BROWN TOAST AND INTERNECINE SPATS

by Philip Parkin, Operations Director, Birmingham Press Club

For those of you wondering what’s going on at the Press Club, events-wise, as I said last time round we have been having something of a shake-up in that department (or an internecine spat, as the Duckers and Diving blog site would have it).

Anyway, the upshot is that the events calendar for the rest of the year has been posted on the web site – see here for more details.

Also, don’t forget to get your tickets for the Media Awards – the big night is two weeks today (and I’m not talking about the election).

But, since I’ve mentioned the election, I was thinking the other day that this has been an election like no other.

To me, it seems to have been all about the personalities of the three leaders, and their wives. There’s been precious little seen of the rest of the three main parties, and almost nothing about policies.

That could be down to the fact that none of main parties seems to want to talk about the things that the public do – a survey I was reading today suggested that the key topic for most people is the scale of the national debt, and second is immigration.

But do Brown, Clegg and Cameron want to talk about this? Do they heck. Brown, for instance, thinks people want to talk about such things as tax credits and winter heating allowances. Er, I think not.

I’m not surprised that neither of the two socialist parties wants to talk about their policies, as it would no doubt frighten us all to death, but I think Cameron has made a mistake by not spelling out exactly what he would do about things such as the national debt and immigration.

In my opinion, that is why he has been unable to capitalise on Labour’s 13 years of incompetence, and the unbelievable ascension of Nick Clegg.

Logically, Cameron should be streets ahead – but isn’t. No, it seems to me that the ‘Daily Mail’ and the ‘Telegraph’ have made a far better job of putting the boot into Brown and Clegg in order to get Cameron elected.

And I suppose we must not forget that Brown has also shot himself in the foot with ‘Bigot-gate’, although of course it has been the media, in the shape of ‘Sky News” and most of the papers that have pulled the trigger over that one, with Brown having conveniently loaded the revolver.

Have to say, I did like the ‘Sun’ treatment of it – the strap read: ‘Gillian only popped out for a loaf. She came back with… (headline) BROWN TOAST’. And there to accompany the story was a graphic of the hapless Brown’s visage superimposed onto a slice of toast.

I think this whole episode has probably finished Brown’s chances of staying in Number 10 – he’s certainly been well and truly toasted.

Anyway, he fights on for now, and is in Brum tonight for the final round of the X Factor, sorry Leaders’ Debate. I can’t wait.

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?