To quote a housemate: “It’s all kicking off!”
Well not really, but for me things are getting interesting. Issue 6 of The Linc has been sent to the printers. Hurrah. It has a very controversial lead story which I’m nervously excited about. But then that’s what it’s all about, I guess.
Dissertation is coming along rather slowly, but as if by magic, Andrew Gilligan has decided to talk at length about his role in the whole David Kelly affair. I’m yet to build a firm opinion on Gilligan, but when reading this post from Adrian Monck, I find myself instinctively disagreeing, so I’m fairly confident that Gilligan is a man to look up to as a great journalist.
Another ‘celebrity’ journalist that is back in the news this last week or so is Alan Johnston. I bought his book today. It’s a bit tiny, but it only cost a few quid, so I’m happy. It feels more like a pocket survival guide than a real book though — it’s small enough to slip into your back pocket as emergency reading in case you’re, erm, kidnapped or something. But I bet it’s a great read. I’m a great admirer of Alan.
I’ve also been looking to graduation and beyond. Plans are being put in place for myself and three very dear friends to move to the big smoke next September. Tentatively titled the ‘Gropalob’*, our house will be one full of journalists. Hire us all, please.
And the most exciting news regards a trip to New Zealand. The more astute of you may have noticed a comment left by a gentleman named Jim Tucker, a journalism lecturer with immense experience currently teaching at Whitireia Community Polytechnic. He has invited me over to help them set up an online course for their students, and to help them teach it also. As well as this, I’ll be conducting workshops for media professionals. Jim has some very ambitious but very achievable goals for my trip. I will, of course, be blogging while I’m out there.
I’m very excited. I can hardly believe this oppurtunity has arisen, but I’m keen to fling myself at it full-force. I feel I can contribute a great deal to the teaching of online journalism, and a trip so far from home for the two months or so planned will build me as a person. Every person I’ve asked about NZ has noted what a wonderful place it is. Like England, they say, but much more relaxed. Can’t be bad.
I’ll be putting together some ideas for what would make a good online journalism course. Paying particular attention to, of course, everything written by Mindy McAdams. I’m looking forward to adding my own slant on things.
In other news, Andrea from the official Cambridge United website got in touch yesterday asking if I’d like to contribute to the site. It’s odd, isn’t it, how certain ‘jobs’ get you excited. When Andrea’s email landed in my inbox I had that cracking little “AH FANTASTIC!” feeling that I’m sure all journalists can relate to, even though, in the scheme of things, free work for a non-league football club won’t advance my career by leaps and bounds. However, it’s CAMBRIDGE UNITED. There is no better task than watching your favourite football team and then writing about them. Wonderful stuff.
I do feel all my journalism-related work is a labour of love at the moment. Long may it continue.
* A mixture of nicknames: Danny lives in ‘The Grove’. Gemma and Laura live in ‘The Palace’. I live in the ‘HOB’ (which stands for House of Bollocks. Long story). Together they make Gropalob. Impressed? I sure hope so!
“I find myself instinctively disagreeing” – come on Dave – what are your grounds!
To be honest … I have no idea yet! I’ll get back to you. Although on first thoughts, I think Gilligan took a very gutsy move by breaking the Iraq Dossier story. After all, the allegations were pretty much spot on.
From Richard Norton-Taylor’s review of Norman Baker’s book:
Baker points to an incident during Kelly’s appearance before the Commons foreign affairs committee shortly before he died. Kelly was unsettled, the author agrees, by a detailed question from the Liberal Democrat MP David Chidgey, about a conversation the weapons expert had with the Newsnight science editor, Susan Watts. Kelly evaded the question, thus misleading the committee.
Kelly “would be exposed as less than truthful, something that went strongly against his personal ethic”, writes Baker. “He thus took a sudden decision to end it all.” This, according to him, is the “most plausible” explanation for Kelly’s suicide. Surprisingly, what he does not say is that Kelly was asked about Watts after Chidgey had been briefed by Gilligan. The question, which Kelly was to remark later had “totally thrown him”, contained material that Gilligan had supplied in an email to Chidgey. The Hutton inquiry was told that such email priming by Gilligan of Chidgey was unprecedented and “highly inappropriate”. Baker passes over this.
Interesting, Adrian. Will get myself a copy of the Baker’s book to give it a read.
Starting to wonder if my dissertation should just be on the Hutton Inquiry alone (it’s currently just a chapter).
Anyway, cheers for your info. I’m about to start writing a post about my thoughts on Gilligan, but it’s late so I may not finish it for a little while.