Now we have the Labour party conference starting,just a couple of miles down the road from where I am sitting typing this.
Anyway for those interested,I had a good break,starting with a couple of days in Scotland's book town (Wigtown) before staying at a friends cottage in the isolated village of Barr which is around eight miles from Girvan in Ayrshire.The sun was conspicuous by its absence apart, form one evening.
I arrived in a rain storm and left in a rainstorm.
University restarts this week.I have taken the magazine route and am greatly looking forward to learning the skills in producing a magazine.I'm not,I have to say,looking forwards to Shorthand.2 hours a day every day for the duration of this and the next semester.
I am picking up a new computer on Tuesday.My old machine,packed up entirely a couple of weeks ago and am using an even older version which cannot handle many of the changes on the net that have occurred since 2001 when it was bought.
The other thing when you are away is ploughing through emails and Rss feeds whic quickly start to mount up.
This is some of the stuff that I have picked up so far and will be of interest if you haven't already read it.
Charities as journalists: distorting international reporting?
As an advocate of public participation in the journalism I welcome the increased use of news communication methods by international non-governmental organisations such as Oxfam, Christian Aid or MSF. But it raises all kinds of ethical and editorial issues for both the media and the charities
Internet is fostering disinformation, says web's creator
The internet risks becoming a platform for cults, rumour and disinformation, according to Sir Tim Berners-Lee, the man credited with creating the web
Blogs no match for ad-supported investigative journalism
THE most valuable role of journalism in a democracy is to peek behind closed doors, to keep a watchful eye on the workings of politics and power.
By definition this is a job for private enterprise because governments cannot reliably scrutinise themselves. Journalism that reveals information that some people do not want you to know is time-consuming and costly to sustain. Therefore it can be supported only by a profitable business.
Quality journalism: the need only grows
WHAT is quality journalism? Quality journalism is when I tell you the truth as I believe it to be. Non-quality journalism is when I tell you what I think you want to hear. Of course, there's more to it than that. A bigot can tell you the truth as he or she believes it to be but their view is still an ignorant one. So a further consideration is the depth and range of information upon which the view is based.
Britain's quality newspapers are still cheap, despite the price rises
Since September 1993 Britain has enjoyed the cheapest quality newspapers in the world. It was then that Rupert Murdoch cut the price of The Times from 45p to 30p. He later dropped it to 20p. His rivals were dumbstruck. The Independent initially raised its cover price in response before realising that this was not a particularly bright idea. The Daily Telegraph tried to stay aloof, but was eventually forced to follow The Times's lead.
Is it an unprecedented volte-face, or is 'The Guardian' just giving the Tories a fair press? Whatever, Labour is incensed
What makes a great picture?
When I first began making photographs, I began using color and slide film. Working with film was always a challenge, but one could expose the film or chrome differently to achieve a desired affect. I have always been fascinated by the way a camera can record color.
Blogging: Change the world with the web
Is there any limit to what can be achieved by a teenager with a blog? Matt Locke introduces an experiment
A global revolution
The director of BBC Global News on the challenge of transforming the archaic World Service and loss-making BBC World into a united news force.
Ofcom decides on PSB future: BBC and C4 ahead of the pack
Ed Richards of Ofcom presents his three refined options for public service broadcasting tonight but it’s pretty clear which one he favours.
He has now dismissed the idea that the BBC should be the only PSB. In effect this was the market forces option as it would have exposed the BBC as the only publicly subsidised organisation.
Why newspapers matter: Isthmus news editor Bill Lueders' speech to Madison Downtown Rotary
And finally check out Paul Bradshaw's excellent series on the Basic Principles of Online journalism
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