Duncan Campbell in the Guardian on the decline in court reporting: "At the Old Bailey in the last few of months of last year there were six simultaneous murder trials under way, all interesting and revealing in their different ways, all concerned with fatal stabbings, and the press benches were empty most days. There is no shortage of commentators writing about crime and the causes of crime, but such space would often be better served by an accurate report on how such offences happen in the first place and how they are investigated, prosecuted, defended, judged and punished. The situation is worst for local and regional papers. A day in any magistrates court is as illuminating on the state of the nation in terms of homelessness, mental health, immigration, drug-taking, alcohol abuse, race, domestic violence and poverty as any lengthy thinktank report. Once reports from these court were an essential ingredient of every local paper. No more."
Neil Allen of The News, Portsmouth after being named Regional Journalist of the Year in the British Sports Journalism Award: "I would like to dedicate this to all local and regional sports reporters. The hierarchy at football clubs can ban us, can try to discredit us, even try to get us the sack but we always, always outlast these people."
Former head of BBC Television News Roger Mosey in the New Statesman on BBC plans to cut news and political programming: "At a time when the biggest decisions in our lifetime are being made and when politics matters more than ever, our leading public service broadcaster has decided to cut back on news and political programming. It is doing so by creating a false choice between serious news and youth-orientated shows when it has resources and air-time to do both - and when that is what audiences have a right to expect."
Jeremy Corbyn at a rally in Broxtowe, as reported by Joe: "As you may have noticed, some of the mainstream media are sometimes slightly hostile and critical. I've noticed it, and what I've noticed is they're very unkeen on relating to the issues that people face. I did an interview for Sky last night, it was 14 minutes the interview. We got to, I think, minute 12 before I intervened and said 'Is there any chance anybody other than an MP could be referred to in any of your questions, and we could actually talk about the homeless, the poverty, the hospital waiting lists. Is there any chance we could talk about the issues that people face in their day-to-day lives?'"
The NUJ and Bectu in a joint statement on Tommy Robinson and his demo against the BBC in in Salford over a forthcoming Panorama investigation: “We roundly condemn Tommy Robinson and his fellow, far-right thugs...He is the subject of a Panorama investigation and on his Facebook page has videoed a tirade against the corporation. The NUJ and Bectu say BBC staff should be free to do their jobs without these threats. Intimidation, threats and violence carried out by far-right protesters systematically targeting the media, especially photojournalists, are becoming more frequent and we will always call out this behaviour and report criminal activity to the police."
Donald Trump @realDonaldTrump on Twitter: "The Press has never been more dishonest than it is today. Stories are written that have absolutely no basis in fact. The writers don’t even call asking for verification. They are totally out of control. Sadly, I kept many of them in business. In six years, they all go BUST!"
Rachael Pacella @rachaelpacella on Twitter: "As one of six survivors of our nation's only newsroom mass shooting, seeing generalized media-bashing tweets from the president makes me fear for my life. His words have power, and give bad actors justification to act."
Caroline Schelle, of the Australian Associated Press, reporting for the Herald Sun: "A Melbourne newspaper journalist who reported on some of the city's gangland war has been awarded $180,000 in damages for post-traumatic stress, anxiety and depression. The former reporter at The Age worked in the role for almost a decade until 2013 and covered major stories including the death of four-year-old Darcey Freeman, who was thrown off the West Gate Bridge by her father. She also covered gangland murders, road deaths, fires and police shootings."
Tim Walker asked to give advice to new journalists by Muhammed Raza Hussain on Newsleaf: "Be yourselves and be true to what you believe in, not what the proprietor you end up working for believes in. All the journalists I love the most – Kevin Maguire, Matthew d’Ancona and, though sadly no longer with us, Anthony Howard, who gave me my first national newspaper job on The Observer – command respect because they are always true to their own lights. We need more individualists in journalism, not more yes men and women. People like that come and go and are quickly forgotten."
Carole Walker @carolewalkercw on Twitter: "PM on plane.... Asked what she will do if she loses on March 12, May told reporters: "Why is it that people are always trying to look for the next thing after the next thing after the next thing?" ... well i wonder... maybe its because the next thing is the UK leaving the EU ..?"
Caroline Schelle, of the Australian Associated Press, reporting for the Herald Sun: "A Melbourne newspaper journalist who reported on some of the city's gangland war has been awarded $180,000 in damages for post-traumatic stress, anxiety and depression. The former reporter at The Age worked in the role for almost a decade until 2013 and covered major stories including the death of four-year-old Darcey Freeman, who was thrown off the West Gate Bridge by her father. She also covered gangland murders, road deaths, fires and police shootings."
Tim Walker asked to give advice to new journalists by Muhammed Raza Hussain on Newsleaf: "Be yourselves and be true to what you believe in, not what the proprietor you end up working for believes in. All the journalists I love the most – Kevin Maguire, Matthew d’Ancona and, though sadly no longer with us, Anthony Howard, who gave me my first national newspaper job on The Observer – command respect because they are always true to their own lights. We need more individualists in journalism, not more yes men and women. People like that come and go and are quickly forgotten."
Camden New Journal deputy editor Richard Osley @RichardOsley on Twitter: "If you’ve got some big news, tell it to the people who matter first - your constituents - via the local newspaper."
Graeme Demianyk @GraemeDemianyk on Twitter: "Respect to politicians who give the story to their local paper first. A dying tradition."
Graeme Demianyk @GraemeDemianyk on Twitter: "Respect to politicians who give the story to their local paper first. A dying tradition."
