Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) – Page 44 – Slugger O'Toole

Johnston Press plan for survival: Social, Local, Mobile

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on April 17, 2012, 9:36 am

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The man who launched the BBC iPlayer on-demand service, who then jumped ship into Project Kangaroo before bouncing into Microsoft as a VP for UK Consumer and Online landed as the CEO of Johnston Press on 1 November 2011. Yesterday Ashley Highfield announced his plans to improve the viability of Johnston Press’ stable of 18 daily and 245 weekly newspapers, along with their 273 local websites, taking five daily papers weekly by the end of May. Long term, he sees …

Belfast Telegraph to drop evening edition, while News Letter may (not) go weekly?

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on April 16, 2012, 9:53 pm

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Six weeks ago I posted about the continued decline in the circulation of local newspapers. Amongst the stable of Belfast dailies, the ABC figures for July-December 2011 showed that the Belfast Telegraph had lost 8.1% (4,270 copies) compared to the same period in 2010, and 9.4% (5,548 copies) when compared to the first six months of 2011. In fact, when free and discounted copies were taken out of the figures – eg, the copies that you find in hotels, airline …

The Imperfectionists (Tom Rachman) – an insight into a newspaper that’s maybe not so fictional

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on April 16, 2012, 9:00 am

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The Imperfectionists (Tom Rachman) book cover

‘news’ is often a polite way of saying ‘editor’s whim’ Given the shift from print to online and e-ink, maybe Tom Rachman’s The Imperfectionists was a suitable first first book for me to finish reading on the Kindle. Considering the economic pressures on the newspaper industry, his novel perhaps captures the spirit and soul of a trade that is spinning down the plug hole, soon never to be seen again: a Lake Wobegon of the newspaper trade, complete with its …

Who’s marching, where and when? And when is a parade a feeder parade?

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on April 14, 2012, 3:34 pm

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Balmoral Review poster

In the Belfast Telegraph, Brian Rowan picks up on Jackie McDonald’s comments about the Balmoral Review on May 19. Answering a question from a delegate in the Future of Loyalism panel at the Political Studies Association conference in Belfast, the senior UDA leader had referred to loyalist groups taking part in the parade and questioned whether Short Strand residents would feel threatened as the parade passed by. Jackie McDonald has confirmed that he will be marching after all, “as a …

Orange Order trials new sponsored uniform?

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on April 13, 2012, 3:01 pm

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Fanta promotion crew outside Victoria Square

Captions? Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast)Alan Meban. Tweets as @alaninbelfast. Blogs about cinema and theatre over at Alan in Belfast. A freelancer who writes about, reports from, live-tweets and live-streams civic, academic and political events and conferences. He delivers social media training/coaching; produces podcasts and radio programmes; is a FactCheckNI director; a member of Ofcom’s Advisory Committee for Northern Ireland; and a member of the Corrymeela Community. alaninbelfast.blogspot.com

How could Carson attend a Covenant commemoration? Bring the rally to Stormont!

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on April 10, 2012, 9:50 pm

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Northern Ireland Parliament Buildings - Edward Carson statue

While the County Grand Orange Lodge of Belfast will be marching to Ormeau Park in May, the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland are going one better later in the year. As the rhyme might go: Oh, the grand old Duke of York Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland, He had ten thousand quite a lot of men; He marched them up to the top of the Hill, And he marched them down again. That’s right. Edward Carson’s statue in front of …

Balmoral Review – fireworks, food, funfair, parades and speeches

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on April 10, 2012, 8:30 am

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Balmoral Review poster

Jackie McDonald’s remarks at the Political Studies Association conference about the Orange Order’s planned parade to Ormeau Park in May stirred up a lot of comments on Slugger. Answering a question after his speech, the former UDA prisoner painted a vision of “the UVF in the Somme gear” and “antique motors with the machine guns on them and all the paramilitary flags” passing by parts of Short Strand behind the Orange lodges and bands. On Easter Tuesday 1912, a large …

John Bercow: What should a 21st century Parliament look like?

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on April 5, 2012, 10:34 pm

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Political Studies Association

The Speaker of the House of Commons was omni-present on the last day of the Political Studies Association conference. After a morning session with NICVA, a post lunchtime session on engagement and impact, he wrapped up the conference by delivering the closing lecture. School children studying politics packed the room, more than making up for conference delegates who had left for early flights. listen to ‘John Bercow: What should a 21st century Parliament look like?’ on Audioboo In asking “what …

Analysing government-media relations in NI

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on April 5, 2012, 9:19 pm

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Political Studies Association

University of Ulster academics presented a paper on Tuesday which will interest local politicians, media and onlookers when it is published in a journal at a later date. Power, trust and accountability: relationships between government communicators and journalists in Northern Ireland. (Charis Rice, Ian Somerville and John Wilson) I spoke to Charis Rice at the close of this week’s Political Studies Association conference and she explained that she has been interviewing key department officials as well as key politicians to …

Mr Speaker, the Lord Speaker, and no chance of a job swap with Willie Hay!

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on April 5, 2012, 5:31 pm

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Political Studies Association

NICVA organised a fringe event at the last day of the Political Studies Conference in Belfast. Representatives from voluntary and community groups had a change to listen to and question the Speakers of the Houses of Commons and Lords, and think through ways in which they could contribute to a healthy democracy. listen to ‘Mark Shepherd from @stratagemni – political structures overview’ on Audioboo Stratagem’s Mark Shepherd – who’s a reputation for being able to explain d’Hondt – first gave …

McGuinness: “open to using new language, and consider making new compromises”

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on April 5, 2012, 9:00 am

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Political Studies Association

The deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness spoke last night before the Political Studies Association conference dinner in the plush surroundings of Belfast City Hall. He initially covered the mandatory tourism information, quoting travel guides that say “Belfast is a must see city in 2012” and adding that “Derry city – or as some people call it Londonderry – is a must see city in 2013”. During his twenty minute address he mentioned the “tiny number of militarists who delude themselves …

Jackie McDonald questions Orange Order Covenant parade taking motorised machine guns past Short Strand

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on April 5, 2012, 8:24 am

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Political Studies Association

The Future of Loyalism session at the Political Studies Association conference started with two academics – Jim McAuley and Graham Spencer – introducing the Political Studies Association delegates to loyalism, loyalist themes and transformation efforts so far. Rev Chris Hudson – who acted as a conduit between the Irish Government and the UVF – spoke about his journey. [Click on their names to hear their 10 minute introductions.] Finally, Jackie McDonald – introduced as a former UDA prisoner – spoke …

Parking ticket post code lottery

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on April 4, 2012, 10:10 am

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portion of The Detail's parking enforcement map

Continuing the development of data journalism across at The Detail, Kathryn Torney this morning published details of where parking tickets have been issued. DRD – and their contractors NSL (formerly NCP) – have always been keen to explain that the commercial contract is about keeping streets safe and traffic free-flowing, rather than being based around revenue targets. And this story confirms this. … figures we obtained from the Department for Regional Development (DRD) show that the cost of enforcement has …

#PSA12 Conference preview and liveblog (Wednesday)

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on April 4, 2012, 8:30 am

| Readers 46

Political Studies Association

Day two in the Big Brother house Europa Hotel, and the Political Studies Association conference has another full day planned. Throughout the conference, a liveblog will capture tweets (hashtag #psa12) and photos and links to what’s happening. (You can also catch a quick round up of some of yesterday’s events in a previous post.) Prof Monica McWilliams will chair the Consociational Theory and Powersharing in Northern Ireland keynote plenary this afternoon, with contributions from Proj John McGarry (Canada), Prof Brendad …

Round up of Tuesday’s Political Studies Association conference

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on April 3, 2012, 11:52 pm

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Political Studies Association

If you want to get a flavour of the proceedings at the Political Studies Association conference on its opening day, then the Storify collation below will bring you some of the images, tweets and sounds of the day. Particular highlights included: the Opening Plenary with David Blunkett, Peter Riddell and Matthew Flinders; and the late afternoon Northern Ireland Roundtable in which Malachi O’Doherty, Conall McDevitt and Peter Weir agreed on many things, while Katy Hayward was questioning, and Lord Paul …

Media, politics and influence in the 19th and 21st centuries

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on April 3, 2012, 4:49 pm

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Political Studies Association

It’s hard to talk about politics without the media encroaching on the conversation. In an after lunch session entitled Media, politics and influence three speakers presented papers that looked at a range of topics. Carole O’Reilly is a historian at University of Salford and talked about the influence (and funding) from municipal councillors that created some 19th century English local newspapers and filled them with content … and yet revelled in reporting ‘combative’ local elections, and printed strong criticism of …

In Defence of Politics, Politicians and Political Science: Blunkett, Riddell and Flinders

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on April 3, 2012, 2:54 pm

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Political Studies Association

The PSA conference started this morning with an opening plenary involving three big hitters – one each from the world of politics, media and academia: In Defence of Politics, Politicians and Political Science. Each speaker’s 10 minute remarks are worth a listen. listen to ‘David Blunkett’s opening remarks at Political Studies Conterence opening plenary’ on Audioboo Echoing his earlier comments in a Good Morning Ulster interview, David Blunkett MP spoke about the odd political situation in Westminster. Issues of recent …

#PSA12 Conference liveblog (Tuesday)

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on April 3, 2012, 7:35 am

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Political Studies Association

The Europa Hotel lobby was busy yesterday with Irish World Dancing Championship participants rubbing shoulders [Ed – and ringlets] and Political Studies Association conference delegates. The former had ringlets, the latter carried conference guides! Prof Paul Carmichael from the University of Ulster is co-convening the conference. listen to ‘In Defence of Politics’ on Audioboo Throughout the conference, a liveblog will capture tweets (hashtag #psa12) and photos and links to what’s happening in the Europa. This morning the main PSA 2012 …

“In defence of politics” – the Political Studies Association conference in Belfast this week #psa12

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on April 2, 2012, 8:30 am

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Political Studies Association

The Political Studies Association annual conference is back in Belfast this week for the first time in 17 years. Hundreds academics from the UK, Ireland, Europe and beyond will congregate in the Europa Hotel for three days of speakers, workshops, dining and visiting Belfast’s sights. They’ll be joined by a smattering of politicians and commentators. The conference’s theme is In Defence of Politics, apt given the questioning of politicians honesty, integrity and leadership over recent years, together with the political …

Cross-party support building for Tooth Commission

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on April 1, 2012, 8:30 am

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Image of tooth decay - by Dozenist (original) — Lycaon (this one) - from Wikimedia Commons

Monday’s Irish News is expected to lead shocking statistics about variations in childhood dental health, including details of greater numbers of teeth falling out from children attending CCMS primary schools than those in the state sector. The leaked draft is believed to be an early version of the final report which is due to be shared with Assembly members of the Health committee on Monday morning, and will be followed by a statement to the full Assembly by the Health …