Harrow Special Feature – Live Rolling News All Day

Today we are pleased to announce a very special edition of The Quickie.  We will be revealing six exclusive stories of local importance and will be running them with live updates.  

The first update will be at 12.00.

Team Quickie x

12.00 update…

Below is a list of the stories that will be covered in The Quickies first ever live ‘Harrow Special Feature’:

• Is snow to blame?
• The long road to an easy degree?
• Abandoned abroad?
• Is university campus a credit crunch haven?
• Does Wesminster University need Jamie Oliver’s help?
• Expressing yourself, or out of control? Fashion at Westminster University.

We will be bringing you more news as we receive  it. TQ x

Abandoned abroad

On hearing the conclusion of the first trial in the Meredith Kercher case, students worldwide have begun to wonder whether they are at risk in a foreign land.

After interviewing a handful of international students at Westminster University, some details are coming together of how safe they feel in the UK…

Is Snow to blame?

What is going on with London Transport?

The usual surge of people flooded out of Northwick Park Station this morning.

However, many of the students and lecturers at the University of Westminster were running up to an hour late because of the train delays on the Metropolitan line.

After last night’s snow, travellers were quick to blame the cruel weather for their delayed journeys.

One irate 3rd year student exclaimed “I’m an hour late. It’s ridiculous!”

Does Westminster Uni need Jamie Oliver’s help?

Student nutrition

 

Most students spoken to at Wesminster University agree that they try to keep healthy by watching what they eat. The 5 fruit and vegetables a day target is a common aim. However is the canteen at the University doing enough to make healthy eating possible?

What seems to be preventing them from success, is the expense and variety of food available.

Laura James – laura.james@my.westminster.ac.uk

Is university campus a credit crunch haven?

While the whole country seems to be in financial meltdown, the Students of Westminster University are still living the high life.

Why are they not affected?

The majority of students have made no changes to their spending whatsoever, although it seems to be because they have jobs as well as loans to fund them.

 

 

 

Top 5 Student Splurges

• Alcohol
• Clothes/Shoes
• Takeaways
• Renting DVDs
• Petrol

 

by A. Murphy

alexandra.murphy@my.westminster.ac.uk

The Long Road To An Easy Degree

While students across the country struggle to cope with tuition fees, work and life, major public figures are being gifted with free honorary degrees.

Among the list of Westminster University honourees are civil liberties activist and broadcaster Shami Chakrabarti CBE and Time Bevan CBE, to name a few.

Is it fair for students to have to pay so much for degrees, when the university hands them out for free.

Expressing yourself, or out of control? Fashion at Westminster University.

Do Arty Universities, like Westminster, set new trends?

Westminster has an eclectic mix of styles inspired by young edgy designers like Henry Holland, magazines and other students.

The styles range from the original to the Avant-Garde. Most students dress for themselves and according to how they feel.

The campus is full of new trends waiting to be discovered. We are going on a fashion reporting tour today. More coming soon.

by Anastasia Porret

Congo Crisis Background

The Democratic Republic of Congo is trying to recover from its five year long war, dubbed “Africa’s World War,” which involved seven countries and devastated the entire region.

The war officialy ended in 2003, however peace talks seems to have had no affect on the rebel forces continuing to kill thousands of people, resulting in one of the worst humanitarian crisis’ the world ever witnessed.

The war is directly connected to the genocide in neighbouring Rwanda in 1994, where nearly 800,000 Tutsi and some Hutu were slaughtered by the Hutu government.

Rwanda’s post war Tutsi government then invaded Congo in 1996 to pursue the Hutu militia. Rwanda then installed the rebel leader Laurent Kabilaas president, who then started stirring up hatred for the Tutsi in Congo.

This triggered off the war which raged from 1998 to 2003, and involved Angola, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Uganda.   

Peace Talks

In 2001 Kabila was assassinated, his son Joseph gained power and soon began peace talks, which are still in place today, but are on very unstable with talks of outbreaks of violence across the Congo.

The largest UN peacekeeping force is stationed in Congo with 17,000 troops, and the International Criminal Court in The Hague launching inquiries into investigating war crimes.

The task of keeping control in country the size of western Europe,  lacking even the most basic infrastructure and troops having to use jungle paths and rivers as their paths.

Also with dozens of groups, heavily armed, and some reportedly being backed by the Rwandan or the Ugandan governments or powerful politicians, it seems almost impossible to keep the peace.

Humanitarian Crisis

According to the International Rescue Committee, since the start of Africa’s War, some 5.4 million people have died from violence or war related illness since 1998.

Militias regularly target civilian men, and women, children and thousands of families are in a constant battle for their lives.

Aid agencies say rape is endemic in regions where militias are a constant occurrence. They live to brutalise villagers and loot, and the very old an very young are the worst affected.

More than 340,000 Congolese are displaced from their homes and have taken refuge across the region, although some are beginning to make their way home.

Sarah Nicholas (s.nicholas@my.westminster.ac.uk)

For the main article click here:  http://therealquickie.wordpress.com/2008/11/02/congo-refugees-promised-help/

Inherited Conditions; The Plight of Africa’s Albinos.

Inherited Conditions; The Plight of Africa’s Albinos.

The word “albinism” refers to a group of inherited conditions. People with Albinism have little or no pigment in their eyes, skin or hair. They have inherited altered genes that do not make the usual amounts of a pigment called melanin. Albinism affects people from all races. Most children with alninism are born to parents who have normal hair and eye color for their ethnic backgrounds.  Sometimes people so not recognise that they have albinism, a common myth is that people with alninism have red eyes. In fact there are different types of albinism and the amoun of pigment in the eyes varies. Although some individuals with albinism have reddish or violet eyes, most have blue eyes.  Whatever the eye color, all Albinos have associated vision problems.

 

Vision Problems:

People with Albinism always have problems with their vision which are not correctable, and many have low vision. The degree of vision impairment varies with the different types of Albinism and many people with Albinism are legally blind, yet can read, and do not require Braille. Some people with albinism have sufficient vision to drive a car. Vision problems in albinism result from the abnormal development of the retinal and abnormal patterns of nerve connections between the eye and the brain. It is the presence of these eye problems that defines the diagnosis of albinism. Therefore the main test for albinism is an eye exam.

 

Medical Problems:

I n the Western world, most people with Albinism live normal life spans, and have the same type of medical problems as the rest of the population.  In tropical countries, those who do not use skin protection may develop life-threatening skin cancers, and if they use skin protection, sich as sunscreens with an SPF of 20 or higher and wear opaque clothing, people with albinism can enjoy the outdoors even in summer.

People with albinism are at risk of isolation because of their condition is often misunderstood. Social stigmatization can occur, especially within communities of color, where the race or paternity of a person with albinism may be questioned. Families and schools MUST make a effort not to exclude children with albinism from groups. Contact between Albinos is of the utmost importance.  And there are a number of website with links to social networking opportunities.

 By Quinn Gormley quinngormley@yahoo.co.uk

 

The Abolishment of Tanzania’s Albinos

The Abolishment of Tanzania’s Albinos

Since March 2008 over 25 Albino people have been murdered in Tanzania according to a recent BBC survey.

Albinos are targeted for body parts that are used in witchcraft, and killings continue despite government efforts to stamp out the witch hunt that is going on in Tanzania.

The Occult

Sorcery, witchcraft, and the occult have a firm grip on the people in this corner of Africa, especially in the rural areas. There is also very little public awareness around the issue of Albinism.

Tanzania’s albinos are not just hiding from the sun, but from their fellow countrymen. There seems to be a strong belief within the general population that Albinos organs, blood, hair and hands, when mixed into a potion can make a person rich.  Albinos in Tanzania are also subjected to widespread social discrimination which are fuelled by powerful myths such as: Albinos are evil or a curse from God and will bring bad luck on a household, that Albinos never die – they just vanish, Albinos are the offspring of a relationship between a white man and a black woman, and that Albinism is a contagious disease.  

Babies Being Murdered

According to the BBC, there have been reports of babies being murdered and people having their limbs hacked off in the light of day as they go about their business.

Albinism affects one in 20,000 people worldwide, but the number of Albinos in Tanzania is much higher than the reset of the world.  Underthesamesun.com states that in Europe it is estimated that 1 in 20,000 have some form of albinism, yet in Tanzania it is 5 times as common, with 1 in 4,000 being affected.

According to the Albino Association there are  more than 4,000 albinos registered with them. Although the Association has speculation that there could be as many as 173,000 Albinos living in Tanzania today.

Albino MP

All is not lost for Tanzania’s Albinos.  In April of this year, Al-Shymaa-Kway-Geer was nominated by the President of the country as an MP. With the goal of bring attention to the issues surrounding Albinos is this discriminatory country.

The oddest thing about the killings in Tanzania are how they appear to be a Tanzanian issue, as there have been no reports of the same sort of behaviour from neighbouring countries.

This is an issue that not only questions Tanzania’s societal norms but its government’s inability to hammer out the persecution of select members of its society.

One thing that Albinos do have working for them, is Al-Shymaa-Kway-Geer and more and more widespread out cry on this shocking issue.

If you are interested in further information about the genetic condition of Albinos, please click here.

By Quinn Gormley quinngormley@yahoo.co.uk 

Fashion Politics: the First Ladies who led the way

Style reflects politics. White House fashion has led the way for more and more daring yet respected, styles. Let us look at three influential First Ladies who have preceded Michelle Obama on the First Lady of Fashion list.

The personal style of a president’s wife has become a major part in establishing his likability and power, the Telegraph has reported after the elections.

Keren Eldad, New York fashion manager of the Los Angeles Times, commented on Mrs Obama’s style saying: she “gets it. She IS a modern woman, she has fun with fashion, she embraces life with fury and grace”.

Who led the way:

• Jackie Kennedy

Jackie Kennedy Onassis (1921-1994) was the first celebrated political fashion icon. She became, at 31, one of the youngest First Ladies in history.

Respected for her grace and glamour, she effortlessly created a signature look that has inspired the White House ever since.

Jackie Kennedy’s style has been constantly referred to, during the last American elections, with many suggestions that Mrs. Obama has been paying a fashion homage to some of Mrs Kennedy’s iconic styles.

• Nancy Reagan

The wife of optimistic President Ronald Reagan (1911-2004) reflected through grace and style, the Reagan politics of the 1980s.

Although favoring a very traditional and sober style, Mrs. Reagan went on to become an American Couture style icon.

The first lady’s famed pieces include dresses by Herrera, Oscar de la Renta, Bill Blass, Valentino and Yves Saint Laurent.

Her refined style was celebrated last year in an exhibition at the Reagan Library in California, recounting the Reagan legacy through Nancy’s elegance.

• Carla Bruni

The First Lady of France has been widely talked about after she married President Nicolas Sarkozy, in February 2008.

The 40 year old, ex-model and singer is known for her sophisticated taste and fashion style.

She has been voted one of the best dressed women of the year by Vanity Fair, and was heralded a new princess Diana by Gordon Brown, during a state visit to London in April of this year.

The Italian-born Mrs. Sarkozy epitomizes a young, yet refined style that breaks with the cautious fashions previously favored by First Ladies.

by Anastasia Porret, amadeo_ld@hotmail.co.uk

Click here for main article on Michelle Obama’s First Lady fashion

A Snapshot on the New President Elects Views

A Snapshot on the New President Elects Views

Barack Obama’s political views are as diverse as the cross section of people who voted for him. On some subjects Mr. Obama can come across as relatively conservative, such as NAFTA, an agreement he wants renegotiated, as he deems the agreement detrimental to US jobs. Yet, it’s the same agreement that has given Mexican and Canadian people and companies’ greater opportunity to do business with the US. In contrast to his views on NAFTA, Mr. Obama’s views on illegal immigration are conclusive, and includes a clearly defined pathway for illegal immigrants to eventually receive citizenship.

Topically Taxation

On the topic of taxation, Obama would plans to implement a clearly defined plan that would cut taxes for middle class families. Any family making over $250,000 would not see the benefit of the tax breaks, which is a complete departure from the workings of the Bush Administration, and would provide three times as many tax breaks for middle class families that McCain would have planned too.

Health Care Hysteria

Health care is another area that the new president elect won votes. He plans to implement a form of universal health care, a system of health care never seen before in the US. 47 million Americans are uninsured in the US. And statistics show that over $15 billion is spent annually to care for the uninsured. Mr. Obama blames cost as the main reason so many American’s are without health insurance. The new president would like to see affordable health care for all citizens of the US, which he believes should be paid for by insurance reforms, cutting costs, taking drug patents away from pharmaceutical companies, and require, as here in the UK, employers to contribute to the universal health care system. The most sane part of this healthy insurance reform would be to provide health insurance that would be mandatory for children.

NAFTA, illegal immigration, and health care reforms are just some of the issues that helped win the new president elect his seat in office. But with a looming, and growing financial crisis on the horizon, will he able to implement such radical changes in four short years?

Quinn Gormley quinngormley@yahoo.co.uk

Background: Obama and the puppy

The recent focus on Obama’s pledge to buy his two young daughters a new puppy is perhaps further evidence of the sensationalism of the US elections which have only recently finished.

Democrat Barrack Obama, 47, was elected 44th president of the United States this week, after months of campaigning against Republican John McCain 72. Obama won 53% of the popular vote, and his victory also makes him the first black president to be elected in the country.

Public image

Various elements of Obama’s private life have been the subject of debate. With some controversy surrounding his personal life, such as that of his rumoured cigarette smoking, Obama has counteracted many of these doubts by presenting himself with a family-orientated ‘everyman’ image, which created appeal for the average American.

The promise of buying his daughters a puppy not only adds another positive element to his public image, but has also reimbursed interest in the Whitehouse’s long history of presidential pets.

Presidential pets

Many of the presidents in the US’s history have incorporated pets as a part of their image.

Richard Nixon famously generated sympathy in 1952, when he was accused of accepting $18,000 is illegal campaign contributions. Nixon denied that any of the money went into his personal assets, although he claimed the only contribution which he accepted was an American cocker spaniel, given the affectionate name ‘Checkers’ by his daughter. Nixon managed to keep his place as running mate to Eisenhower, and the dog is still famously associated with him.

All but two US presidents are recorded as owning pets at some point during their Whitehouse residency, and the pets often recieve great attention from the American media. Indeed photographs of current president George W. Bush’s pet dogs frequently make their way into American magazines and newspapers. It could be argued that the public display of pets seeks to give each president a down to earth, humane image.

Family man

During Obama’s acceptance speech, the discussion of the puppy followed one of many questions put forward about his personal life. The new president also mentioned how it was one of the most talked about issues on his website. He perhaps jokingly, called the subject of the dog, a ‘major issue’. Obama was also asked about schooling for his daughter at the time.

The story of the puppy has been featured in the media in the days following the election, and will no doubt continue when the Obamas finally purchase a puppy.

By Sam Gournay

Main article

Barack Eyes up the Oval Office

Barack Eyes up the Oval Office

According to Barack Obama, the US is facing the “greatest economic challenge of our lifetime”.  He was speaking on Friday, attempting to make Americans feel more secure about their choice about the new President. He assured the citizens of the world’s largest country that he would deal with the economic problems as soon as he was in office.

Game Face

Obama’s game plan is simple; he said to reporters on Friday “We’re going to have act swiftly to resolve it”. This was a speech Obama made with his new chief of staff Rahm Emanuel standing with him, showing the US a front of strength, and courage. He was in Chicago speaking to some of the US’s top business leaders, economists and officials. This was Mr. Obama’s first news conference since the winning the US presidential on Tuesday November 4^th.

Rescue Plan

As soon as the new president was elected he met with his 17 member economic transition board to talk about the financial troubles affecting the world’s economies. Obama has asked his team to work out some new plans to assist the beleaguered car manufacturers.  Mr. Obama also wants his team to create a ‘rescue plan’ for the middle classes. He would like to see more jobs created, and provide a financial break for the countries lowest earners.

Meeting his Predecessor

Barack Obama plans to meet the current president George W. Bush shortly and has plans to work closely with the current president to ensure a smooth transition.

Needed Stimulus Package

Obama and is hoping to discuss in detail a “long overdue” stimulus package with Bush. A package that he would like to see actioned before he takes his seat in office.  According to the latest figures from the US Labour Department, there were 240,000 fewer jobs in October. A shocking statistic. Barack Obama would like to see an extension of unemployment benefits to see the mammoth country and economy through these financially trying times. This latest statistic from the US Labor Department will come as a shock to economists and citizens alike. Unemployment is up from 6.1 percent to 6.5 percent. A figure American society hasn’t seen since 1994.

Shocking Statistics

These statistics are not unfounded. Ford has published a loss of $219 million and had to publicize that it will be cutting 10 percent of its Canadian/American work force by the end of January. This news came on the same day that General Motors announced it could run out of cash in 2009 as it lost $2.5 billion in the last quarter.

Barack Obama has overcome a minefield of barriers to get to where he is today. The question is, facing this flailing economy, could his biggest battle be yet to come.

If you want further information, please click here.

Quinn Gormley quinngormley@yahoo.co.uk

 

Background to Paula Radcliffe: Highs and Lows

Paula Radcliffe impressed us all with her win at this years New York Marathon.

 

Competing on one of the toughest marathon courses, her 3^rd New York City title was a positive result after her set-back at the Beijing Olympics.

 

Since the win she has shown a new craving for the London 2012 Olympics, admitting, “I know the odds probably get less each time, but my whole philosophy is ‘keep trying, keep persevering and keep going back there’”.

 

Past it?

 

She will be 38 years-old when the London Olympics come around but refuses to accept that she is too old to compete for medals, “I do believe that I still have the chance to have another shot in 2012.”

 

Many have speculated that she has had her running hay-days. After all, she has achieved nearly 20 gold medals since she began her running career in 1992 and is planning to have her second child by 2011.

 

Mary Wittenberg, the race director for the New York marathonbelieves that Radcliffe is an asset to the sport, “Last year Paula’s win, after having Isla only 10 months before, had a ripple effect throughout New York City and beyond.”

 

However, there have been occasions where her turbulent career has led to doubt among her of her British fans.

 

The criticism she faced from the media, especially after she retired from a race at the 2004 Athens Olympics, took aback.

 

In an interview with the Independent she reflects back on the negative attention, “it helped me to toughen up and not to waste time and energy worrying about what critics think and say.”

 

Highs and Lows

 

Her determination has always been indisputable, with her significant victories in winning eight marathons over-shadowing her failures to medal in track events during the last decade.

 

However, her achievements at world-class level have been blighted by discouraging performances that have seen her miss out on medaling.

                                                                                                                                     

Radcliffe in Tears at Beijing. Courtesy of Daily Mail.co.uk

 

Pivotal Defeats

Missed out on an Olympic medal coming 4th in the 10000m at Sydney 2000

Failed to finish at Athens 2004

Failed to medal in Beijing 2008, 23rd place in 10,000m

 

In the past, photographs of the tear stained long-distance runner have emerged, capturing Radcliffe’s defeat, but the London 2012 Olympics can expect to forget them.

 

BBC commentator Brendan Foster agrees with Radcliffe, “I believe she could be Britain’s best hope for a gold medal in 2012.”

 

Foster realizes her last two Olympic performances were heartbreaking, but sees her lack of racing in athletic events as a bonus.

“She’s barely raced in the last three years and I think this could be a blessing in disguise.”

 

Proving them wrong

Radcliffe is determined to maintain her world-class status by focusing all her energies on preparation for 2012.

 

Ingrid Kristiansen, the former Norwegian record-breaking marathon runner warns of the dangers in ‘over-training’, advising “If she wants to win in London, I am afraid she cannot keep going with so much training for four more years without having a lot of injuries”.

 

Radcliffe has spent her life proving people wrong; this years New York marathon, in the world championships in Helsinki, in New York three years ago after the disaster of the Athens Olympics.

 

Hopefully 2012 will bring the success the MBE athlete craves.

Elinor D. Davies (elinor.d.davies@my.westminster.ac.uk)

 

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Obama’s promise to bring change to the Whitehouse – and a puppy

Newly elected American president Barack Obama has not only promised to bring change to America, but also to buy his daughters a new puppy.

Prior to the elections, the Democrat promised his daughters Malia, 9, and Sasha, 6, that he would buy them a puppy, regardless of whether he won or lost the campaign. ‘The deal breaker is getting a dog’ said Obama

‘Two criteria’

‘Their whole thing is after the campaign, win or lose, they will get a dog. Sometimes I worry they’re rooting for me to lose so they can get their dog quicker.’ he joked.

However, during his presidential acceptance speech, the new president brought up the ‘issue’ again, contemplating just which type of dog he was looking for.

‘We have two criteria that have to be reconciled,’ Obama said. ‘One is that Malia is allergic so it has to be hypoallergenic.’

‘Mutt like me’

Obama expressed interest in adopting a dog from a shelter, calling it a ‘major issue’.

‘A lot of shelter dogs are mutts, like me’ he added, referencing his election as the first black and mixed race candidate in American history to win the role of president.

‘Whether we’re going to be able to balance those two things, I think, is a pressing issue on the Obama household.’

Obama’s devotion to supporting his family has been subject of media attention, and his ‘everyman’ image has no doubt had an effect on his popularity.

Legacy of pets

The dog, however, would not be the first at the Whitehouse, when it is expected to arrive with the family in January. Of the 44 presidents the country has had, including Obama, only two left no records of ever having pets.

Dogs have been a staple of Whitehouse pets, with President George W. Bush owning three dogs, Barney, Miss Beazely and India, the offspring of his father, George H.W. Bush’s pet dog Millie. Perhaps the most famous presidential dog was Richard Nixon’s dog Checkers, although despite his being immortilised in the ‘Checker’s speech’, the dog actually died before Nixon made it into office.

However, some Whitehouse pets have been more bizarre, with CNN reporting that 30th US President Calvin Coolidge owned a ‘menagerie‘ which included six dogs, a goose, a donkey, lion cubs and a pygmy hippopotamus. Third president Thomas Jefferson was also reported to own two grizzly bears.

Following a long legacy of eclectic animals, the new Obama pet will have some big shoes to fill. Though a puppy has not yet been found, its mention in the new president’s acceptance speech has already made it the subject of public and media attention.

By Sam Gournay

Background

Is the BBC using licence fee payer’s money correctly?

Russell Brand resigns from Radio 2 and apologises for leaving abusive messages on Andrew Sachs’ answerphone:

 

In recent weeks the BBC has suffered something of a public relations disaster.

Following ‘Sachsgate’, Russell Brand and Lesley Douglas both resigned from their jobs at Radio 2 and Jonathan Ross has been suspended.

Complaints made to Ofcom, after Brand and Ross left abusive messages on former Fawlty Towers actor, Andrew Sachs’ phone, have now risen above the 30,000 mark.

The incident has sparked a debate around the BBC’s rules regarding self-regulation and the organisation’s use of licence fee payers’ money.

Plan for local websites comes under fire

Criticism has also been aimed at the corporation after lawyers representing the local UK press organisation, the Newspaper Society, wrote to the BBC Trust and Ofcom to ask for the review into a new website scheme to be suspended.

The BBC’s proposals to develop 60 local news websites, at an estimated cost of £68 million, are considered to pose a serious threat to local newspapers.

Neil Benson, editorial director for Trinity Mirror’s regional titles, told the journalism industry website, Journalism.co.uk: ‘It’s going to seriously distort the market place the fact the BBC are ploughing extra millions upon millions of pounds of licence fee payers’ money into an area that we feel is already well served.’

The journalism industry website, Press Gazette reports that the Head of the BBC Trust, Sir Michael Lyons responded to criticism by saying that whilst the ‘rising noise and anxiety’ from the BBC’s commercial rivals was understandable, ‘there’s nobody who can be satisfied with the quality of local news in most parts of the United Kingdom.’

Lyons also dismissed the idea of the BBC sharing its licence fee with other public service news provider, such as ITV and Channel 4, and urged commercial rivals to come up with their own proposals about how to save the future of journalism.

Is Ross worth ‘1000 BBC journalists’?

Much of the debate about the BBC’s use of the licence fee has focused on Jonathan Ross’ three-year, £18 million contract.

Last year, whilst hosting an annual comedy awards ceremony, Ross joked, ‘I’m worth 1,000 BBC journalists’.

As reported in The Independent, this comment angered many in the industry, and provoked a response from Jeremy Dear, general secretary of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), ‘Jonathan Ross’s comments were obscene at a time when thousands of his fellow BBC colleagues are facing losing their jobs.’

‘It also brings into question the BBC’s priorities, which should be about quality news and journalists, first and foremost, but is not really reflected in salaries. They seem to think that having one light entertainment presenter is better than having 600 broadcast journalists.’

The fallout

The video journalist, Michael Rosenblum wrote in his blog, ‘is it right to oppose any investment in local journalism? Should we stand back and watch papers down-size and yet deny the rights of an alternative news-provider to step into the vacuum?’

Much has been made of The Daily Mail running the Brand and Ross story on the paper’s front page for four consecutive days, adding a new strand to the private versus public sector broadcaster debate.

In an article in The Guardian, Peter Wilby wrote, ‘not for the first time, the Mail showed that, in this country at least, newspapers can still lead the news agenda and alter the national mood.’

Wilby also said, ‘if they are to survive, British papers need to preserve and develop their individuality. The Mail, in the past week, has shown them how.’

Indeed, this debate appears to be turning into one about identity and how best to preserve it.  The financial crisis is having an obvious impact on proceedings and the future remains very much unclear, not just for smaller newspapers, but also for the BBC.

 

Will Drysdale (willdrysdale@hotmail.co.uk)

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