IT’S AWARDS AND ELECTIONS TIME!

by Philip Parkin, Operations Director, Birmingham Press Club

It’s April already – and it’s about time we wrote another blog!

Actually, the intention at the end of 2009 was to up the ante somewhat on the social media front, but things have slipped a bit, to say the least.

Anyway, we’re back now, and the intention is to start updating the Press Club Facebook page on a regular basis, and also to start twittering (or should that be tweeting?) about the Press Club and its activities.

Most of what we put on Facebook and Twitter will be about events, in fact – at present, we are having something of a shake-up where the events team is concerned, and once that is complete, we will be producing a full and (we hope) exciting calendar for the rest of this year, and next.

As far as this year goes, the next main event will be the Midlands Media Awards 2010.

Now in its ninth year, the awards just goes from strength to strength – this year we are back at the International Convention Centre, in the heart of Brum, and that will be on 13 May.

As ever, it promises to be a great night out – but before we get to that, there is all the build up to get through. Sounds a bit like that other big event that is currently going on (our finale is obviously only a week after theirs – will we be celebrating our first winners under a new Prime Minister? I wouldn’t bet against it).

Anyway, the main thing for all you journalists of print, radio and TV up and down the Midlands is to get your entries in for the awards – you can find out how to enter here.

Don’t forget that as well as all the prestige and honour that goes with the awards, there are cash prizes to be had – so if you had a great scoop last year, or came up with a really witty headline, well let us know and win some dough. Be a shame not to, really.

Also, for the second year running, the awards is also open to citizen journalists – you know the kind, the guys who run the blogs and other online sites.

I think in some areas blogging has come of age, in journalistic terms, and it is only right that it should be recognised.

Since we’re right in the middle of an election, I’ll give you an example of this – it’s the Guido Fawkes blog, which can be found here.

This blog has become the scourge of the political class, as it really doesn’t care much for tiptoeing around when there is an issue to confront – it has not only broken various stories, but has often in the process trampled right over any sensitivities our MPs might have (well, sensitivities about criticism, that is).

Sadly, Guido Fawkes is not based in the Midlands, as far as I know – but for anyone out there who is – and who runs a great blog – then why not try your luck in the Midlands Media Awards?