Birmingham Mail

Politicos are great fun.
In opposition (eg: Tories in Birmingham up to four years ago) they love the media and talk about freedom of the press, how crucial it is the media gets access to info, how fair and balanced the local papers are.
In power (eg: Tories in Birmingham now) and they hate the media, talk about abuses of the press, how crucial it is that the media is denied info, how unfair and imbalanced the local papers are.
What goes around comes around.

Just a mention for those watching... later this month, birminghammail.net will be launching two of its most controversial columnists at top bloggers on the internet. We will be introducing Faraz Yousufzai, Birmingham's leading voice of Muslim youth, and Veron Graham, the city's leading black opinion writer.

How we've moved on.
As recently as ten years ago, journalists would still be fighting for a phone line to report breaking news from the scene of an event.
This morning, at 8am, the Birmingham Mail's Faraz Yousufzai used a mixture of email and phone text to file his 674 words of gripping copy from Karachi.
Faraz had been in Pakistan to attend his cousin's wedding, his first trip there for 15 years. Little did he know it wuld coincide with what could be his ancestors' homeland's worst period of civil unrest.

An irksome Bell will fall silent at the end of this week in Birmingham - or at least that's what paranoid councillors will be hoping. Here his editor Steve Dyson pays tribute. David Bell, the Birmingham Mail's no nonsense municipal editor, is to retire after more than 35 years with the newspaper. During those years Bell - known as 'Ding Dong' - has been the constant bane of councillors of all parties, using his voluminous local government knowledge and remarkable list of contacts to uncover the darkest of their secrets. He smokes like a chimney and drinks like a fish and is recognised as one of a kind - a final remnant of journalists of yore. And to the envy of his colleagues, he operated from two offices. During the first part of the morning, he worked in the Mail offices in Weaman Street.

It's galling as editor of this fine city's evening newspaper to believe that we've got to this... Bruce is now 99% certain to leave Birmingham City FC for.... WIGAN???!!
I mean, if he were destined for Newcastle, Manchester City or even the likes of Everton or Tottenham, it would feel different. But Wigan?
Just what does that say about how bad it's got at BCFC. Shakey takeover close to collapse, current owners appearing to some to be keen to move on, Karren B, bless her, herself not sounding like the defiant, confident and assured woamn that was always her strength.

A few nerves in the Dyson household this weekend as the clock ticks down to a head-to-head with MP John Hemming over the Mayor debate on The Politics Show. Editor's are best left to print, not to live TV debates wth veterans of Parliament. Mind you, while Hemming and myself disagree over the mayoral referendum, I have an ace up my sleeve. "Tell viewers what you'd do if there WAS an elected mayor for Brum, john," I will say. Bet you he won't resist what he's said before. John Hemming would stand, of course (and a very good mayor he'd make too!)

Yes, that's right, it's a question I'm asking, not the title of an entry where I'm about to tell you what's going on in this multi-media world. Blogs, websites, breaking news online, video journalism, Google, You Tube... which is the winner in the ethernet, and which should be concentrated on by us old print hacks who are such professionals at, er, print journalism?
Today I was discussing training budgets for next year for the Birmingham Mail, and the subject again was a bit of a lottery. Should we send four, eight or 12 print hacks on a basic video-journalism course to add to our current VJ team of one? Or is the SEO course the one we should be reserving places on (search engine optimisation)?

At times, editors have to become statesman. With a Blues v Villa derby on the horizon, with David Gold now very unhappy at the 'pig in mud' comments, but with the General defiantly refusing to apologise, the last thing anyone wants is for this to transfer to the terraces. Therefore, I will be inviting both gentlemen out to lunch at a very posh restaurant in an attempt to illicit a handshake for the cameras. Agreeing to disagree is better than fanning the flames of this one.

As per usual, when called upon, our house cartoonist (with us since 1969) has summed up the story, comments and issue perfectly with this allegorical image!

Watching the fans' sites this weekend is eye-opening, with Villa rants against the Birmingham Mail for telling how General Krulak referred to David Gold as a 'pig in mud'. They seem offended that we should report what he said... yet earlier, when he said it on villatalk.com, some 'hope the papers run this great quote'. More interesting is Villa fans' rants that this means the Mail is definitely a 'Blue-nose' paper (a polite version of what was said). But anyone reading yesterday's Mail will have seen that the splash (p1 lead) was a report from Cardiff Crown Court of five Blues fans being jailed for violence at a match. And as a result some Blues fans on their websites shout that the Mail is unfair to them!

Just how are we supposed to guess the interest in Diana's death, 10 years on? Should newspapers print a single page on the memorial, or front to back with memories, messages, pictures and so on? Whatever we do, readers will criticise. Either we "won't have shown enough respect" by being too "stingy" with space, or we "have gone well over the top on an outpouring of emotion that is no longer there". Problems, problems... don't we just love 'em? The answer, of course, is blowing in the wind (a candle in the wind?), which in layman's terms is somewhere in between. See tonight's Mail and you will see a strong presence (though not the main presence) on page 1; live news of the memorial on page 4, and then a nine page tribut in words and pictures starting on page 7. Did we get it right? Take a look and let me know!

THOUGH they are members of a profession that is there to care for the sick, some doctors show scant regard for the financial health of their patients.

There can be no justification for those GPs who encourage patients to call high-cost phone lines to make appointments.

Life is a coincidence... as in Sliding Doors and all that. In Mull last week for hols, staying in Tobermory (of Balamory CBBC fame), and strolling to the Bar for a pint (it was called the Bar, which is a great name for a pub). Anyway, there I was, 400 miles from where I live, and a voice pipes up: "How are you doing, Steve." And blow me if it wasn't Alan Sims, the deputy editor of the Evening Gazette in Middlesbrough (also a good 300+ miles away) with whom I worked closely for three years when editing that paper a few years back. Small world. Later last week, decided to pop in for a pint at another hostelry on the island in Dervaig, along with boys. "Do you serve kids' portions," asks I. "We do for kids who support the right team," says Nick, the landlord, a Villa fan from Sutton Coldfield who'd spotted the claret and blue shirts on my boys' backs!

Like everyone else is thinking, where on earth are any of us going to get any sun? Well, one of my perks is getting to read every newspaper, every day. And according to a letter-writer in today's Daily Telegraph, the sun is shining and has been for some time in Mull, Scotland.
So cherio for now... Toblemory here I come!

We hacks love an old-style political scrabble... Labour knocking Tories down, Tories tripping Labour up, Lib Dems coming in from behind with a cosh to the head. But at times, on subjects of major import to local readers, we just have to rise above this temptation to make our politicians appear chaotic and sniping. Take the New Street Station story. Labour government agree on first stage grant, but fire a number of hardly-shrouded messages suggesting that the full grants won't come unless the Tory-Lib Dem coalition at Birmingham City Council sorts out its leadership, its value-for-money proofing and its private investment strategy. The Tory-Lib Dem coalition's first response is shock, horror and offence that anyone would think they haven't got everything right. It's all there if you concentrate and read our submission properly, they seem to say.

A few weeks ago, Coun Ken Hardeman called me re. a number of matters, some of which we agreed on and some we didn't. One was a very simple issue we did agree on and which the Mail could have quickly changed in the paper (it actually related to the picture of him that we constantly used, which he really disliked). I wasn't sure which one, and said I'd contact him by email/in person to check which one it was. I never got round to it. He died in the early hours of this morning. Why do we leave some things too late? In our tribute piece today, and in a follow up tomorrow, I will take personal care that I use the best picture of him I can, and just hope that it isn't the one he dislikes. God Bless Ken. Goodnight. You were one of the good guys.

You may or may not know (and may or may not care) tha tthe Birmingham Mail is being sold as a title. It currently belongs to Trinity Mirror, and this publisher has decided to sell, among other assets, it's Midland titles.
This initial announcement came in November last year, and the final stages are now being processed. This could see a formal change of ownership by September, and will result in a pretty instant property move and revealing of very modern publishing and multi-media plans.
Instead of being owned by a large plc with ultimate bosses in London, the paper will probably be owned by locally-based investors.
News on the eventual sale, ids of new owners and location of new property will all come out in the Autumn, but I will file snippets of info on this blog from time to time.

I do love it when readers get specifically involved with the rights and wrongs of the words/descriptions/headlines we use in the Birmingham Mail. Today I received this email: "May I complain at the use of the word 'executed' on pages 1 and 3 of todays paper [Tue July 3]. Surely the correct word is 'murdered'. My dictionary defines 'execution' as ' The act of....putting to death by law'. Mark Cowan's use of the incorrect word may almost imply some justification in the killing which I am sure was not intended! Regards, David Hidson". I think he's right, and my reply was: "Point taken, and thanks for the comment. We used the term to describe the style of the murder, but perhaps should have been more explanatory about that. Best regards. S"

I am not joking about this over-flirting nonsense on email. Take three examples from emails that arrived today:
1. 'thanks and much love from Susie' (first email from London pr I've never met)
2. 'you can't miss this chance for a great story, but I know you'll want to use it. Lunchtime treat with me buying if you do! Soniaxxxxxxxxx (constant email style from pr I have not met, but am inundated by
3. Make sure you are home by 6. R. (my wife.... hold on a minute, this should be slushy!!)
Am I alone feeling courted by strange women and neglected by partner on email?

What is this email world coming to?
I met a council pr theother week, for like two mins, and within a week she was sending me emails containing press releases. Fair enough, you say.
But what about her sign off? 'Luv Jacq xxxx' (not her real name!)
Does she love me? Is she realy throwing kisses?

Update for those who sympathised (thanks guys!)

Headache now waning, diet means can't have more than cereal so far today, but poss. curry beckons over lunch in favourite pub with columnist.... mebbe even a Bathams and scratchings.

There is life after brain ache.

Thank goodness this job means you have to converse with folk in comfy snugs.

It's a hard life as an editor. We sometimes HAVE to be out and about at functions, and last night both myself and Post editor Marc Reeves were pressing the flesh at 'Decadence', a rather fine bubbly and dining experience at the Mailbox in aid of the Get Ahead charity. The last time I saw him was very hazily at around midnight... But whereas sleepy Marc is able to lie in before arriving at work for the later shift enjoyed by the Post, yours truly was back at his desk for 7am, smiling to all, leading conference, proofing live pages, overseeing the p1 splash on a brothel found opposite schoolgates in Yardley, liaising with newspaper sales and generally being pukka, bright and cheery for the troops. Don't tell anyone, but behind that smile, my head aches...

A Government report last week praised the Mail for its Faiths in Our City columns, which gave platforms to ALL religious groups in the city. Apart from congratulations from many readers, one critic challenged us to reveal the racial mix of our staff, and the gender mix of our senior staff. I thought the answer I provided might be of interest to others.

Inquests are a legal inquiry into unnatural deaths, and are probably one of the most complained about areas of the newspaper's coverage.

At times, grieving relatives are furious that we have reported how their relative died of, say, alcohol abuse. Or a school is furious that we have reported on the claims of bullying that allegedly led to a pupil's suicide.

We, of course, answer all complaints, and a recent one involving a school as in the above case has to date involved a total of ten detailed letters from me to them, lawyers acting for them and, latterly, the the Press Complaints Commission responding to their formal complaint to that body.

A legal claim from three members of a family involved in police raids; a card from a reader requesting a Birmingham Mail from June 27 1942 to mark an anniversary; a thank you from a reader we'd sent vouchers to make up for getting a crossword question wrong; another thank you from a very grateful contact to whom we'd delivered a bunch of flowers; a cheque for £740 from charity darts players for the Mail's Charity Trust; an invite to a posh dinner; another invite to another posh dinner; and another; oh, and the paper to get out today as well....

The vagaries and vissictitudes of an editor's life, and the need for the woman's touch of being able to do more than one thing at once...

Fascinated by the ongoing debate on the elected mayors issue (all published in previous Birmingham Mails, but also interesting blogs and message boards at thestirrer.com)

All involved at the Mail are pleased that it has gathered interest, debate and discussion.

However, we are also keen for the Mail not to be misrepresented in any way.

Therefore, a few points spring to mind atm:

The internet is the future, it will make communications easier than ever, it is the answer to all our evils... or so some say.

But who and when and how will someone STOP the ability to send trash email? As an editor, what was initially a brilliant piece of communications equipment (and still is on many matters) has also turned into a nightmare of daily junk.

But as editor, you have to open most of it JUST IN CASE. It will be the death of me.... Any suggestions??

Many will have seen the bizarre story about house-hunters chasing an Edgbaston detached home for £53,500... because they read the old advert in our archive edition printed earlier this month to mark Villa's 25th anniversary of the European Cup. The house is, of course, now worth 10x that.

Well, it hasn't ended there. Today we've received £30+ in cheques for people wanting to take part in a Reader Travel offer of a Horse-drawn canal trip... again, it was an offer reprinted within the archive edition from 25 years ago!

Readers will never believe just how difficult it is to reproduce ‘archive’ editions from years gone by.

Yesterday the Mail inserted eight pages from 1981, from the day of Charles and Diana’s wedding, and the pomp, circumstance and regal pictures literally take you back in history. But it wasn’t just a click of a button that did this… there are no computer files from back in the days of hot metal. No, this was a careful and complicated effort of librarians, picture technicians and senior designers, photocopying, patching, cutting, pasting, scanning and enhancing.

But it was more than worth it, as those of you who bought yesterday’s Mail can see.

Amazing how sports stories and opinions sell so many newspapers. Take today: on the Baggies triumph we have a new column 'Boyden Biting His Nails', where Baggies fan and broadcaster Malcolm Boyden tells how nervous fans are "glowing like a glass-blowers' arse", and fellow-fan Adrian Goldberg asking 'Is the Premiership really worth it?'

And yet the strength of sports is ages old. Not wanting to brag about today's paper too much, but page three has snippets from two golden oldies... our 1957 Villa reporter Alan Smith musing on his memories of the 1957 FA Cup triumph, and 1982 Sports chief Leon Hickman remembering Rotterdam. Who said newspapers were dying!!?

PICTURE bill power is the buzz word on the Birmingham Mail's editorial floor today.

'Bills' are the posters we display outside newsagents on those A-boards, and also what we plaster all over vendors' boxes in town.

Our newspaper sales manager Gemma Tandy had the idea after seeing the dramatic picture earlier this week of the bus smash in Dudley. It sent a real buzz through the circulation department as they reckoned it would attract readers' attention more than just words.

EVER wondered what goes on behind the scenes of the Mail? Well with our new blog you'll get the chance to find out.

From time to time I'll be popping in to give you a glimpse behind the scenes of the Birmingham Mail and responding to your comments.