journolisme

The important issues of the day

2010-08-24T14:20:00.006+01:00

It's great that people still write in to their favoured newspapers about the really prescient issues of today... (click to enlarge)

Isn't this cool?

2010-07-29T09:58:00.002+01:00

As well as great stories and headlines, I'm also a fan of great photography. As spotted in today's Metro, this is a 25-ft statue based on Grant Wood's American Gothic painting. It was first erected in Chicago in 2008, and now it's been moved to Indianapolis for the Indiana State Fair.

blasphemy

2010-07-22T10:28:00.002+01:00

I used to post the odd rambling on the state of journalism here, and since I've taken to talking about articles and headlines on my general music nonsense blog, I figured I should start using this again. I was in Manchester last week and noticed some hilarious stuff in the MEN and the local edition of the Metro. But I figured I'd kick off this renaissance with a gem from Dublin's Metro Herald. The story appeared elsewhere, but I liked this succinct headline.

This is more like it...

2009-01-21T13:53:00.000Z

A step too far?

2009-01-21T13:15:00.002Z

This is all a bit much...

MIA

2009-01-07T00:09:00.004Z

I talk about the Lancashire Evening Post a lot here. It's because, as an outsider, it's my main source of news in these parts. Having been away for Christmas, I've been looking to find it in Essentials, the shop that is part of UCLan's Students' Union. No joy, two days running! I really should have picked it up when I was "down town"...

Atheism On The Buses

2009-01-07T00:08:00.001Z

I didn't quite know what to make of it when I saw that an extensive advertising campaign was being undertaken to announce that God might not exist. I thought the slogan was curious: "There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life." The campaign is led by atheists, who surely believe that there is in fact no God? So this speculative statement seems a little uncharacteristic. Anyway, as I read on I found myself agreeing with the theology think tank Theos: "The posters will encourage people to consider the most important question we will ever face in our lives." Interesting stuff all round I guess. A similar US campaign ran in November with "Why believe in a god? Just be good for goodness' sake" as their slogan. Maybe there isn't a God, and if not, the above sentiments are noble. I think it's the uncertainty that keeps it all interesting...

Farringdon Covered

2008-12-08T11:17:00.003Z

For Andy Bradbury, police press officer for Central Lancashire, MOPPIN Up Dodge is part of a general approach. This was not a situation where the “police do things without asking first,” but one in which the community could say “We have a problem with crime and disorder and we’d like get involved.” “We’re supporting them,” says Bradbury. It’s about what the community needs in terms of anti-social behaviour and crime prevention. The approach covered the Farringdon area, marked on the map below.

View Larger Map

One can see the area as it is now, as well as the way in which the press was used to name and shame known criminals. This approach worked in tandem with the other aspects of the initiative to make living in the estates a more positive experience for residents and those in nearby areas.

MOPPIN Up Dodge

2008-12-07T23:08:00.003Z

The Farringdon estates look quiet and homely, with no giveaway signs of any previous problems with drugs or violence. Scratch the surface, however, and it’s a different story. Walls and lamp-posts are branded with warnings of anti vandal paint, large gates block entry to open spaces, and erstwhile playgrounds appear barren or damaged.

The recent success of MOPPIN up Dodge at the European Crime Prevention Awards has come after many months of hard work by the police, the Community Gateway Association and the people of Farringdon.

Problems

The area was faced with, among other things, gang culture, overt drug dealing and taking, an under-used community centre and a lack of diversionary activities. The initiative sought to reduce crime, disrupt drug dealing, dissolve the local “Farry Park Original Gangsters”, remove the fear of crime for locals while improving the environmental appearance of the area.

This was achieved by the issuing of Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) and drug warrants, evictions and arrests, and the use of a mobile police station. In terms of the physical aspect of the area, clean-up days were introduced, and lighting and fencing was improved.

Residents were encouraged to get involved with the initiative, by The media was also used as a deterrent for criminals, as articles such as this were published in the Lancashire Evening Post naming and shaming known criminals in the area.

“Dodge City”

Crummock Road, once known as Dodge City, had become something of a ghost town, with unoccupied houses being used for the purposes of drug dealing. These houses were demolished in June 2007, offering new hope for the area. It is thought that they may be replaced with housing for the elderly, who can now live in this area without fear.

Following the intervention the number of crimes was reduced 131, while great financial savings were made. The police saved somewhere in the region of £125,000 annually, and the Community Gateway’s costs were reduced by 72%.

The project, which has now won awards both nationally and internationally, is no doubt an inspiration to those in other troubled areas.

Submissions to the Home Office’s Tilley Award (first place) and the Herman Goldstein Award (finalist) can be seen here and here.

Preston Initiative Wins European Award

2008-12-04T00:04:00.004Z

A Preston-based partnership between the police and the Community Gateway Association recently won the top award at the European Crime Prevention Awards in Paris.

MOPPIN up Dodge, a joint Lancashire Police and Community Gateway Association initiative which focused on the Farringdon Estate in Preston, was awarded €20,000 by the EU Crime Prevention Network (EUCPN).

The area, which had suffered from crime, anti-social behaviour, drugs and related problems, has undergone a transformation under the eyes of Police Officers PC Gary Salisbury and PS Dave Johnson, and Sue Roach, Community Safety Manager at Gateway

Improving the lives of ordinary people

Chief Inspector Nikki Evans said: "This partnership initiative is indicative of work ongoing by Neighbourhood Policing Teams across the city of Preston. Our aim is to improve the lives of ordinary people and I am pleased to see that the work done here by our officers and Community Gateway has been recognised at an international level. This is just one example of the hard work and commitment our Neighbourhood Policing Teams demonstrate each and every day in their efforts to improve local peoples lives."

Great success for the people

Sue Roach of Community Gateway said: "Working in partnership with both Lancashire police and other local agencies, this project has seen us achieve great success for the people of this once troubled area. To win this award for the UK is a great honour. The projects success lies in how we have worked together with residents and the wider community. With our partners we have targeted persistent offenders and the results have been seen in the courage and the strength of the people involved to stand up to make their lives better."

A proud day

Mayor of Preston Councillor John Swindells said: "This is a proud day for Preston and the residents on the Farringdon Estate. In terms of what the competition judges were looking for this project ticked all the boxes, the rigorous approach to analysing the problem, the partnership with the police and the success of the project in both qualitative and quantitative terms."

Former President of France Valery Giscard D'Estaing presented the award to representatives from Lancashire Police and Gateway together with Mayor of Preston Councillor John Swindells.

EUPCN

The EUCPN was set up in May 2001 by an EU Council Decision to promote crime prevention activity across the European Union. It identifies good practice in crime prevention, and shares this knowledge across the Union through seminars and conferences.

PNE cut ticket prices

2008-12-02T17:31:00.003Z

The LEP reported at the weekend that Preston North End is to reduce the price of its tickets and replica shirts to reflect the recent VAT reduction. While some High Street stores are finding ways around this reduction (HMV have a convoluted explanation as to why their prices don't really look that different at all), it is heartening to hear that one business, especially one this central to the local community, is mindful of its customers and they difficulties they face.

Chairman Derek Shaw was quoted both in the LEP and on the club's website: "We understand that times are particularly hard in the current financial climate and that the festive period also puts a serious strain on the purse strings. We will do anything we can to help relieve the financial burden and make it easier for PNE fans to support their club."

So everybody wins.

Four letter word just to get me along...

2008-11-18T12:33:00.009Z

What's the fuss?

The LEP features on these pages again. This time, they tell of a mother angered by hearing Rage Against The Machine's Killing In The Name played by a member of staff in the entertainment section of the store, "right next to an aisle selling kids' toys." The song uses the line "F*ck you, I won't do what you tell me" 16 times. Ooh-er.

On one level this is understandable enough - people don't want their children to be subjected to rude words in an uncontrolled environment - and Asda should probably have some policy of vetting the music they have playing in their stores. A bit of HSM here, some Tinkerbell there, all within the confines of copyright laws that is. At the same time, I think people are taking up arms at nearly everything these days - there's nothing approaching a "laissez-faire" attitude on LIFE anymore.

I'm all for looking at the efficiency of social services when children die, examining the salaries of celebrities paid by public corporations in a global recession, and looking at both sides of the debate on assisted suicide. These are serious issues, which warrant the attention given to them.

What's the big deal?

Surely the days of musical censorship are over. It's not like anyone is being objectified here - the complaint seems to be over one simple word (albeit one that is repeated 16 times). If Asda were playing hip-hop tracks or videos that were violent or misogynistic I'd understand the criticism. But complaining about a 16-year old song that, if anything, encourages its listeners to question bigotry and institutionalised corruption, seems a little misguided, if not reactionary. It reminds me of the scene in Donnie Darko where a teacher suggests removing a Graham Greene short story from the curriculum, all the while confusing the author for television actor Lorne Greene.

There's a time and a place for everything

On a related note, I read an interesting piece by Frank Skinner about cutting down on his use of profanities on stage. Sometimes it worked, as his routines were just as effective without the use of naughty words. Sometimes it didn't. Without the use of profanity, which would normally lend to a given routine a shock factor and added "oomph," for want of a much better word, the routine fell flat. What his piece really shows is that a measured approach to language can render the most effective usage, so complaining about the use of four letter words is, to flirt with cliché, neither big nor clever.

LEP Buff-Hoonery

2008-11-04T20:35:00.002Z

The LEP has a picture of Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon on its cover today, "re-imagined as Thomas the Tank Engine's Fat Controller." Hoon is in the news because he reportedly said that packed trains on the West Coast Mainline are a sign of success. Unimpressed with these words, the LEP have labelled him a "shortsighted Buff-Hoon". I'm not that concerned with the copy in this case. If commuters are paying good money in these difficult times then they shouldn't have to travel in sardine-can conditions. My issue is with the ridiculous picture.

What are the LEP getting at dressing Hoon up as the Fat Controller? Is this a marketing ploy? Or are they trying to make a serious comment? Maybe they just think that their readers don't see the true issues for what they are and to contextualise on the level of popular culture. As far as the imagery is concerned, it's pretty embarrassing that the cover picture seems quite well done, while on page 13 Matthew Squires' pictures of crowding on trains are so poor. If citizen journalism can lead to award-winning photography, newspapers really need to step up their game.

Read the article here.

It's still October...

2008-10-27T22:41:00.002Z

This picture was taken in the Arndale Shopping Centre in Manchester on Saturday October 25, 2008. That's exactly two months before Christmas. Traditionally I always thought that cribs such as this one are set up minus the baby, and that the wise men only followed in early January. Obviously things have changed. It's a little bit unsettling when you walk down an aisle in Sainsbury's and you can see Hallowe'en decorations opposite Christmas wrapping paper, but I guess in rocky financial times such as this "holidays" need to be milked for all they are worth. But that's another question altogether...

Welcome to the blog.

2008-10-21T12:13:00.000+01:00

This is my newest online weblog, or blog, as they are more commonly known. This one will be a bit more serious, and not so much geared towards music. If at all. It's part of my MA in Newspaper Journalism at UCLan here in Preston.

I hope to gather ideas and news stories that relate to, in no order, crime in Deepdale, crime in Preston, journalism in the UK, journalism worldwide, and journalism online.

Check back regularly for insight and the occasional flash of genius. Yes, I said it.

Bye for now.