Category Archives: Getting oneself in the paper
Top of the vox pops
Ah, the dreaded ‘vox pop’. A staple feature of regional newspaper coverage against all better judgement, this peculiar exercise sees news reporters regularly dispatched into the dangerous streets in search of pithy comments from the unemployed and those running errands. … Continue reading
18-30s hell
It is a constant source of amazement how often the regional media are willing to hand over column inches to whinging attention-seekers. Although anyone of any age with something vaguely resembling a brain would return from an ’18-30s’ holiday describing … Continue reading
Filed under Consumer rights, Getting oneself in the paper
Chinese democracy: lanterns and livestock
Occasionally, our political representatives look to make a name for themselves with ludicrous single-issue election campaigns. Step forward Liberal Democrat MEP Sharon Bowles: Bracknell Forest Standard, 22 February 2010: Chinese lanterns threat to animals Banning wire-framed Chinese lanterns, much loved … Continue reading
Filed under Getting oneself in the paper, Upstanding locals
Crucifiction
There’s nothing like finding a piece of Jesus in your back garden when you’ve got the sniffles. Ipswich Evening Star, 23 January 2010: Holy smoke! Man finds Jesus in piece of plastic A Chantry man today claimed a piece of … Continue reading
Filed under Getting oneself in the paper
Teddy where?
Middlesbrough Evening Gazette, 7 November 2009: Girl’s plea to Gazette readers over missing Teddy A HEARTBROKEN little girl is hoping a Gazette reader has spotted her missing teddy bear. Six-year-old Rebecca Howard was out shopping with her mum, Miriam McCann, … Continue reading
Filed under Getting oneself in the paper
Stop the world, my bin won’t close
It is a truth universally acknowledged that 73% of regional news coverage relates to wheelie bins (the other 27% comprises 18% about ASBOs for flashers and 9% about dog mess). There are few matters proven to be capable of riling … Continue reading
Filed under Getting oneself in the paper
Soap Wars: The Catholics Strike Back
When it comes to using moral outrage to help shift a few units, local newspapers can be every bit as shrewd as national counterparts like the Daily Mail and Daily Express. But this story isn’t about just any moral outrage; … Continue reading
Filed under Consumer rights, Getting oneself in the paper, Moral outrage
Hatful of Sorrow
Imagine the scene: it’s Christmas Eve and you’ve had a frantic day of last-minute Christmas shopping and pram-dodging out in the freezing cold streets. At the end of it all, you’re gasping for a pint. You walk into a pub … Continue reading
Tanned by the critics
The websites of regional newspapers and their public comments sections can provide a cruel source of humiliation for those making it into the news. Online coverage of what may, at first glance, have seemed a fairly run-of-the-mill ‘angler’s life saved … Continue reading
Filed under Bravery, Getting oneself in the paper
Word count: 652. Topic: custard.
It must have been a slow news day in the seaside town of Whitstable, Kent, when the local paper decided to run with the story of a woman who wanted to buy custard, couldn’t find any, eventually found some, but … Continue reading
Filed under Consumer rights, Getting oneself in the paper
