Celebrity problems at BBC Radio 2 in the park & mud glorious mud
Royal book news, how to submit to Bath Children's Novel awards, overcome imposter syndrome as a journalist, tributes as journalist dies aged 32, new IPSO guidance on reporting suicide & more
My dear wordsmiths,
As always this my little reminder to subscribe, like and comment - always much appreciated. Last week a record number of you read Write Reject Repeat - thankyou. You must all be Spice Girls fans! Here’s the piece if you missed it. Just a reminder I will be away for a few weeks after this on my travels (I’ll report back). So if you subscribe you’ll know when!
Anyway it’s been another celebrity-fuelled week here in Lancashire with the arrival of the BBC Radio 2 in the park event in Preston’s Moor Park. I’ve been around so long I was there at the BBC Radio 1 weekend in 2007. This was different but just as fun and ultimately, even muddier. The common denominator was mud, worms and Sara Cox, all on form. Though now I’m a little bit older I was less keen on partying late all weekend though access to the guest tent & press area helped.
After positively Ibiza-like weather for the Friday opening event, it clouded over Saturday but remained warm and dry. Sunday, however, proved torrential and the site became so muddy it was a mass of worms underfoot - not that it put off revellers (I hate that overused journalism word but..). It caused a few middle class problem in the guest tent on Sunday where water pooled on top and every so often released a torrent over an already bedraggled guest, I saw a few celebrity close calls I tell you..
This is me on Tik Tok for video (Nik Nok).
Celebs I personally spotted.. and this is bearing in mind I’m terrible at recognising anyone usually so I definitely missed loads. (I didn’t have my glasses on either). Ricky Hatton, Claire Sweeney, Dam Alllardyce, David Moyes, Mark Radcliffe, Stuart Maconie, Shaznay Lewis, Scott Mills and ‘Race across the world’ (his) partner Sam Vaughan, PaddyMcGuiness, Rylan, Sara Cox, and all the BBC 2 lot.
Anyway, my travel article for Chicago is finally online if you fancy a read. It’s across our network but here via The Scotsman.
News, events and opportunities
Books and writing:
Bath Children’s Novel Award 2024: Now open for submissions, the Bath Children’s Novel Award 2024 is a £5,000 international writing prize for un-agented emerging writers who may be unpublished, self-published or independently published. Judges are looking for novels for children or teens, chapter books and picture book texts. Initial submissions are the opening 5,000 words plus one page synopsis of children’s novels, chapter books, and YA novels, or up to three picture book texts with summaries.
Anne Cleeves event: Queen of crime fiction Ann Cleeves is set to visit Wrexham this month to talk about her latest thrilling mystery The Dark Wives. The No.1 Sunday Times bestselling author will appear at the William Aston Hall on Thursday, 26 September for an unmissable evening of intrigue and dark drama. The event is being organised by independent retailers Linghams Booksellers and Booka Bookshop.
Brian Groom talk: Author Brian Groom will be talking about his book Made in Manchester at Swinton & Pendlebury History Society on Monday October 21 at 10.30am. The adddress is Fletcher Hall, Vicarage Road, Swinton, M27 0WA and visitors are welcome.
Sarah, Duchess of York releases new book: Sarah, Duchess of York’s brand-new picture book Flora and Fern: Wonder in the Woods will be released next month, The book is the first in a new series, illustrated in full colour by Denise Hughes and to be published by New Frontier on October 10, 2024, with a second book to follow in 2025.
“I am so thrilled to be working with New Frontier on my brand-new children’s picture book series and I can’t wait for families to meet Flora and Fern and join them on this festive adventure. And I can’t thank Denise Hughes enough for bringing their woodland world to life with the most beautiful illustrations. Alongside plenty of joy and celebration, I also wanted to leave readers with a message about the power of community and being connected to the world around you – an ethos which is very close to my heart.”
Sarah, Duchess of York
Journalism:
Ofcom Media Consumption report: Lots to digest but for the first time since the 1960s, online sites and apps are now narrowly more popular than TV news, says the report. A must read for anyone in the media business.
Masterclass: How to overcome imposter syndrome as a journalist: Journo Resources: this useful website runs plenty of masterclass but this one caught my eye.
Telegraph journalist dies aged just 32: David Knowles, the Telegraph journalist behind the award-winning Ukraine: The Latest podcast, has died, says The Telegraph. Mr Knowles, 32, who worked as a senior audio journalist and presenter, died while in Gibraltar on Sunday following what was believed to be a cardiac arrest. In 2022, Mr Knowles launched Ukraine: The Latest, a weekday podcast that is still running two years later. (full articler via link to Telegraph)
IPSO releases new guidance on reporting suicide: IPSO (independent regulator of the UK newspaper, magazine and digital news industry) have produced guidelines for journalists on reporting on suicide. They are the result of extensive research and collaboration with mental health organisations, journalists, and those affected by suicide. In addition to the guidance, IPSO has a 24/7 helpline for editors and journalists seeking pre-publication advice. The full details are available via the link but the main points are:
There is a significant public interest in the reporting of suicide as it remains a significant public health concern
Research shows that media portrayals of suicide can influence suicidal behaviour and lead to imitative acts, particularly among vulnerable groups or young people
Journalists should be aware that a failure to take care when reporting suicide can put vulnerable people at serious risk of harm
Publishing excessive details about a suicide may lead to simulative acts
Take particular care when reporting on novel methods, to prevent attention being drawn to a relatively unusual method of suicide
As inquests are held in public, the information revealed during proceedings is already in the public domain, and is not private to the family of the deceased
When reporting on inquests and other legal proceedings, the publication’s role is to give an accurate account of the evidence given
The reporting of suicide is covered by the Code’s rules on intrusion into grief or shock, stressing the need for sympathy, discretion and sensitivity in publication
Recently on Write Reject Repeat:Life as a journalist lately: I met a Spice Girl and it was slightly disappointing
Why the current state of X is probably giving writers space to breathe
Thanks for reading. As always have a great week - I’ll be taking a few weeks off for travel and holiday, see you in October! Keep writing! Nicola x