Monck leaves City for the World

Adrian Monck is leaving City University after four years as head of its Graduate School of Journalism to take up the post of managing director and head of communications at the World Economic Forum. He explains all on his blog.

Flying a kitemark for 'professional' journalists: Reuters Institute report on news out today

Adrian Monck's blog has a good run down on the recommendations of Andrew Curragh's 'What's Happening to Our News?' report for the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism (RISJ) which will be released at the Oxford Media Convention today. They are:
A review of the legislation governing charitable giving, which largely rules out newsgathering, to open up this source of funding for independent professional journalism, bringing the UK in line with countries like the US.

A voluntary set of media standards, leading to a digital kitemark, to make transparent the sourcing of news and to enhance the visibility of professional journalism on the web.

The release by the government of more data on the operation and performance of publicly funded bodies in accessible electronic formats to support both professional and citizen journalism.

More interactivity between parliament and citizens, with digital media used to democratise knowledge and the understanding of political processes.

The extension of media literacy teaching in schools to incorporate the unique challenges and opportunities of new media.

Adrian Monck's Best of 2008

TV news exec turned academic, Adrian Monck, head of journalism at City University, gives his Best of 2008.

Best old/trad media of the year: The New Yorker for Ryan Lizza on the campaign trail – his Obama profile was the best take on the president-elect.

Best new media of the year: The FT’s Alphaville. Don’t ask how - Paul Murphy and co. just make it work.

Best story of the year: Selection of Sarah Palin as VP candidate – politics can still surprise us.

Prediction for 2009: The British General Election will disappoint everyone.


Tomorrow: Downtable subbing legend the Grey Cardigan gives his "Best of.." and no, he hasn't chosen the Daily Beast. Crystal Tits will not be pleased.

Dear 'sickened' by BNP leader Griffin

NUJ general secretary Jeremy Dear said today it was "sickening" to hear BNP leader Nick Griffin saying he would use the Human Rights Act to protect the privacy of the right-wing group after details of its membership were leaked to the web.
Dear, writing on his blog said: "Like thousands of other trade union and anti-racist activists I'm busy scouring through the BNP membership list which has been published (and is on wikileaks) this morning. I've had neo-nazis threaten me at home, publish my details on Redwatch, the right-wing website designed to target and intimidate journalists and trade unionists, and was once physically assaulted by them and had to go to hospital. The BNP have staged demonstrations outside the NUJ's head office and have issued threats to dozens of our members - particularly in Yorkshire. How sickening to hear Nick Griffin on Five Live this morning say he would use the Human Rights Act to protect privacy when he stands for abolishing the act. Hypocrite."
Professor Adrian Monck, head of journalism at City University, has also been a victim of the BNP. Writing on his blog today, he said: "The BNP once posted my email address on their website. I got 400 emails of varying degrees of unpleasantness...Now the BNP says it isn’t a racist, thuggish party, but I’m certainly glad they didn’t know where I lived. And I’m very glad I now know where they live. But here’s my challenge - who’ll be first to mash up the data and produce a map of the membership?"