milne media

News of Joe Quinn's departure from PA marks end of an era

TODAY'S Herald carries a nib which will have an absolutely massive impact on the quality and trust in Scottish journalism.

Under the headline 'Veteran reporter is set to retire' it reports that Joe Quinn of the Press Association is to leave the national wire agency next month.

Anyone who knows anything about Scottish journalism will tell you that Joe - alone - has commanded the respect of every newspaper operation in the land.

Once he goes, it will mark the end of an era, and Scottish journalism will be all the poorer from his departure.

Please mind the gap: 17,000 sales split big two news groups in Scotland

ANYONE who downloaded QND:03 the other week will have heard me banging on about the battle for newspaper sales in Scotland, particularly as it affects the big two: Trinity Mirror and News International.

It was centred on a statistic. Actually, around the number, 17,191.

That’s the difference in newspaper sales between the combined might of Trinity Mirror's nationals in Scotland and those from News International.

Witness Reportage: top stuff from Dan McDougall & Robin Hammond

THERE are a few websites from bona fide journalists that I visit just for the pure enjoyment of the body of work they contain.

Former Daily Record and Scotsman reporter Gethin Chamberlain's site is among them, so too award winning photographer Chris Watt.

Added to that list is a new website just launched by my old Daily Record reporting chum Dan McDougall and his talented colleague Robin Hammond.

For anyone who truly appreciates the noble art of hard news and features, then Witness Reportage is clearly for you.

Latest QND podcast now playing: featuring Dave Cook

THIS podcasting malarky for Quiet News Day has been allowing Scott Douglas and myself to meet up with all sorts of genuinely interesting people these past few weeks, the latest to feature being Dave Cook, journo turned new media PR.

What Dave doesn't know about the PR games scene in Scotland probably isn't much and he was great company with some interesting thoughts on social media in Scotland.

You can listen to our interview with him and our various ramblings about The Times, Trinity Mirror, Guardian, Poken, eReaders, latest Edinburgh Tweetup and the first Social Media Scotland Dinner by following the link here.

Anyone interested in taking part in the podcasts should email us at quietnewsday@me.com

 

Quiet News Day - Episode Two now playing

ENJOYED a thoroughly good afternoon on Monday speaking with Stewart Kirkpatrick of content marketing web consultants w00tonomy about the future of Scotland's media for the latest Quiet News Day podcast.

As former editor of scotsman.com working with some of the biggest public sector clients in the country, it was interesting to get his take on where we go from here.

The pod also featured for the first time Craig McGill from Contently Managed with his view on what the latest gamechangers in the industry could be, in what may be a regular slot.

Amazingly Scott Douglas and myself have already had some very kind feedback to the whole QND project so thanks to all who've been in touch.

You can listen to Episode Two by clicking here and sign up to our steadily growing Twitteratti by clicking here.

More of the write stuff from former Daily Record man Bob Dow

MUCH has been said about Trinity Mirror on this blog over the years. 

Sometimes praiseworthy, but more often than not some kind of ill-judged invective about job cuts affecting former colleagues.

It's a difficult balancing act.

Social media expert says he hasn't bought a newspaper in four years

BUSY day today between one thing and another which meant a rare frustration - I didn't get out for the Sunday papers at all. 

Milne Towers this Sunday was paperless. Naked of printed news.

Of course I'll catch up with them all on Monday in the office, and I had a quick run down from the guys working at HQ earlier today about what was making the main headlines, having already seen some of them at least on the Andrew Marr show.

Plus I had a wee prod about online at those editions which actually have Scottish content on the web, although I still feel like I've shirked my journalistic responsibility even if I've at saved my wallet from the associated pain.

But later what caught my eye was this Tweet from Raj Anand:

Quiet News Day

AT the very real risk of making complete fools of ourselves without alcohol being involved, PR chum Scott Douglas and myself have decided to have a bash at a podcast about new media in Scotland.

The first one is a bit rough, some lessons learned already, and we're Beta testing it on both a me.com platform and Libsyn.com to see which works best while we wait to see whether or not it will be accepted by iTunes.

We think it will be fun, and hope people will want to take part whether that be about journalism, PR or both.

But please do email any feedback to quietnewsday@me.com or get in touch via www.twitter.com/quietnewsday

Brooklyn senior news reporter quits print for blogging

THIS is just plain funny. Or, at least, I thought so. A reporter's last day with the US based Brooklyn Paper before heading off to start blogging for a living.

Much fun had by all, leaving me to ask, is this better than a traditional framed front page send off?

Blogosphere 2009 - the state we are in from Technorati

TECHNORATI'S latest State of the Blogosphere report crashed into my inbox the other day which was to be tomorrow's blog post.

But since Emily Braham has done such a good job over at the Online Journalism Blog, I'll get back to painting the nursery instead. 

Like I should be.

Meantime if you want to read the full report, just click here.