All change at your local newspaper
Goodness me it's been a long time since I last updated this blog and for that I must apologise and promise to do better.
It's been an eventful two months for all of us at the Surrey Herald & News as we've restructured and reorganised ourselves to ride out the current economic storm.
What's new? Read on.
From March 31st everyone involved in editorial at Trinity Mirror Southern (owners of the Herald & News) has new roles. Some are similar to what they did before and others are vastly different.
Subbing and page layout for all of our paid for and free newspapers (roughly 20 titles) is now being done at our Chertsey office in Eastworth Road. Previously this was handled at several offices in Surrey, Buckinghamshire and Middlesex.
For those of us already in Chertsey it has meant lots of new faces and a much livelier news environment. On the downside the tea and coffee is diminishing quicker.
We've found space for all the newcomers by moving our advertising department to Uxbridge (with the exception of field sales reps) and reporters have been turfed out of the office onto their patches. They have been equipped with new laptops (finally escaping the antiquated but much loved Apple Macs we used) and can now work remotely and file stories faster.
They are now called Multimedia Journalists as they are no longer just writing for newspapers - a big part of our news coverage is happening on the web, where we can post news as soon as it breaks.
The traditional editor's job has been scrapped! Mike Hawkins, the former editor, is now responsible for the production of all the papers in the group, and much of his old role is now in the hands of a Multimedia Content Manager - Suzy Talbot. She's managing the reporters, driving the news agenda and representing the Herald & News in the community.
As for me? I'm still uploading and editing stories for the Herald & News websites, but now I have the Hounslow Chronicle site to look after and responsibility for 'user generated content'. UGC may not be a term you're familar with - in fact it's unfamiliar to many of long term staff here - but it encompasses anything contributed by readers.
This can be pictures, such as all the wonderful pics we received during February's snow, to story tip offs, forum comments and bloggers. It's my job to ensure we're making use of all this great stuff and encouraging readers to interact and get the most out of these sites.
So it's all busy, busy, busy. Hard work but (so far) good fun.
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Steve Bax
Web Editor for the Surrey Herald
I recently came accross your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Ruth
http://muffinsnow.com
Thanks for taking the trouble to comment. It's good to hear from you.
Its a shame that downsizing is covered with the lable of consolidating the business of journalism in general, but you take these things as you find them I guess.
Sorry to hear that you have lost your office base, this could be good, but can have the side effect of disconnecting the reporter from the actual side of work that keeps them motivated as they are mainly running off their own steam... no angry editors shouting about deadlines, smoozing in the coffee room each morning and watching the smokers get rained on for the sake of their habit.
I love the wording of 'Multimedia Journalists', which sounds more akin to glorified bloggers... but I guess thats the sign of the times.
Whereas I embrace all things new 'generally' I have always felt that when it comes to journalism its the local touch and local people reporting that is the key factor and if this stays the same them thats GREAT.
I guess I have a romantic ideal of the whole NEWSPAPER EDITORIAL world which is based on episodes of Spiderman and various films with cranks editors and Journies that BREAK THE RULES to get the GOD DAMNED STORY.... I asume you don't all have super powers and even if you did you wouldn't be able to tell us.
I hope that the new changes work for the team, communities and yourself well and are not a downsizing in another form with 'tech talk' to cover their true meaning.
All the best though from one of your hand picked UGC people.
Darren
Yes, it's certainly interesting to me how all the superheroes seem to be journalists. I suppose because in years gone by the reporter was seen as a shabby but tenacious crusader for justice, confronting arrogant power.
Sadly, these days, whenver I see a journalist on a TV programme, be it EastEnders, The Bill or some such soap they tend to be rather nasty selfish individuals. But hey, I'm sure estate agents are no happier about the public perception of their trade, and who'd be a banker at the moment?
The remote working - for the most part - seems to be a good thing. Our reporters are spending more time on patch than they used to do and like the extra freedom that filing stories from home (or elsewhere) gives. There are desks set aside for them in the office, so it's not like they go days on end without seeing colleagues, but I suppose it is a big change to what they were used to.
The problem at the moment is producing stories for our papers and the web with less people than before. Everyone's working harder than before but I think most people understand that the changes that have occurred were needed to put the company on the best footing to weather the economic storm.
I'm told the Staines Guardian has ceased production and the News & Mail has closed some of its editions, notably the one where I live in Molesey. Papers are closing up and down the country sadly. Make no mistake these are challenging times.
Good reply:)
Can tell your a Journie. Not sure what the vonacular is for that or even how to spell vonacular (maybe I should use the web to check rather than just explaining... but that's another story.
I didn't realize so many papers are closing down also. One of my recent contacts in the papers in Australia is now looking for a new job also.. so it's even reaching to Oz it seems.
Looks like I chose possibly the worst time to try and shoe my way into the publication business... saying that if I am cheaper than a TEAM of geeks all they better... but then again the last thing people want to do is CHANGE in a recession.
Seems the only person with a smile now'a'days is Gordon Brown on his Youtube video.... damn that's SCARY... if you havnt seen it... find it and cringe.
Does this mean we will see local reporters about more then or just tucked away in that Baroosh (?) wine bar in Staines of a Wednesday afternoon, cuddling their new laptops and making a latte last 2 hours?
From what I have heard on the street whilst chatting to strangers (which I do far too much... normally old people), there is a general consensus that the changes at the local paper will mean LESS local news and just more doom and gloom! Saying that these were pretty odd old people to be talking to me in the first place.
I understand what you mean by the perception of 'The Press' in the media... you 'or rather your fictional dopplegangers' are classed as Diana killing scum and only slightly less tacky than the photographers who just want to take photo's up skirts. The only photographer I met from your offices was more like the fella from the Worthers Original advert.
You cant even say it's a provincial problem for stories as even the main news channels dedicate a lot of their time to 'YOUR STORY' where the public send in silly photos and we are to do their jobs for them just to fill in the gaps in the news.
Anyhoo I whittle on far too much when I should be adding war paint to a Cupid Illustration right now.
Hopefully the changes will make things better and this new 'SYSTEM' will make the papers more interactive and community based without becoming a glorified newsletter or rag mag full of adverts for carpet fitters and legal aid.