^

Global
21 October 2009

Co
m
to Coving
Uni

Journo
Debate

image source: worldjournalismincrisis.org

by Teodora Beleaga

W
orld renowned reporters, produc-
ers, editors, professional bloggers,
radio DJ’s and academics will gather
in Coventry on the 28th of October
in an attempt to answer the crafts’
currently most important question: “Is world jour-
nalism in crisis?”
The event is organised by senior journalism
lecturer John Mair on behalf of Coventry Univer-
sity and is sponsored by Richard Peel on behalf of
Camelot Plc and the industry’s essential website,
journalism.co.uk.

“superb line-up @journalismnews) and the entire event will be live

web-cast.”
from the industry The Humber Lecture Theatre will accommodate
speakers from four different continents (Europe,

on an extremely America, Africa and Asia), either in person or by

video-chat. Producer of the conference, John

timely subject”
Judith Townend, speaker for the event and re-
porter for journalism.co.uk said: “Journalism.co.uk
is thrilled to be supporting an event with such a
superb line-up from the industry on an extremely
timely subject. We’re looking forward to hearing a
global mix of views from the academics and jour-
nalists - and we’re especially interested to see if
there will be any crisis-deniers in their midst. The
interactive element is equally exciting: we’ll be
gathering audience questions via Twitter (follow
Mair confessed: “I am delighted. The big names
are coming to Coventry via modern technology
to discuss the big issues. This is exactly where a
modern university should be - at the heart of the
contemporary debate”.
The global conference starts at 2pm on the 28th
of October in the Humber Theatre. It is free and
open to all. For more details on speakers and reg-
istration please visit www.worldjournalismincrisis.
org .
Follow the Buzz for a Special Edition on the Con-
ference on the 29th of October 2009
 Jon Snow follows Murdoch’s
trend on news charge
by Teodora Beleaga
„„ Access to news content, espe-
cially professional journalistic content
posted on the internet should be paid
for, argued Jon Snow, Channel 4’s Face
of the News last week.
“Free news on the internet... I think
it’s fine; but if you are looking for very
high quality, specific information about
something, then you have to pay for it.”
said Snow at the Coventry Cathedral,
during a Coventry Conversation lecture
he lead as a visiting professor.
Jon Snow’s comment on charging
news on the internet follows a rather
intriguing craft’s trend set by the Mur-
dochs, especially in response to the
biggest news search engine, Google,
who gives anyone free access to read
the news. Google even created the
Google Reader, about two years ago,
in an attempt to make internet con-
Interested in Radio?
Being one of the presenters that
image source: bbc.co.uk
BBC’s Gideon Coe
by Diana Teodora Popovici
„„ Radio 6Music’s presenter, Gideon
Coe, starred at last Wednesday’s Coven-
try Conversation.
He shared with Coventry students a
few moments of his career as a sport
journalist, as well as a radio presenter.
He reminisced his Glastonbury days,
being sent there as a journalist, de-
scribing them as both fun and exhaust-
ing days.
picture courtesy of Pete Woodbridge
tent available and easy accessible to
everyone across the globe. However,
content quality is the main debat-
able issue on this matter. For the time
being, both Murdoch and Snow say a
fee would suggests a better quality.
Arguing that charging for content
on the internet will be the only way
journalists will still make a living in
the future, Snow thinks people will
find news subscriptions natural. “I Jon Snow speaking at the Cathedral
think there will always be free informa-
tion on the internet, but if you want Channel 4 news, very very little, maybe
guaranteed information, of high qual- 10 cents, 10p a night or 5p a night. A
ity, then I think you may have to pay million and a half 10ps will go a long
for it; and we will need you to pay for way, every night.” He pushed this
it, either wise we won’t be able to earn example even further commenting on
a living.” how critical the subscription fee would
Moving from paid for internet news be for journalists and media producers:
content to news on TV, Jon Snow said: “Seven million a week 10ps might keep
“I think actually people will pay for us alive.”
Just do it!
image source: wilsonhs.org
started worked with Radio 6Music
since its early beginnings, its “just
gone-digital” days, he still believes
there’s a future for radio, especially for
digital radio. As he puts it: “Digital radio
is an ever expandable field, because
one can create niches of types of listen-
ers”. The role of a radio like 6Music is
quite important, claims Coe, as “the
amount of music released these days
is huge and most of the good and you love it.”
talented artists get lost in the ocean of Coe admits that starting work with
releases”. 6Music captures those tunes a radio station can be difficult, so he
so that listeners can enjoy them and recommends students to: “Go where
good-artists don’t have to suffer. you can, do what you can, often for no
For Coventry students he recom- money. BBC radio might be hard to get
mended working in radio only for into, but commercial radios such as
those really interested in doing radio: Kerrang! for example, which is based in
“You shouldn’t go to work for a radio Birmingham, should also be taken into
just for the sake of it... you should go if account.”
The student and staff newsletter of the Media and
Communications department of Coventry School
of Art and Design
Edited by Teo Beleaga
Submissions invited to teo.beleaga@gmail.com
With many thanks to Pete Woodbridge, Diana Popovici
and John Mair.