Internet Tony Ageh joining his team as Controller of Archive Development. (more)

Absolut vodka owner sues Absolute Radio
From Digital Spy. Posted October 10 2008, 3.29pm
Absolut brand owner V&S sues Absolute Radio claiming trademark infringement. (more)

September ABCs: Scottish Sun edges further ahead of Daily Record
From Media Guardian. Posted October 10 2008, 3.28pm
The Scottish Sun marginally stretched its lead over the Daily Record as the nation's leading daily paper, as Sunday Scottish titles suffered large falls. By Oliver Luft (more)

Channel 4 cancels digital radio plans
From Daily Telegraph. Posted October 10 2008, 3.27pm
Channel 4 is abandoning its entry into the commercial radio market and has cancelled plans to launch a platform capable of carrying 10 new digital stations. (more)

Bourne to run
From Media Guardian. Posted October 10 2008, 3.18pm
Media monkey: A sad day for the BBC press office - today is communications guru Katie Bourne's last day. (more)

Media Talk podcast: Channel 4 pulls out of radio
From Media Guardian. Posted October 10 2008, 3.15pm
C4 chief executive Andy Duncan explains the shock move to ditch digtal radio (more)

Indie seeks female Bear for fun adventures and maybe more
From Media Guardian. Posted October 10 2008, 3.08pm
Media monkey: Ping! An email landed in Monkey's inbox from North One Television asking: "Are you the female Bear Grylls?" (more)

Take 10: TV remakes
From Media Guardian. Posted October 10 2008, 2.59pm
Anna Pickard: Whichever way you look at it, there's a lot - and not just remakes but reimaginings, resurrections and reincarnations (more)

Organ Grinder: JJ Abrams live webchat here
From Media Guardian. Posted October 10 2008, 2.33pm
Welcome to our live webchat with JJ Abrams, the award-winning American writer and producer behind hits such as Lost, Felcity, Alias and Cloverfield and his new drama Fringe. Join us from 6pm BST (that's 10am LA time, folks) when the Emmy and Golden Globe winning writer and producer, will answer your blog questions from his Los Angeles base. (more)

ABCs: National Sunday newspaper circulation September 2008
From Media Guardian. Posted October 10 2008, 2.28pm
National Sunday newspapers' ABC circulation figures for September 2008 (more)

Banking specialist Fry becomes BBC trustee
From Media Guardian. Posted October 10 2008, 2.20pm
Media banking specialist Anthony Fry has been appointed to the BBC Trust, replacing Dermot Gleeson. By Tara Conlon (more)

Charlie Brooker on his C4 zombie horror thriller
From Media Guardian. Posted October 10 2008, 2.14pm
Guardian TV writer Charlie Brooker talks about his forthcoming C4 zombie horror thriller (more)

September ABCs: Independent on Sunday drops to new low
From Media Guardian. Posted October 10 2008, 2.11pm
The Independent on Sunday dropped to its lowest circulation for the second month running in September, with all quality Sundays recording year-on-year falls. By Oliver Luft (more)

Netvibes increases presence on Facebook
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted October 10 2008, 2.00pm
Over at Mashable they report that Netvibes is increasing its presence on Facebook from October 23. Netvibes had had a Facebook widget since August 2007, but according to the Mashable report, a new facility will allow users to integrate all their Netvibes activity feeds into Facebook and use the features that allow commenting, interaction and sharing. (more)

Editor&Publisher: What alternative to AP for US newspapers?
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted October 10 2008, 1.36pm
As more newspapers in the US drop their partnerships with the Associated Press, E&P asks if emerging news collaborations, with the likes of the Press Association and Politico, can replace the papers' long-standing relationship with the agency. (more)

Brand Republic: Channel 4 ditches digital radio plans
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted October 10 2008, 1.35pm
Channel 4 has abandoned plans for its digital radio venture. Shareholders in the project, which include BSkyB, Carphone Warehouse, UTV, Bauer Media and UBC, will be informed later today. (more)

Press Gazette: ITN creates online news archive for universities
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted October 10 2008, 1.34pm
More than 3,000 hours of archived film spanning 100 years of news will be made available to UK universities online, as part of a new agreement with ITN. (more)

thisismoney.co.uk: Michael Howard demands FSA investigation of Peston reports
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted October 10 2008, 1.34pm
Michael Howard has written to the Financial Services Authority (FSA) asking for an investigation into reports by BBC business editor Robert Peston that included details of confidential talks between Alistair Darling and Bank of England governor Mervyn King. (more)

‘A significant challenge’ over at New Jersey’s Exploding Newsroom
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted October 10 2008, 1.22pm
Wednesday’s edition of the Exploding Newsroom: Jim Willse, the editor of the New Jersey based newspaper, the Star-Ledger, talks about the future of the newsroom now that the conditions have been met to avoid a sale or closure of the paper. “We face a significant challenge,” he says. You can follow the online editor John Hassell’s Exploding [...] (more)

September ABCs: Independent sinks more than 12% in tough market
From Media Guardian. Posted October 10 2008, 1.21pm
The Independent's price rise and full-colour relaunch saw its circulation dive by more than 12% year on year. By Oliver Luft (more)

Roy Greenslade: Latest ABC figures reveal Murdoch's press success
From Media Guardian. Posted October 10 2008, 1.04pm
Looking at the latest set of national newspaper circulation figures is like watching the stock market prices - only in slow motion, over a long period, and with little if any sign of a reversal of fortunes. Down and down they go (more)

ABCs: National daily newspaper circulation September 2008
From Media Guardian. Posted October 10 2008, 1.02pm
National daily newspapers' ABC circulation figures for September 2008 (more)

Organ Grinder: The X Factor: Live final, live blog
From Media Guardian. Posted October 10 2008, 12.56pm
The X Factor's down to the final 12 and Organ Grinder is switching allegiance to the ITV singathon for this week's Watch with. (more)

September ABCs: Daily Star Sunday plummets again in year-on-year figures
From Media Guardian. Posted October 10 2008, 12.54pm
September ABCs: The Daily Star Sunday recorded a second horror month of sales decline posting a 21% year-on-year circulation fall to an average of 382,251 each week. By Mark Sweney (more)

Channel 4 drops plans to launch three commercial radio stations
From The Stage. Posted October 10 2008, 12.50pm
(more)

Perch to spearhead Northcliffe digital drive
From Hold the Front Page. Posted October 10 2008, 12.50pm
Former editor to rejoin group in development role (more)

Charlie Brooker brings zombies to Big Brother
From Media Guardian. Posted October 10 2008, 12.32pm
John Plunkett: Channel 4 may have finally found a way to breathe new life into Big Brother with Charlie Brooker's new show. It involves flesh-eating zombies (more)

Channel 4 abandons digital radio on cost grounds
From The Times. Posted October 10 2008, 12.23pm
Channel 4 this morning abandoned its plans to launch three digital radio stations, saying it can no longer afford the �10 million cost of launching the service as advertising revenues collapse in reaction to the credit crunch. (more)

VIDEO: Absolute Radio Ads
From Radio Today. Posted October 10 2008, 12.20pm
Absolute Radio's first television commercials will air tonight, Friday, as part of a 2.2 million pounds six-week marketing campaign for the new brand. (more)

Roy Greenslade: why I shout about newsprint's demise
From Media Guardian. Posted October 10 2008, 12.19pm
One of the best-ever responses to a posting here came earlier this week from a Newsquest journalist (more)

Vodka brand Absolut sues Absolute Radio
From Media Guardian. Posted October 10 2008, 12.19pm
The owner of Swedish vodka brand Absolut has launched legal proceedings against Absolute Radio for infringement of its trademark. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

Ta-da! Insite goes live - a brand new online research website
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted October 10 2008, 12.03pm
Journalism.co.uk is happy to announce that Insite, a new blog designed to bring users tips on ’slick research, advanced internet research strategies and news about the best tools’, is now live. First up is an interview with the founder of the new UK-based search engine MSE360, which has attracted praise from both sides of the Atlantic [...] (more)

Ofcom in talks to prevent digital radio crisis
From Media Guardian. Posted October 10 2008, 11.53am
Ofcom is to hold emergency talks in a bid to salvage a viable commercial DAB radio sector after Channel 4 abandoned all radio plans, pulling out of its digital radio consortium. By Mark Sweney (more)

Fans unhappy with 'Little Britain USA' edit
From Digital Spy. Posted October 10 2008, 11.45am
Fans are left disappointed with the edited version of Little Britain USA on the BBC. (more)

National Geographic is embracing user-generated content with photo and music sharing
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted October 10 2008, 11.40am
In an interview with Beet TV, the senior VP, for online content and development at National Geographic, Rob Covey, said that user generated content plays a central role in the publication’s multimedia coverage. Users can share their videos on the user-generated video hub Everyday Explorers, which was recently released in beta, and built with online [...] (more)

TV ratings - October 9: Natural Born Sellers slip in ratings
From Media Guardian. Posted October 10 2008, 11.33am
ITV1's business challenge show Natural Born Sellers slipped in the ratings for its second outing, pulling in 1.6m in the key 9pm slot. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

Britain?s Channel 4 axes radio projects - Media Guardian
From Media Network Weblog. Posted October 10 2008, 11.32am
Media Guardian reports that UK public service TV broadcaster Channel 4 has abandoned its entire radio project, dealing a huge blow to the future of the digital sector, as it seeks to make £100m in savings. Today Channel 4 said it would close its radio division with the loss of up to 15 jobs, saving [...] (more)

Britain?s Channel 4 axes radio projects
From Media Network Weblog. Posted October 10 2008, 11.32am
UK public service TV broadcaster Channel 4 has abandoned its entire radio project, dealing a huge blow to the future of the digital sector, as it seeks to make £100m in savings. Today Channel 4 said it would close its radio division with the loss of up to 15 jobs, saving an estimated £10m in [...] (more)

C4 pulls plug on digital radio plans
From Financial Times. Posted October 10 2008, 11.31am
Channel 4 announced it was cancelling plans to become a digital radio broadcaster and pulling out of a consortium in which it is the majority shareholder (more)

C4 pulls plug on digital radio plan
From Financial Times. Posted October 10 2008, 11.31am
Channel 4 announced it was cancelling plans to become a digital radio broadcaster and pulling out of a consortium in which it is the majority shareholder (more)

Public service broadcasting ?under threat? in Taiwan
From Media Network Weblog. Posted October 10 2008, 11.24am
The future of public service broadcasting in Taiwan is being seriously threatened, according to the head of the country’s public television broadcaster, PTS. Sylvia Feng, President of the PTS Foundation, said that Taiwan’s new government was holding back its half-yearly funding amounting to US$15 million, as well as a large budget appropriation that had previously [...] (more)

BBC response to Channel 4 announcement
From BBC Press Ofice. Posted October 10 2008, 11.20am
Following Channel 4s decision to withdraw from the 4DG consortium today Tim Davie the BBCs Director of AudioMusic said (more)

Channel 4 abandons digital radio
From BBC News. Posted October 10 2008, 11.15am
Channel 4 pulls the plug on three proposed digital radio stations owing to a slump in advertising revenues. (more)

Sugar snaps up 4% of Woolworths
From The Times. Posted October 10 2008, 11.11am
Sir Alan Sugar, the irascible host of the BBC show The Apprentice, has acquired a stake of almost 4 per cent in Woolworths, the embattled high street retailer. (more)

Channel 4 axes radio services
From Digital Spy. Posted October 10 2008, 11.03am
Channel 4 scraps plans to launch three national digital radio stations. (more)

Channel 4 cancels DAB plans
From Radio Today. Posted October 10 2008, 10.43am
Channel 4 is pulling out of plans to launch a national digital radio multiplex, as awarded to the group over two years ago. (more)

Media Talk: Charlie Brooker's new show
From Media Guardian. Posted October 10 2008, 10.40am
Matt Wells talks to the cult TV critic about his new horror thriller for E4, plus reporting the recession (more)

Media Talk: Charlie Brooker's new show, reporting the recession
From Media Guardian. Posted October 10 2008, 10.40am
Matt Wells talks to TV critic Charlie Brooker about his new horror thriller for E4 and asks Kim Fletcher how responsibly the British press has reported the recession. With Emily Bell, James Robinson and John Plunkett (more)

Channel 4 pulls out of digital radio
From Daily Telegraph. Posted October 10 2008, 10.31am
Channel 4 is abandoning its entry into the commercial radio market and will hand back its licence granted last year to launch a platform capable of carrying ten new digital stations. (more)

Average Brit Spends 50 Grand on Electricals in Their Lifetime
From Press Release, via webitpr. Posted October 10 2008, 10.17am
The average household will work its way through more than 250 electrical devices over a period of 60 years, according to a new survey. The poll of 3,000 households by Reevoo.com (www.reevoo.com), the UK?s leading publisher of genuine consumer reviews, found that Brits will shell out a small fortune replacing items such as the TV, oven, freezer and hairdryer in their lifetime. The research revealed that electrical items rarely last longer than six years ?... (more)

Channel 4 axes radio projects
From Media Guardian. Posted October 10 2008, 10.12am
Channel 4 has abandoned its entire radio project, as it seeks to make £100m in savings. By John Plunkett (more)

ABCe opens six month audit option to all publishers
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted October 10 2008, 10.04am
Following the release of six month certificates for the regional press, media auditors ABC are extending the offer of twice yearly online audits to all media owners, from January 2009. An ABC press release said yesterday that the new certificates will detail monthly and daily unique users or browsers for media publishers. Visual charts will also [...] (more)

Barack Obama buys 30-minute TV ad
From Media Guardian. Posted October 10 2008, 9.53am
Barack Obama has bought 30 minutes of TV airtime for a half-hour commercial on CBS and NBC. By Mark Sweney (more)

Bob Friend - an appreciation
From Media Guardian. Posted October 10 2008, 9.36am
Former head of Sky News Nick Pollard pays tribute to his close friend and colleague Bob Friend, the news presenter who died on Wednesday. (more)

New UK search engine - insite talks to lead programmer
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted October 10 2008, 9.32am
The beta version of the new UK-based search engine MSE360 has attracted praise from both sides of the Atlantic with a three-tier display, clean design and other unique features such as virus alerts. I caught up with its Lead Programmer Daniel Clarke to talk about his plans, what MSE360 can offer journalists and researchers, and how a UK search engine can find elbow room in a crowded market. “Google is entrenched in the minds of the British population, and that’s the main challenge for us. We’ve got to change the perception that Google has all the answers," he told us. (more)

Ofcom statement on Channel 4 and DAB radio
From Ofcom. Posted October 10 2008, 9.26am
News release published 10|10|08 (more)

Simple Minds at Radio Clyde
From Radio Today. Posted October 10 2008, 9.01am
Scottish band Simple Minds will perform a special one-off concert in Glasgow in early December with all proceeds being donated to Radio Clyde's Cash for Kids charity. (more)

Ofcom Chief Urges Quick Decision on how to Fund stv's PSB Obligations
From allmediascotland - Spike. Posted October 10 2008, 8.11am
A decision on whether to publicly fund stv to fulfill its public service broadcasting commitments needs to start being made by six months' time, a senior manager at broadcasting regulators, Ofcom, has warned. At a public meeting about PSB, Stewart Purvis - partner, Content and Standards,... (more)

Eco Mag About to be Launched - But Only Online
From allmediascotland - Spike. Posted October 10 2008, 7.55am
A lifestyle magazine seeking to encourage environmentally-responsible behaviour among businesses is being launched later this month - but only as an online publication, to save on using paper. ecoforyou is being funded and published by Glasgow-based Planet Ink - set up by former newspaper... (more)

Video: Watch the first ad for Absolute Radio
From Media Guardian. Posted October 10 2008, 7.12am
Ad for Absolute Radio - the first since the station's multimillion-pound rebrand and name-change from Virgin Radio - featuring DJ Christian O'Connell and In Bruges actor Jordan Prentice (more)

Trinity titles launch 'Wikipedia for the North-East'
From Hold the Front Page. Posted October 10 2008, 7.00am
"Dragon's Den" contest yields winning idea (more)

Welsh daily plots online map of UFO sightings
From Hold the Front Page. Posted October 10 2008, 7.00am
Evening 'leads' the way with new digital innovation (more)

Absolute Radio sells itself with 'squirm humour'
From Media Guardian. Posted October 10 2008, 6.31am
Absolute Radio, the rebranded Virgin Radio, has opted for 'squirm humour' in the first TV advertisement of its £15m rebrand - by revealing the new face of its brand is a station security guard played by a dwarf. By Mark Sweney (more)

Jonathan Dimbleby defends BBC's royal coverage
From Media Guardian. Posted October 10 2008, 6.26am
BBC journalist and royal biographer Jonathan Dimbleby has rejected Jeremy Paxman's accusation that the corporation is 'fawning' towards the royal family. By Ben Dowell (more)

Read furious email from senior staff member to Sunday Express editorial department
From Media Guardian. Posted October 10 2008, 6.21am
Subs and writers on the Sunday Express were sent a strongly-worded email from a senior staff member pointing out mistakes in an edition of the paper (more)

Gaffe-ridden Express slated in internal memo by senior journalist
From Media Guardian. Posted October 10 2008, 6.18am
A senior Sunday Express editorial staff member sent a caustic email to colleagues berating them for mistakes in the paper. By Oliver Luft (more)

Friday Funnies: Wanted ? press officer with gift of the gab
From Hold the Front Page. Posted October 10 2008, 5.50am
Plus ? the sports pullout living up to its name and the quest to find the next musical genius (more)

Mobile phone giant launches new press awards
From Hold the Front Page. Posted October 10 2008, 5.50am
02 seeks best of journalism in Yorkshire and Humberside (more)

Speakers announced for 'future of journalism' conference
From Hold the Front Page. Posted October 10 2008, 5.50am
Media experts sign up to Cardiff event (more)

Hospital Awards 2008 launched
From Radio Today. Posted October 10 2008, 1.19am
This years National Hospital Radio Awards have been officially launched, ahead of the HBA's Autumn Conference being held in Solihull this coming weekend. (more)

VIDEO: Simon Ross scared hitless
From Radio Today. Posted October 10 2008, 12.44am
It's 5am - you've just walked out of a lift 450ft above Liverpool city centre. Then all of a sudden you are pounced on by a pair of Zombies in chains. It's just another day for Radio City's Simon Ross. (more)

Date set for UBC sale
From Radio Today. Posted October 10 2008, 12.29am
A date, two weeks later than originally planned, has been set for the transfer of ownership for UBC's commercial am to Global Traffic Network. (more)

Daily Mail pays libel damages over water story
From Press Gazette. Posted October 10 2008, 12.00am
A Hampshire estate owner has accepted damages at London's High Court over a Daily Mail story that claimed he cut off the water supply to local villagers. (more)

Channel 4 abandons digital radio plans
From Press Gazette. Posted October 10 2008, 12.00am
Channel 4 has abandoned plans to launch a speech radio rival to the BBC, with the loss of up to 15 jobs. (more)

September ABCs: Every Sunday paper down year on year
From Press Gazette. Posted October 10 2008, 12.00am
The Daily Star Sunday was the worst casualty last month in a national Sunday newspaper market that recorded year-on-year circulations across the board. (more)

September ABCs: New-look Independent circulation falls
From Press Gazette. Posted October 10 2008, 12.00am
The newly relaunched Independent and Independent on Sunday recorded the steepest circulation declines among the national quality newspapers in September, according to figures released today by ABC. (more)

September ABCs: Thelondonpaper widens gap with Lite
From Press Gazette. Posted October 10 2008, 12.00am
Thelondonpaper has further increased its lead over rival London Lite in the London free evening newspaper war. (more)

Martin O'Hagan suspect 'was piper at loyalist funeral'
From Press Gazette. Posted October 10 2008, 12.00am
A man accused of murdering a Northern Ireland journalist was sacked from the police's pipe band after playing at the funeral of former loyalist leader Billy Wright, a court heard today. (more)

September ABCs: Record gains ground on Scottish Sun
From Press Gazette. Posted October 10 2008, 12.00am
The Sun's decision to stop discounting its Scottish edition has helped the Daily Record narrow the sales gap between the two archrivals. (more)

East London Advertiser's victory in library campaign
From Press Gazette. Posted October 10 2008, 12.00am
Archant-owned weekly the East London Advertiser has claimed a victory in its campaign to save Bancroft History Library and archives after creating a petition on the Number 10 website. (more)

Tim Jotischky joins Sunday Telegraph as deputy editor
From Press Gazette. Posted October 10 2008, 12.00am
Telegraph Media Group has poached Daily Mail head of sport Tim Jotischky to become deputy editor of the Sunday Telegraph. (more)

Press Gazette magazine awards shortlist revealed
From Press Gazette. Posted October 10 2008, 12.00am
Press Gazette has announced the shortlists for the 2008 Magazine Design and Journalism Awards. (more)

League of Gentlemen actors return to BBC2
From Media Guardian. Posted October 9 2008, 11.05pm
Cast of off-beat characters to include blind Beanie collector and dwarf in love with his panto Snow White (more)

Sky News hosts videoblogging competition
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted October 9 2008, 11.00pm
Winners will take home Flip Ultra cameras (more)

'Why I quit the BBC': Angela Saini, freelance science journalist
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted October 9 2008, 11.00pm
"Multimedia is the way I consume media so it should also be the way I work with it," says freelancer, who left BBC because of a lack of multimedia opportunities (more)

NUJ to negotiate with Scotsman over blog post sacking
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted October 9 2008, 11.00pm
After a long silence from the paper, the union's Scottish branch has scheduled talks on freelancer Nick Clayton's case (more)

Mainstream media's power shifting to new media, says FT's Lionel Barber
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted October 9 2008, 11.00pm
US newspaper redundancies and 'YouTube election' coverage show 'tipping point' in American journalism (more)

Kev Seed pleads guilty
From Radio Today. Posted October 9 2008, 8.49pm
Radio City presenter Kev Seed has pleaded guilty to drink-driving charges brought against him in court today.In light of the news, bosses at the Bauer station have suspended him from his programme until they decide his future at the company. (more)

WH Smith shares rise on 'dull' but solid results
From Daily Telegraph. Posted October 9 2008, 7.13pm
WH Smith the stationery and magazine retailer reported flat pretax profits over the year to September and said that likeforlike sales over the year fell by 2pc. (more)

Tarrant to host new primetime gameshow
From Digital Spy. Posted October 9 2008, 7.08pm
ITV announces that Chris Tarrant is to host a new "life changing" game show. (more)

Newsvine registrations up 963% since MSNBC acquisition
From Media Guardian. Posted October 9 2008, 6.55pm
Here's another favourite of mine: the news aggregator and community site Newsvine, which was bought by MSNBC almost exactly one year ago (more)

In 5 years
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted October 9 2008, 6.46pm
Where do I want to be in 5 years? Simple: traveling, and telling the world’s most important stories through images. Newspapers and other print media may be losing their business model from under their feet, but that doesn’t mean the stories they run are any less relevant. There are still going to be water access [...] (more)

BBC leads way in Investing in Volunteers
From BBC Press Ofice. Posted October 9 2008, 6.00pm
Today the BBC received the coveted Investing in Volunteers for Employers accreditation for its employee volunteer programme Connect and Create. (more)

Priest who wrote offensive comments about gay people on blog keeps newspaper column
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted October 9 2008, 4.49pm
The vicar who faced national outrage after he posted offensive comments about gay people on his personal blog will continue writing for the Northern Echo newspaper. The Rector of St Michael’s, Cornhill, in the City of London, and chaplain to the Stock Exchange, Peter Mullen, has been widely criticized for posts on his blog, including: a [...] (more)

Beet TV: Since MNBC acquired Newsvine the site has seen 963 per cent registration growth
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted October 9 2008, 4.46pm
MNBC's CEO, Mike Davidson tells Beet TV that Newsvine, the citizen news site, has grown 'enormously' since MNBC acquired it in October 2007. (more)

Evening Leader plots UFO sightings with Dipity
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted October 9 2008, 4.44pm
Nice use of timeline builder Dipity by the Evening Leader: the paper has plotted videos and text reports of UFO sitings in the area onto a timeline, turned it into a widget and embedded it on its website. What’s extra nice is that the Dipity widget lets readers look at the info as a timeline, map, [...] (more)

BBC iPlayer adds mobile downloads
From Digital Spy. Posted October 9 2008, 3.55pm
The BBC allows TV programmes to be downloaded to mobile devices. (more)

Opportunity for business journalists to visit Bangladesh
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted October 9 2008, 3.34pm
A Bangladesh based consultancy firm is offering the opportunity for senior business journalists and editors to travel to Dhaka to advise Bangladeshi business journalists. Tahmina Shafique from BMB Mott MacDonald consultancy firm told Journalism.co.uk that they “would essentially want these experts to share their expertise and also provide input to our plan of improving the business [...] (more)

‘Ecoforyou is aiming to be a 100% carbon neutral publication’
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted October 9 2008, 3.30pm
A new ethical environmental online magazine has been launched today. Ecoforyou.co.uk will be free to readers offering environmental news, features, interviews and lifestyle tips. The interactive site will include live-links, video, audio and a ‘digital page turn format’, powered by YUDU and hosted by Planet Ink Ltd. Without a print edition, ecoforyou is aiming to be [...] (more)

Indy obit delay ends in blunder
From Media Guardian. Posted October 9 2008, 3.03pm
Media Monkey: There were red faces in the obituary department of the Independent this morning. (more)

Cnet.com: Yahoo announces Yahoo Web Analytics beta
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted October 9 2008, 3.00pm
Yahoo have announced the rebranding of IndexTools as Yahoo Web Analytics (beta). Currently it is an enterprise product and not available to everyone, it could soon be a consumer and small business tool. (more)

Multichannel TV ratings - October 8: Ratings dive for Richard and Judy show
From Media Guardian. Posted October 9 2008, 12.50pm
The audience for Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan's new multichannel show fell by nearly half on its second outing. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

AP: The man charged with hacking Sarah Palin’s email account could face five years in prison
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted October 9 2008, 12.45pm
On Wednesday, 20 year old David Kernell pleaded not guilty to hacking the e-mail account of Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin. (more)

BBC: ITV may outsource regional news, says Grade
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted October 9 2008, 12.43pm
ITV chairman Michael Grade has said that third parties could be paid to provide ITV with its regional news programmes. (more)

MediaGuardian: Media companies are less likely to fight libel cases to the end
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted October 9 2008, 12.42pm
Media companies are 'less willing' to fight defamation court cases all the way to a verdict, according to a study by a leading legal publisher. (more)

PaidContent: IHT.com will keep its own identity on NYTimes.com site
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted October 9 2008, 12.40pm
Forbes.com originally reported that the site would shut down but that is not the case, Vivian Schiller, SVP and GM of NYTimes.com told PaidContent. 'The idea is to have one big global brand under one roof', she said, stressing that IHT content would be co-branded and feature IHT specific content. (more)

BBC’s Nick Robinson admits he toed government line on Iraq too strongly
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted October 9 2008, 12.37pm
Yesterday saw the BBC’s economic editor Robert Peston taken to task for his influence on the UK’s economy and his cosy relationship with the government: The Guardian’s Matthew Weaver is worried that his blog might have too much influence, and the Daily Mash joked that Peston had reached a state of transcendence. Meanwhile the House of Lords [...] (more)

The X Factor: Final 12
From Media Guardian. Posted October 9 2008, 12.30pm
The 12 contestants who have made it through to the live performance stage of ITV's talent contest (more)

Elle's belles: Magazine to launch e-zine with Stardoll website
From Media Guardian. Posted October 9 2008, 12.28pm
Elle magazine has struck a media partnership with online fashion website Stardoll to launch an e-magazine targeting style-conscious young women. By Mark Sweney (more)

Former Sky News presenter Bob Friend R.I.P.
From Media Network Weblog. Posted October 9 2008, 12.27pm
One of the most distinguished news presenters on British TV, Bob Friend MBE, died yesterday at the age of 70 following a brain tumour. Bob, a former BBC correspondent, joined Sky News in 1989 and was a regular presenter up to his retirement in 2003. He always looked perfectly at ease in front of the camera, [...] (more)

Students get free access to a century of news footage
From Media Guardian. Posted October 9 2008, 12.03pm
Academics and students will get unprecedented access to news clips of everything from the moon landing to the rise of Jade Goody, thanks to an alliance between ITN, Reuters and universities (more)

Britain?s Big L is now an Internet-only station
From Media Network Weblog. Posted October 9 2008, 11.48am
Big L, the British commercial station that until recently was using a mediumwave transmitter in the Netherlands (1395 kHz), has become an Internet-only station. Its satellite signal, which had fed audio to the mediumwave transmitter and made the station available across the UK and Ireland on the Sky platform, has been replaced by a test tone [...] (more)

BBC Scotland headquarters wins top regional award from British Council for Offices
From BBC Press Ofice. Posted October 9 2008, 11.45am
Pacific Quay BBC Scotlands headquarters in Glasgow has won the British Council for Offices BCO Scotland regional award in the Corporate Workplace category. (more)

Davina cameos in E4's 'Dead Set'
From Digital Spy. Posted October 9 2008, 11.28am
Davina McCall makes a gruesome cameo appearance in E4's horror series Dead Set. (more)

ndonNewsFilm Online: 100 years of news from Idi Amin to Jade Goody
From Media Guardian. Posted October 9 2008, 11.24am
A century of news on film becomes available to students and academics, thanks to a landmark deal between ITN, Reuters and universities (more)

NewsFilm Online: 100 years of news from Idi Amin to Jade Goody
From Media Guardian. Posted October 9 2008, 11.24am
A century of news on film becomes available to students and academics, thanks to a landmark deal between ITN, Reuters and universities (more)

What I wanna be when I grow up…
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted October 9 2008, 11.17am
My ideal journalism job. It should be a fairly simple concept - I mean, it is my chosen field - but I find myself struggling a little to put into words what it is that I would love to have. As I’m sitting here, I’m coming up with a few characteristics that my ideal job will [...] (more)

Too old to become a journalist: How I started freelancing
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted October 9 2008, 10.59am
A couple of comments from last week’s post asked how I managed to get work published in the nationals as a freelancer sans training. Short answer: I had the right story that only I could write at the right time. That’s a lot of rights. Before my NCTJ I did a couple of brilliant evening courses: Introduction to [...] (more)

Neon Candy ? The New Web Drama from Fiesta
From Press Release, via webitpr. Posted October 9 2008, 10.43am
This Friday Ford Fiesta is proud to launch Neon Candy ? a real online lifestyle bible for girls who crave the latest in culture and fashion accompanied by a stylish funky online drama. Neon Candy is an uber cool weekly, next generation style e-magazine set to feature the latest trends in arts, entertainment, events, fashion, lifestyle and music that every young woman should know. Each week, the magazine presents the cultural passions and tastes of... (more)

TV ratings - October 8: TV ratings: TV ratings: Griff Rhys Jones flies ahead in travel show tussle
From Media Guardian. Posted October 9 2008, 10.41am
Griff Rhys Jones's amble around New York on ITV1 came out on top against Paul Merton's journey across India on Channel Five. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

Guardian.co.uk: Has Robert Peston’s blog got too influential?
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted October 9 2008, 10.36am
Internet searches for Robert Peston have soared: Matthew Weaver asks has the BBC's business editor become too powerful? (more)

Obama-McCain debate draws 63m US viewers
From Media Guardian. Posted October 9 2008, 10.21am
More than 63 million Americans tuned in to the second debate between presidential nominees Barack Obama and John McCain on Tuesday night. By Leigh Holmwood (more)

Industrial action back on table at Midlands titles
From Hold the Front Page. Posted October 9 2008, 10.10am
Trinity Mirror boss brands NUJ move a "distraction" (more)

Broadcaster Bob Friend dies, 70
From Digital Spy. Posted October 9 2008, 9.53am
Former Sky News presenter Bob Friend dies at the age of 70. (more)

Maggie Brown: ITV regional news cuts, ITN and the gathering thunderstorm
From Media Guardian. Posted October 9 2008, 9.34am
Maggie Brown: Nice try Michael, but your ITV regional news proposals are a marvellous distraction (more)

Industrial action back on at Trinity Mirror Midlands
From Media Guardian. Posted October 9 2008, 9.28am
NUJ members at Trinity Mirror's newspapers in Birmingham and Coventry have restarted their industrial action despite cancelling this week's two-day strike. By Oliver Luft (more)

UKTV to launch Blighty, Eden
From Digital Spy. Posted October 9 2008, 9.23am
UKTV People and UKTV Documentary are to be the first factual channels in the broadcaster's portfolio to be rebranded. (more)

Mail raises Saturday cover price by 10p
From Media Guardian. Posted October 9 2008, 9.19am
Associated Newspapers is raising the price of the Saturday edition of the Daily Mail for the first time in five years, from 70p to 80p. By Ben Dowell (more)

WH Smith profits boosted by cost savings
From The Times. Posted October 9 2008, 9.16am
WH Smith, the UK newspapers and books retailer, defied the credit crunch this morning by announcing a better-than-expected 15 per cent increase in its full-year profit to �76 million. (more)

Freeview slot put up for auction
From Digital Spy. Posted October 9 2008, 9.13am
Arqiva places a digital terrestrial channel slot up for auction; capacity to be available from January. (more)

Tip of the day from Journalism.co.uk - tracking copies of your content online
From Journalism.co.uk. Posted October 9 2008, 8.42am
Copyright: Why allow people to profit in traffic, and potentially revenue, from your content? Services like Copyscape analyse web content to check for duplication. And for a fee, they will do it all for you. Tipster: Laura Oliver. To submit a tip to Journalism.co.uk, use this link - we will pay a fiver for the best ones published. (more)

US considering Darlingstyle bank rescue
From Daily Telegraph. Po