Blog posts by year and monthJuly 2013
Posts (13)
The media and Google: a changing balance of power
It was the year 2000 and we were filming in Silicon Valley for a BBC Two documentary series about the social impact of the internet.
Getting into Google: films v docs
The film The Internship is about a couple of non-techie guys blagging their way into Google as summer interns in the hope of landing proper jobs which, according to the premise of the film, should by rights go to people younger and smarter than them.
Waiting for a prince – under three layers of media
I think last week will go down as one of the most emotional of my whole working life. It was amazing, nerve-wracking, stressful and crazy, all at the same time. What am I talking about? A shift outside the Lindo Wing waiting with hundreds of others for the news of the royal birth.
Data journalism: the important difference between transparency and clarity
Last month the Royal College of Surgeons released figures on death rates for major blood vessel surgery, analysed by individual, named surgeons. It showed that for many surgeons none of their patients had died in the wake of these operations, but for others several patients had died.
A rounded view of life in Northern Ireland
Journalists who are unfamiliar with Northern Ireland can, like anyone else, have a rather one-dimensional view of life here. Below are some pointers for anyone wanting to research a fuller picture of life in Northern Ireland - including background on politics.
Journalists should be equipped with theory as well as practical skills
Shortly before I left the BBC in 2002, I was sent on a hostile environment course and learned some first aid and how to pick my way through a minefield. Both are invaluable survival skills. But a brief primer on the laws and customs of war and how the writ of the International Criminal Court dif...
Data journalism for beginners
This was Data Day for BBC journalists, a series of talks to bring us up to speed on the emerging field of data journalism. Jonathan Stoneman brought the possibilities into focus.
If the cap fits: why Nato but not Bbc?
Barely a week goes by without at least one BBC News website reader asking why acronyms are in lower case.
Top five alternative pronunciation bugbears in English
English is a language where a word can be acceptably pronounced in more than one way, so it is understandable that alternative pronunciations can provoke strong opinions.
Is Twitter sexist?
I regularly check who people in my industry are following on Twitter and was astounded to see that one of the most respected news editors is following less than 20% women.
