The Journal's Graeme Whitfield takes you behind the headlines in his newsroom blog »
Environment campaigner Anna Heywood writes on ethical living »
Malcolm Clarke on life as a professional pool player »
Brenda Boyd - the life and times of a morris dancer »
David Brennan from the website Enjoying Photography writes about how to take good photos »
Emily Sillar, from the Comfort Food Company on North-East food »
Write Said Fred - view from the pram with six-month-old Fred Telfer »
Rebecca Young finds fashion on a budget »
Local GP John Mackay writes about the NHS »
Mark Robertson of the Northumber-Last night I went to see Billy Bragg at The Sage Gateshead and I don't mind telling you that he was absolutely fantastic.
Anyone who knows me will know that I would probably pay good money to see Billy Bragg if he was singing a selection of Ethiopian nursery rhymes accompanied only by the spoons. But of the many times I've seen him over the past 20 years, I think last night was one of his finest performances - full of passion, humour and, of course, great songs.
Now you may be wondering what my Bragg review has to do with a blog about life in the Journal newsroom, so I'll explain...
Before one of his last songs, Billy reminisced about seeing The Clash at the Rock Against Racism gig in 1978 (30 years ago today, in fact). He explained that it was that gig that inspired him to become a musician, but it was only years later that he realised what really gave him strength from that gig wasn't so much, but the fact that 100,000 determined to take a stand against discrimination all came together.
Musicians can't change the world, Billy said, but people can, and it's his job to bring people together, give them a good time and send them off to make a difference.
And that - see, I told you I'd make this relevant eventually - is how I feel about journalism. I know newspapers aren't perfect and every day we face compromises in what we do. But at their best, newspapers have the ability to inform, entertain and inspire people and hopefully get them to make a difference to their communities.
It's also why I'm hugely enthusiastic about new media and things like this blog. I've always known that people read The Journal and but it was very rare to get much feedback from readers.
Since starting this blog I've been called "very dull" and "someone who displays unthinking prejudices". Some people have said nice things too.
What's for certain is that people are reading what I've written and reacting to it which is really all most journalists - egomaniacs that we all are - can ever hope for.
- Post to:
del.icio.us
Digg
Newsvine
Nowpublic
Reddit
« Previous | Home | Next »