What a fantastic match the final of this year's Wimbledon produced. And who would have expected it to last as long as it did, going the full five sets?
The opening stages showed Rafael Nadal dominate Roger Federer and, like the recent Euro 2008, it seemed as though there would be a convincing Spanish victory as he took the first two sets 6-4, 6-4, but it wasn't as straight-forward as that.
After play resumed from a break that couldn't come soon enough for five-time Wimbledon champion Roger Federer, the crowd began to see exactly why Federer has been such a dominant champion in recent years, as he pegged back to level the sets winning 6-7 (3-7), and 6-7 (8-10).
The two tie break wins exemplify how closely matched the World number one and number two were.
And just when it seemed it couldn't get any closer, the final set took the match to a record length as both players seemed unbreakable in service. As the privileged Wimbledon crowd watched on, many would have had to change their day's plans to allow for the length of this truly epic duel, but few would have complained in this edge-of-the-seat match.
Something had to give. And finally, after four hours and 48 minutes of play, it did. Nadal took the final set 9-7, by surely the finest of margins that a tennis game can be won. Both Nadal and Federer showed real mettle in this 'tennisthon' of a match, but, after five years of Federer dominance, this was Nadal's day.
Tuesday, 8 July 2008
Saturday, 7 June 2008
My Euro predictions
Less than an hour until the big kick-off of this Summer's football feast, it is time for some last-minute predictions for Euro 2008.
Group A: Czech Republic, Portugal, Switzerland, Turkey.
This is one of the more interesting groups. I fully expect Portugal to top this group. Usually, the natural second-placed side would be the Czechs, but the Swiss are the hosts and it's a while since a host nation failed to reach the later stages of this competition. Switzerland will certainly be putting up a fight and play Portugal in their last game, which could be a crucial factor if the Portuguese have already made it through by that point. With respect, this group will be too strong for the Turks.
Group B: Austria, Croatia, Germany, Poland.
Here's another group that has the 'host nation factor' in it. The Austrians will not be as strong as the Swiss, so this time I expect the strongest teams, Germany and Croatia to battle it out for top spot and for quarter-final qualification to be quite straight-forward. I cannot see Poland getting a win out of this group. My tip for the tournament, Germany, should win this group, though Slaven Billic's Croatia looked impressive against England during qualifying.
Group C: France, Italy, Netherlands, Romania.
Group D: Greece, Russia, Spain, Sweden.
This could be a close group. The Russians were sturdy performers in qualifying, and, Spain aside, this is a group of gritty sides who grind out results. I'm not expecting too much excitement on the goals front. Spain should win this one, and should be joined by Russia. The holders, Greece, face a tough final game against Spain, and though they may already be through at that stage, I do not forecast the Greeks winning that game.
Quarter-Finals:
Portugal v Croatia
Germany v Czech Republic
Italy v Russia
Spain v Romania
I think all four group winners will progress to the semi-finals.
Semi-finals:
Portugal v Germany
Italy v Spain
The first game could ultimately decide which player will get the golden boot in this year's tournament, with Cristiano Ronaldo from Portugal and Miroslav Klose of Germany both hot favourites to win it. Whichever one's nation progresses, they will get one more game to put goals in the net. Germany are usually pretty resilient and I put my money on them to make the final, to face Italy. There is too much hype about Spain and this is where I think Spain's and another golden boot favourite Fernando Torres's European journey will end.
Final:
Germany v Italy
If this is the final, it will be a tightly-contested affair, as with most top level football finals recently. I fancy the Germans to win it, but not by much.
There are my predictions. Now all that's left is to see how the tournament unfolds. The first game is in 10 minutes, as Switzerland face the Czech Republic at 5pm.
For more exciting predictions, check out Starting Eleven's take on how proceedings will go.
Group A: Czech Republic, Portugal, Switzerland, Turkey.
This is one of the more interesting groups. I fully expect Portugal to top this group. Usually, the natural second-placed side would be the Czechs, but the Swiss are the hosts and it's a while since a host nation failed to reach the later stages of this competition. Switzerland will certainly be putting up a fight and play Portugal in their last game, which could be a crucial factor if the Portuguese have already made it through by that point. With respect, this group will be too strong for the Turks.
Group B: Austria, Croatia, Germany, Poland.
Here's another group that has the 'host nation factor' in it. The Austrians will not be as strong as the Swiss, so this time I expect the strongest teams, Germany and Croatia to battle it out for top spot and for quarter-final qualification to be quite straight-forward. I cannot see Poland getting a win out of this group. My tip for the tournament, Germany, should win this group, though Slaven Billic's Croatia looked impressive against England during qualifying.
Group C: France, Italy, Netherlands, Romania.
What an intriguing group this is. Of all the groups, it is undoubtedly the 'group of death'. It won't be easy to play in and it's no easier to predict either. France and Italy will do battle again in the final round of group matches. It's n0t straightforward. Both nations have been prone to shocks in the past (Remember France v Senegal and Italy v South Korea) and if either has slipped up against a Romania side, who qualified impressively with a run of 10 successive wins, one of the sides could be put out in the final game if the Dutch or Romanians take their chance. And I am putting my neck on the line and predicting a shock! I think France or Italy will slip up and Romania, who took four points off of the Dutch in qualifying, will come roaring through. Marco Van Basten's Orange army to face disaster then in his first tournament as coach and Romania to join the Italians in the quarter-finals.
Group D: Greece, Russia, Spain, Sweden.
This could be a close group. The Russians were sturdy performers in qualifying, and, Spain aside, this is a group of gritty sides who grind out results. I'm not expecting too much excitement on the goals front. Spain should win this one, and should be joined by Russia. The holders, Greece, face a tough final game against Spain, and though they may already be through at that stage, I do not forecast the Greeks winning that game.
Quarter-Finals:
Portugal v Croatia
Germany v Czech Republic
Italy v Russia
Spain v Romania
I think all four group winners will progress to the semi-finals.
Semi-finals:
Portugal v Germany
Italy v Spain
The first game could ultimately decide which player will get the golden boot in this year's tournament, with Cristiano Ronaldo from Portugal and Miroslav Klose of Germany both hot favourites to win it. Whichever one's nation progresses, they will get one more game to put goals in the net. Germany are usually pretty resilient and I put my money on them to make the final, to face Italy. There is too much hype about Spain and this is where I think Spain's and another golden boot favourite Fernando Torres's European journey will end.
Final:
Germany v Italy
If this is the final, it will be a tightly-contested affair, as with most top level football finals recently. I fancy the Germans to win it, but not by much.
There are my predictions. Now all that's left is to see how the tournament unfolds. The first game is in 10 minutes, as Switzerland face the Czech Republic at 5pm.
For more exciting predictions, check out Starting Eleven's take on how proceedings will go.
Saturday, 24 May 2008
Back to blog again
After a while of not posting to allow for the marking of this blog as part of my Digital Newsroom module on my journalism course at UCLan, I have decided to continue to use this blog to blog about sports news and issues.
It will no longer have the odds and ends on it that were related to general Preston news as that is no longer a requirement. Instead, I will soon be setting up another blog that will cover entertainment as well, and may even expand further to set up blogs on health and politics, categories that were covered by my blogging colleagues during the course of my digital modules.
Sunday, 20 April 2008
58 Lancashire post offices set to close
A TOTAL of 58 post offices are set to close throughout Lancashire, the Royal Mail has announced.
The cuts involve 11 in the Preston area, including those in Acregate Lane, Longridge Road, Manchester Road, Pope Lane and Deepdale Road.
Closures have been decided by the government because the post offices are losing £4million a week.
The Government defended the decision, assessing the postal service as unsustainable in its current form, while post chiefs have said that 99.6% of people will either see no change to their existing branch or will remain within one mile by road of an alternative branch.
Head of communications at Preston City Council Stephen Parkinson admitted that 11 is "too many".
He said: "First we are very realistic and accept post offices could be rationalised or merged.
11 is too many. They provide a community service for elderly and vulnerable people who use them on a regular basis."
Mr Parkinson also pointed out that access to post offices would be difficult for people living in rural areas.
"We recognise the post offices need saving and that people do things differently now online. There is a change in how people shop and post offices have to move with the changes, but they are an important part of the community.
"If there are innovative changes then that’s what we’re looking for. Other closures happened four years ago so this is not new."
He confirmed that some of post offices’ duties will be passed into the hands of either village halls or churches, a measure that will happen in Preston’s Chipping and Calder Vale. He also suggested that pubs may have a part to play in postal duties.
Deputy leader of the Lancashire County Council Doreen Pollitt also expressed her opposition to the closures that have caused concern for Preston residents.
She said on the council website: "Post offices are an important part of our local communities and we are therefore very disappointed that the decision has been taken to go ahead with these closures."
Cllr Pollitt suggested that the fight to save Preston post offices will not be over in the near future.
"We will now look at services provided by these post offices to consider possible alternatives. This is too important an issue to rush."
View Larger Map
The cuts involve 11 in the Preston area, including those in Acregate Lane, Longridge Road, Manchester Road, Pope Lane and Deepdale Road.
Closures have been decided by the government because the post offices are losing £4million a week.
The Government defended the decision, assessing the postal service as unsustainable in its current form, while post chiefs have said that 99.6% of people will either see no change to their existing branch or will remain within one mile by road of an alternative branch.
Head of communications at Preston City Council Stephen Parkinson admitted that 11 is "too many".
He said: "First we are very realistic and accept post offices could be rationalised or merged.
11 is too many. They provide a community service for elderly and vulnerable people who use them on a regular basis."
Mr Parkinson also pointed out that access to post offices would be difficult for people living in rural areas.
"We recognise the post offices need saving and that people do things differently now online. There is a change in how people shop and post offices have to move with the changes, but they are an important part of the community.
"If there are innovative changes then that’s what we’re looking for. Other closures happened four years ago so this is not new."
He confirmed that some of post offices’ duties will be passed into the hands of either village halls or churches, a measure that will happen in Preston’s Chipping and Calder Vale. He also suggested that pubs may have a part to play in postal duties.
Deputy leader of the Lancashire County Council Doreen Pollitt also expressed her opposition to the closures that have caused concern for Preston residents.
She said on the council website: "Post offices are an important part of our local communities and we are therefore very disappointed that the decision has been taken to go ahead with these closures."
Cllr Pollitt suggested that the fight to save Preston post offices will not be over in the near future.
"We will now look at services provided by these post offices to consider possible alternatives. This is too important an issue to rush."
View Larger Map
Ribbleton residents hit out at closures
AS POST OFFICES continue to close in Preston, how are the residents who depend on them reacting? JONATHAN SAUNDERS went to Ribbleton to get the local reaction to the closing of Acregate Lane Post Office.
ACREGATE Lane Post Office should not be shut, according to Ribbleton’s residents.
The post office, which is where Acregate Lane meets Ribbleton Avenue, is one of 11 to close in total in the Preston area as 58 are closing across Lancashire.
Residents have spoken out against the decision that would see Acregate Post Office close on April 30.
Mr Goodwin of Braefield Crescent, Ribbleton, who uses a mobility scooter, said: "I think it’s scandalous. The nearest one to us now is Newell Lane. There are still two there. If I didn’t have my chair, I’d have to get someone to help me."
Mrs Fox, of Tennyson Road, added: "It’s not safe going elsewhere. Everybody knows what you’re queuing for. The one we have is ideal. It’s stupid having none near Acregate Lane.
"It’s going to take me three-quarters of an hour to go there now, instead of my usual 10 minutes."
Adrian Southworth, 74, of Longworth Street, Ribbleton said: "I’ve lived here for 74 years and I can never remember it without a post office. It’s part of the social life and society."
Ibrahim Choham, 68, a Ribbleton resident for 40 years said: "It’s very bad. We use it every week. It’s been here a long time so we are very sad."
Martin Elson, 28, a civil servant from Thornton Cleveleys, condemned the regional closures: "I don’t think any should be shut. It’s a local service. The government provides services and that’s why we pay taxes. Labour have squandered our money."
The government has kept some postal duties in Lancashire by handing them to village halls and churches in Chipping and the Calder Vale near Preston, Glasson Dock near Lancaster and Quernmore in Lancaster.
The closures are set to finish on May 12 with the closure of Bolton Road Post Office, Chorley and Churchtown Post Office, The Green, Churchtown.
The decision to close adjust the post office system has come after government figures show the service to be losing £4million a week.
Thursday, 3 April 2008
Digital newsroom presentation
This blog is for the assessed presentation that all of this blogging has been leading up to and answers the question of how the digital newsroom is reported, and defined.
Despite so much comment, it could also be argued that the digital news room is more objective than the traditional mediums. In traditional news mediums, to achieve complete objectivity, it is almost impossible because it would require more than just one reporter’s version of a story, as Lee Sigelman says in News: A Reader (1999:86).
The digital newsroom, however, allows for this to happen and blogging acts as a platform for every side of a story to be projected equally, especially with almost unlimited space and the opportunity to link to other people’s blogs
In my blog titled ‘Is the era of the seven-goal thriller over?’ , I linked to a blog by Starting Eleven, a blogger and ex-sports writer in America, to give his point of view and use it to support a couple of my own points. Likewise, he has linked back to my blog on his own blog.
This makes the digital newsroom a democratic tool, in which everyone is free to give their own view on a subject, and again this promotes the "everyone’s a journalist" culture.
The way that data can be gathered by the use of polls in the most random fashion and displayed so much more quickly than on other mediums is another way that the digital newsroom is more democratic than other mediums and pushes the information out more quickly.
My blog demonstrates how the virtuous circle works with one person sending out information, which is then used by another, who then uses the information again at a more developed stage.
This is further exemplified, and it is shown that the digital newsroom is unique, in that a blogger can let others gather their information for them, instead of going out onto the street and doing it manually. For example, in a blog about Dwain Chambers, I was able to link to a piece of multimedia that LBC radio's James O'Brien had done without having to take time to create that multimedia myself. Information comes to the blogger in polls as well, as used a couple of times on my blog.
One very regular blogger is The Guardian's Barney Ronay, whose football blog receives lots of comment and sparks debate. His blog also receives praise and criticism, sometimes people questioning his facts or view of the game. In this way, the readership contributes to the editing process so that Barney knows what positive aspects of his blog to maintain and what to change or improve upon.
As a result of instantaneous comment and almost infinite space and the opportunity for everyone to contribute, the digital newsroom is the fastest, most objective and most democratic of the news mediums, allowing for healthier debate of interests and issues.
Despite so much comment, it could also be argued that the digital news room is more objective than the traditional mediums. In traditional news mediums, to achieve complete objectivity, it is almost impossible because it would require more than just one reporter’s version of a story, as Lee Sigelman says in News: A Reader (1999:86).
The digital newsroom, however, allows for this to happen and blogging acts as a platform for every side of a story to be projected equally, especially with almost unlimited space and the opportunity to link to other people’s blogs
In my blog titled ‘Is the era of the seven-goal thriller over?’ , I linked to a blog by Starting Eleven, a blogger and ex-sports writer in America, to give his point of view and use it to support a couple of my own points. Likewise, he has linked back to my blog on his own blog.
This makes the digital newsroom a democratic tool, in which everyone is free to give their own view on a subject, and again this promotes the "everyone’s a journalist" culture.
The way that data can be gathered by the use of polls in the most random fashion and displayed so much more quickly than on other mediums is another way that the digital newsroom is more democratic than other mediums and pushes the information out more quickly.
My blog demonstrates how the virtuous circle works with one person sending out information, which is then used by another, who then uses the information again at a more developed stage.
This is further exemplified, and it is shown that the digital newsroom is unique, in that a blogger can let others gather their information for them, instead of going out onto the street and doing it manually. For example, in a blog about Dwain Chambers, I was able to link to a piece of multimedia that LBC radio's James O'Brien had done without having to take time to create that multimedia myself. Information comes to the blogger in polls as well, as used a couple of times on my blog.
One very regular blogger is The Guardian's Barney Ronay, whose football blog receives lots of comment and sparks debate. His blog also receives praise and criticism, sometimes people questioning his facts or view of the game. In this way, the readership contributes to the editing process so that Barney knows what positive aspects of his blog to maintain and what to change or improve upon.
As a result of instantaneous comment and almost infinite space and the opportunity for everyone to contribute, the digital newsroom is the fastest, most objective and most democratic of the news mediums, allowing for healthier debate of interests and issues.
Football or rugby?
James O'Brien has brought up an interesting debate on his TV debate channel. What is more entertaining: Football or Rugby? He found it a tough decision, and I'm not surprised. He is a life-long Nottingham Forest and Kidderminster Harriers fan and as an avid Wycombe Wanderers fan, I would find it extremely tough to say that rugby is more entertaining than football.
He suggests that football could be losing the war of entertainment value to rugby because there are more entertaining features of rugby than just scoring points and it is more of a spectacle, with the excitement of whether Johnny Wilkinson will get a chance to drop-goal and to see the backs make runs all the way up the field. He also questions whether rugby is more entertaining for the neutral referring to that many games in international football competitions are often mundane instead of a great spectacle.
But I have to disagree with him. I must admit that I do not watch a lot of rugby, but is there really more of a guarantee that there is going to be more of a spectacle in rugby than in football, or any other sport? Perhaps it is that England are better at rugby than football at the moment. Watching England at football has been quite painful recently, so it would be a surprise to me if England playing rugby wasn't more entertaining at the moment. But rugby more entertaining as an international sport? No.
Not every game may have been guaranteed entertainment during the last World Cup, but matches still remain entertaining in my memory like the opening game of Germany beating Costa Rica 4-2; Argentina's 6-0 drubbing of Serbia and Montenegro, before their exit to Germany; Japan taking a shock lead against Brazil before losing 4-1; and the final match of the tournament, contested between France and Italy, an intense affair which said a surprisingly abrupt end to Zinedine Zidane's career after his sending off, and the hard-fought penalty shootout at the end for the most prestigious prize in international football.
Obviously there are plenty of arguments for and against either sport's entertainment value and which is more so, though the most important factor that I think impacts the entertainment value is the scoring systems. When I do have a moment watching rugby, I find it less entertaining because the players score so frequently and the points are valued higher than in football. Strange, isn't it? But I find that because goals in football are rarer, and I argue that it is more difficult to score a goal in football, it is more special and more of an achievement when it happens. That's why football edges it for me.
He suggests that football could be losing the war of entertainment value to rugby because there are more entertaining features of rugby than just scoring points and it is more of a spectacle, with the excitement of whether Johnny Wilkinson will get a chance to drop-goal and to see the backs make runs all the way up the field. He also questions whether rugby is more entertaining for the neutral referring to that many games in international football competitions are often mundane instead of a great spectacle.
But I have to disagree with him. I must admit that I do not watch a lot of rugby, but is there really more of a guarantee that there is going to be more of a spectacle in rugby than in football, or any other sport? Perhaps it is that England are better at rugby than football at the moment. Watching England at football has been quite painful recently, so it would be a surprise to me if England playing rugby wasn't more entertaining at the moment. But rugby more entertaining as an international sport? No.
Not every game may have been guaranteed entertainment during the last World Cup, but matches still remain entertaining in my memory like the opening game of Germany beating Costa Rica 4-2; Argentina's 6-0 drubbing of Serbia and Montenegro, before their exit to Germany; Japan taking a shock lead against Brazil before losing 4-1; and the final match of the tournament, contested between France and Italy, an intense affair which said a surprisingly abrupt end to Zinedine Zidane's career after his sending off, and the hard-fought penalty shootout at the end for the most prestigious prize in international football.
Obviously there are plenty of arguments for and against either sport's entertainment value and which is more so, though the most important factor that I think impacts the entertainment value is the scoring systems. When I do have a moment watching rugby, I find it less entertaining because the players score so frequently and the points are valued higher than in football. Strange, isn't it? But I find that because goals in football are rarer, and I argue that it is more difficult to score a goal in football, it is more special and more of an achievement when it happens. That's why football edges it for me.
Wednesday, 2 April 2008
Serena aces it in Miami
Serena Williams cruised past World number one Justine Henin into the semi-finals of the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami.
Williams will went into the last four after an unexpectedly convincing 6-2, 6-0 victory over her Belgian opponent.
So strong was Williams' dominance in this surprise thrashing that Craig Hickman describes it as "a good old-fashioned mugging".
Underperforming Henin said after the game: "I was too defensive, for sure. I didn't have really any courage to do anything about it".
Despite Williams' World eighth ranking, Womenstennisblog does not blame Henin for being frightened and timid because Williams has succeeded in this tournament where Henin has not and because she lost last year's final to Williams having won the opening set 6-0. Certainly Henin will be determined to settle the score next time around.
Elsewhere, Svetlana Kuznetsova also reached the semi-finals, beating Venus Williams 6-4, 6-4.
Williams will went into the last four after an unexpectedly convincing 6-2, 6-0 victory over her Belgian opponent.
So strong was Williams' dominance in this surprise thrashing that Craig Hickman describes it as "a good old-fashioned mugging".
Underperforming Henin said after the game: "I was too defensive, for sure. I didn't have really any courage to do anything about it".
Despite Williams' World eighth ranking, Womenstennisblog does not blame Henin for being frightened and timid because Williams has succeeded in this tournament where Henin has not and because she lost last year's final to Williams having won the opening set 6-0. Certainly Henin will be determined to settle the score next time around.
Elsewhere, Svetlana Kuznetsova also reached the semi-finals, beating Venus Williams 6-4, 6-4.
Friday, 28 March 2008
England slip up in France
England slipped up, quite literally, in their friendly with France on Wednesday night.
It was not just the poor football that would have caused England supporters to question if the players had the right boots on, but the frequency with which they slipped on the Stade de France turf.
England disappointed, after an industrious start in which France were forced to pass the ball back to goalkeeper Coupet three times in the first 10 minutes.
The French players seemed to have no trouble as several times they glided through the England backline before the crucial moment came, striker Nicolas Anelka being tumbled in the area by onrushing goalkeeper David James in a one-on-one. Franck Ribery took a break from his evening's moaning to dispatch a cool penalty.
But by the end stages of the game, it was clear that France were the better side despite only a one-goal lead, and, quite simply, they wanted it more. Florent Malouda and Claude Makelele were both left floored but left grinning after being fouled by a frustrated England side.
There were many frustrated challenges from English players towards the final whistle, yet few bookings. Strangely, German referee Florian Meyer chose not to book David James for the penalty nor a frustrated push by David Bentley on Malouda, yet gave a frankly glorified booking to David Beckham for a simple shirt-tug in the middle of the park.
David Beckham was making a welcome start that would bring him his 100th cap. Whether he continues depends heavily on his fitness and whether he can last the pace of games and one of his main weaknesses is his lack of pace. With so many players on the pitch on Wednesday who can run a lot faster than Beckham but were not, demonstrating their lack of movement, interest and effort, he will not have much trouble attaining more England caps.
England were now the only side passing backwards, Rio Ferdinand often left with little option but to pass sideways or backwards, or a hefty boot forward, in a bid not to lose possession.
Dave Ross made the interesting analogy that England played like a barn door, their passes going to players who are too static. France, however, played as a seemingly continuous and well-working revolving door, passes flowing from one moving player to another.
England's doors are yet to be removed from their rusty hinges.
It was not just the poor football that would have caused England supporters to question if the players had the right boots on, but the frequency with which they slipped on the Stade de France turf.
England disappointed, after an industrious start in which France were forced to pass the ball back to goalkeeper Coupet three times in the first 10 minutes.
The French players seemed to have no trouble as several times they glided through the England backline before the crucial moment came, striker Nicolas Anelka being tumbled in the area by onrushing goalkeeper David James in a one-on-one. Franck Ribery took a break from his evening's moaning to dispatch a cool penalty.
But by the end stages of the game, it was clear that France were the better side despite only a one-goal lead, and, quite simply, they wanted it more. Florent Malouda and Claude Makelele were both left floored but left grinning after being fouled by a frustrated England side.
There were many frustrated challenges from English players towards the final whistle, yet few bookings. Strangely, German referee Florian Meyer chose not to book David James for the penalty nor a frustrated push by David Bentley on Malouda, yet gave a frankly glorified booking to David Beckham for a simple shirt-tug in the middle of the park.
David Beckham was making a welcome start that would bring him his 100th cap. Whether he continues depends heavily on his fitness and whether he can last the pace of games and one of his main weaknesses is his lack of pace. With so many players on the pitch on Wednesday who can run a lot faster than Beckham but were not, demonstrating their lack of movement, interest and effort, he will not have much trouble attaining more England caps.
England were now the only side passing backwards, Rio Ferdinand often left with little option but to pass sideways or backwards, or a hefty boot forward, in a bid not to lose possession.
Dave Ross made the interesting analogy that England played like a barn door, their passes going to players who are too static. France, however, played as a seemingly continuous and well-working revolving door, passes flowing from one moving player to another.
England's doors are yet to be removed from their rusty hinges.
Monday, 24 March 2008
Formula One gets off to a heated start
The second of race of the new Formula One season took place in Malaysia yesterday and it already looks set to be another exciting and predictable season ahead.
The race in Melbourne, Austalia last week was a week to forget for Ferrari, getting off to their worst start to a season since 1992 and only gaining a point because so many other drivers had retired.
This week it was McLaren's turn to have a bad week, Heikki Kovaleinen and Lewis Hamilton only managing third and fifth respectively, while Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen took first place.
Nick Heidfeld and Fernando Alonso were not happy during Saturday's qualifying as McLaren's cut them up on crucial laps. The McLaren's were duly punished and moved back on the grid.
Felipe Massa had a miserable race too, spinning off in the other Ferrari. A moment which Seyth Miersma says paved the way for BMW Sauber's Robert Kubica to take second place.
After both the expected leading teams, McLaren-Mercedes and Ferrari, have already had good and bad days, the constructors table is taking on a familiar look, with BMW Sauber getting in on the act as well.
Meanwhile, Hamilton, Raikonnen, Nick Heidfeld and Kovaleinen lead the drivers table.
The race in Melbourne, Austalia last week was a week to forget for Ferrari, getting off to their worst start to a season since 1992 and only gaining a point because so many other drivers had retired.
This week it was McLaren's turn to have a bad week, Heikki Kovaleinen and Lewis Hamilton only managing third and fifth respectively, while Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen took first place.
Nick Heidfeld and Fernando Alonso were not happy during Saturday's qualifying as McLaren's cut them up on crucial laps. The McLaren's were duly punished and moved back on the grid.
Felipe Massa had a miserable race too, spinning off in the other Ferrari. A moment which Seyth Miersma says paved the way for BMW Sauber's Robert Kubica to take second place.
After both the expected leading teams, McLaren-Mercedes and Ferrari, have already had good and bad days, the constructors table is taking on a familiar look, with BMW Sauber getting in on the act as well.
Meanwhile, Hamilton, Raikonnen, Nick Heidfeld and Kovaleinen lead the drivers table.
Wednesday, 5 March 2008
Is the era of the seven-goal thriller over?
I cannot think of the last time I saw a team win 4-3 in a high profile match and perhaps it is a dying scoreline. But why is this?
In the 1990s, there were some thrilling 4-3 encounters, most notably Liverpool's sensational 4-3 win over Newcastle, a match that showed the top quality strike partnerships of Newcastle's Peter Beardsley and Les Ferdinand and Liverpool's prolific Robbie Fowler and a Stan Collymore on top of his game compete arguably the most exciting match the Premiership has seen.
Four Four Two magazine editor Hugh Sleight wrote in the March 2008 issue about the decline in the number of strike partnerships in the Premiership, which is undoubtedly a factor behind less high-scoring matches in today's top flight. In the 1990s, the partnerships of Manchester United's Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole, Blackburn's Chris Sutton and Alan Shearer and Liverpool's Robbie Fowler and Michael Owen were just a few thriving partnerships.
But since the beginning of the 2000s, exciting strike partnerships have been in decline as a new era has been entered, of the lone striker and the preferred 4-5-1 formation over the traditional 4-4-2.
This formation allows players like Arsenal's Spanish midfield maestro Cesc Fabregas to shine as he did in last night's famous first victory for an English side in AC Milan's San Siro stadium; it has been a breeding ground for the holding midfield position which in recent season's has been tagged by pundits as the 'Makalele role'; it allows wingers like Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo and Tottenham Hotspur's Aaron Lennon to burst forward more without the need to retreat back and defend.
Has it made Premiership football more exciting, though? The answer is no. It is a formation used to try and win, not to entertain. We have, as Starting Eleven blogs, "entered a period when neither team wants to make a horrible mistake". Therefore, teams are playing more defensively.
Kevin Keegan's attacking nineties 4-4-2 formation has been thrown out in favour of the more defensive 4-5-1, imported from Europe by foreign coaches.
This is a formation that has not particularly suited the England national team very well as Wayne Rooney was left isolated in attack during the team's World Cup 2006 match against Portugal, which was later lost on penalties. The clean sheet, though, did show that the defensive purpose of the formation did work that day.
On reflection, Manchester United did not win the title for two seasons while there was a transition period towards the 4-5-1. Instead, Mourinho's use of less conventional formations helped towards Chelsea's title wins, while Sir Alex Ferguson, so successful in using 4-4-2 in the nineties, recouperated his squad, acquiring the likes of Carlos Tevez, Anderson, Nani and Ronaldo and the side have come back stronger since. And why? Because he used 4-5-1.
The end of decade 2000 is into the latter stages now and it seems unlikely that it will produce many matchs that will equal the excitement and drama of the previous decade. But something else has become apparent. This season, Liverpool have blitzed Derby County and Besiktas 6-0 and 8-0 respectively and Arsenal have thrashed Slavia Prague 7-0. In League Two, Peterborough United have swept aside Accrington Stanley 8-2 and Brentford 7-0, while the week before, Stockport County beat Wycombe Wanderers 6-0.
Could it be that, in an era when attacking formations, prolific strike partnerships and 4-3 scorelines are becoming extinct, that we are more likely to see seven goals when a team hammers another than when it is a closely-fought thriller?
In the 1990s, there were some thrilling 4-3 encounters, most notably Liverpool's sensational 4-3 win over Newcastle, a match that showed the top quality strike partnerships of Newcastle's Peter Beardsley and Les Ferdinand and Liverpool's prolific Robbie Fowler and a Stan Collymore on top of his game compete arguably the most exciting match the Premiership has seen.
Four Four Two magazine editor Hugh Sleight wrote in the March 2008 issue about the decline in the number of strike partnerships in the Premiership, which is undoubtedly a factor behind less high-scoring matches in today's top flight. In the 1990s, the partnerships of Manchester United's Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole, Blackburn's Chris Sutton and Alan Shearer and Liverpool's Robbie Fowler and Michael Owen were just a few thriving partnerships.
But since the beginning of the 2000s, exciting strike partnerships have been in decline as a new era has been entered, of the lone striker and the preferred 4-5-1 formation over the traditional 4-4-2.
This formation allows players like Arsenal's Spanish midfield maestro Cesc Fabregas to shine as he did in last night's famous first victory for an English side in AC Milan's San Siro stadium; it has been a breeding ground for the holding midfield position which in recent season's has been tagged by pundits as the 'Makalele role'; it allows wingers like Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo and Tottenham Hotspur's Aaron Lennon to burst forward more without the need to retreat back and defend.
Has it made Premiership football more exciting, though? The answer is no. It is a formation used to try and win, not to entertain. We have, as Starting Eleven blogs, "entered a period when neither team wants to make a horrible mistake". Therefore, teams are playing more defensively.
Kevin Keegan's attacking nineties 4-4-2 formation has been thrown out in favour of the more defensive 4-5-1, imported from Europe by foreign coaches.
This is a formation that has not particularly suited the England national team very well as Wayne Rooney was left isolated in attack during the team's World Cup 2006 match against Portugal, which was later lost on penalties. The clean sheet, though, did show that the defensive purpose of the formation did work that day.
On reflection, Manchester United did not win the title for two seasons while there was a transition period towards the 4-5-1. Instead, Mourinho's use of less conventional formations helped towards Chelsea's title wins, while Sir Alex Ferguson, so successful in using 4-4-2 in the nineties, recouperated his squad, acquiring the likes of Carlos Tevez, Anderson, Nani and Ronaldo and the side have come back stronger since. And why? Because he used 4-5-1.
The end of decade 2000 is into the latter stages now and it seems unlikely that it will produce many matchs that will equal the excitement and drama of the previous decade. But something else has become apparent. This season, Liverpool have blitzed Derby County and Besiktas 6-0 and 8-0 respectively and Arsenal have thrashed Slavia Prague 7-0. In League Two, Peterborough United have swept aside Accrington Stanley 8-2 and Brentford 7-0, while the week before, Stockport County beat Wycombe Wanderers 6-0.
Could it be that, in an era when attacking formations, prolific strike partnerships and 4-3 scorelines are becoming extinct, that we are more likely to see seven goals when a team hammers another than when it is a closely-fought thriller?
Wednesday, 27 February 2008
Diouf earns applause
Following on from my previous blog about Arsenal captain William Gallas, and after further research, Bolton Wanderers footballer El-Hadji Diouf also deserves applause for his aims over the past two months to help raise money for charity.
The Dioufy Foundation aims to help people in the Sengalese striker's childhood home, Dakar, and in his current home city, Bolton and will hold a series of fundraising concerts, friendly matches and dinners to help raise funds for hospitals and new sports facilities. It's more great news for football to see a player who, like Gallas, has reached the top level of the game and neither let the wages go to his head or forget his roots.
I feel at this point that I must verify that I do not think it is a footballer's obligation to help charities and similar causes. It is obviously not their fault that they are paid such high wages and they should not be punished for this like criminals are with community service. They also need sufficient money to cover the fact that football is a sport where most retire at around the age of 35. However, many are overpaid even taking that into consideration. I also cannot help thinking that there is something morally wrong with someone earning such a huge amount of money to do something they enjoy each week not to help those in poverty or donate just a little to charity.
(Picture from: www.football.co.uk)
Monday, 25 February 2008
A map produced in UCLan's digital newsroom workshop
Here is a map that I produced on the digital newsroom module of my journalism course at UCLan. It is an exercise to practise mapping news and, on this map, the news is from Preston, Lancashire. The links appear very large so you may need to use the arrow signs to find the minimize tool.
View Larger Map
View Larger Map
Sport and entertainment join for one worthy cause
Sport and entertainment joined forces last week as it was revealed that Premiership footballer William Gallas and, star of the BBC's leading soap opera, Eastenders' Kara Tointon will team up to promote the Sport Relief campaign.
Gallas, who captains Premiership Arsenal, is in the latter stage of his career at 30-years-old, but he insisted last month that he does not feel his age: "I feel like I'm 20-years-old sometimes because the atmosphere is so great", he said at the launch of Sport Relief.
Arsenal's rock in defence has certainly been encouraging to the young players at Arsenal and urging them to do well this season. Now he is encouraging people to get involved with Sport Relief, an initiative which harnesses the power and passion of sport to raise money to help people living really tough lives...in the UK and around the world.
He said: “You don’t have to love sport as much as me to join in with the fun of Sport Relief. You can get involved in lots of ways, by doing something active, or a sports quiz, or just by wearing a pair of Sport Relief socks. The important thing is the money you raise will be spent by Sport Relief to transform lives in the UK and across the world’s poorest countries."
In a sport which currently seems to be ruled by money and a Premier League full to the brim with overpaid players, Gallas is an inspiration to other players in the game.
I hope that other high-paid players follow in Gallas's foot steps and, even if not participating actively, simply contributed some of their money to causes such as this. Money which many in the game would not notice if it fell out of their pocket, but money that would make a great difference to others.
The big-hearted 'Gallas attitude' is what football needs to adopt if it is going to achieve its much-craved global recognition, not the gluttonous 'game 39' attitude, which I have previously blogged about. The Premier League's Chief Executive Richard Scudamore may learn a thing or two from Gallas. But sadly, I doubt the Premier League will take this path, as it does not get the money-hungry businessmen behind the top clubs any money, does it? A big shame.
(Picture from Sport Relief)
Wednesday, 20 February 2008
Digital Newsroom work at UCLan
As part of my Digital Newsroom module, I have learnt how to make a video slideshow usuing Windows Moviemaker. I have posted it below. It shows the images that can be seen by a person walking from Avenham Park to the University of Central Lancashire via the main street of shops in Preston, Lancashire.
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
Tuesday, 19 February 2008
Sporting bodies strive to strengthen fight against match-fixing
The BBC revealed today that Sporting bodies want a share of betting profits to help fight match-fixing, most notably in cricket, tennis and football.
What is a surprise to me is that there has been no investigation to my knowledge into Italy's World Cup 2006 win. They had a couple of very narrow victories in their run to the final, most notably beating Australia with a last minute Totti penalty which replays show should never have been given.
Today, UEFA have defended further investigations into match-fixing over the qualifiers for Euro 2008. What is worrying is that a lot of the match-fixing allegations are in Europe, the most prominent being the one in Italy. Worrying because, with the increasing influence of foreign businessmen who care more for money than football in England, how long will it be before there is a Premiership match-fixing scandal?
It is no surprise that these bodies want to strengthen their fight. These three sports have all faced either allegations of or action against match-fixing in the last three years.
Cricket has had its share of match-fixing inquiries in the last year, surrounding the death of Bob Woolmer. More recently, tennis has been thrust into the match-fixing limelight over allegations that player, Nickolay Davydenko, has fixed some of his games. Paul Dunstone explained. The International Tennis Federation have defended these allegations though, writes Douglas Robson for US Today.
Match-fixing has not been common talk in English football since 1997, when Bruce Grobbelaar, Hans Segers and John Fashanu were acquitted of match-fixing allegations, and in 1999, when four men were jailed for three years each for their parts in an Asian betting syndicate, purposefully causing floodlight failures in the West Ham versus Crystal Palace and Wimbledon versus Arsenal games of that season.
But the majority of the most recent match-fixing scandals in football have been in Italy, where clubs Lazio, Juventus, AC Milan and Fiorentina were all punished in 2006 for match-fixing, and the year before, Genoa and Venezia were punished in a similar scandal leading to Genoa's promotion.What is a surprise to me is that there has been no investigation to my knowledge into Italy's World Cup 2006 win. They had a couple of very narrow victories in their run to the final, most notably beating Australia with a last minute Totti penalty which replays show should never have been given.
Today, UEFA have defended further investigations into match-fixing over the qualifiers for Euro 2008. What is worrying is that a lot of the match-fixing allegations are in Europe, the most prominent being the one in Italy. Worrying because, with the increasing influence of foreign businessmen who care more for money than football in England, how long will it be before there is a Premiership match-fixing scandal?
Monday, 18 February 2008
The FA Cup is still magic, despite last year's dull final.
The FA Cup quarter-final draw was made earlier today and this is what it looked like:
Sheffield United or Middlesbrough v Cardiff City
Manchester United v Portsmouth
Bristol Rovers v West Brom
Barnsley v Chelsea
It is a disappointment that a Manchester United and Chelsea quarter-final cup tie has been avoided, increasing the chance further of them meeting in the final yet again. A repeat of a dull-as-dishwater final which the two Premiership giants produced last year would be a real anticlimax to a competition that has been once again full of the magic moments that have become synonymous with it.
Conference South side Havant and Waterlooville's cup exploits gripped the nation's imagination as they beat League One Swansea and took the lead twice at Premiership Liverpool's Anfield before losing 5-2, contrary to the view that the FA Cup has lost its magic. Perhaps this is something to do with the dismissal of its prestige and importance in English football by some of the top division's foreign managers. Liverpool manager, Rafa Benitez, a manager under a lot of pressure at the moment, did not see his side's tie last weekend as important enough to field a full strength side and duly paid the price, Barnsley's Brian Howard taking the glory, in the most magical of cup fashions, in the last minute.
Even though the FA Cup has lost its importance in the eyes of some of the league's top managers, this does not mean it has lost its magic. Although not intended, and not taking anything away from a great Barnsley performance, Benitez's team selection was a prominent factor behind how Barnsley managed to knock Liverpool out.
This 'there is no magic left in the cup' argument is either complete bilge or has been going over my head for a few seasons now. In 1997, Hednesford Town reached the fourth round; the same season Chesterfield took Middlesbrough to a replay in a semi-final; in 2001, Wycombe Wanderers knocked out then Premiership side Leicester City before losing to Liverpool 2-1 in the semis; the same year that Wycombe knocked out then Division One Wimbledon 8-7 on penalties and then Division One Tranmere beat then Premiership Southampton 4-3 from 3-0 down on the same night.
So, the claims of no magic in the cup are a mystery to me.
Let's hope the final will be between teams other than those in the top four this year, maybe between West Brom and Cardiff City instead of a repeat of last year's stalemate between two sides from a breed of Premiership teams that do not value the Cup as much as they should.
(Picture by: Bounder)
Saturday, 16 February 2008
Scudamore's game 39 plans spark worldwide criticism
The football world has been divided these last 10 days by the Premiership's controversial plans for 'game 39', that every Premier League team plays an extra domestic game in one of a number of chosen other countries.The Premier League's Chief Executive, Richard Scudamore's (pictured on the right) plan is that each of the Premiership's teams competes in one game per season abroad. But it has been deeply unpopular in the eyes of English football fans everywhere and leaders of foreign countries.
Scudamore's plans apply to domestic games, which is where the first problem in his proposal orginates. Surely 'domestic games' should be played domestically. European matches are when games should be abroad and that is how it should stay.
Scudamore said: I've been working hard for years with the big clubs to reconcile their ambitions with the smaller clubs. That's what this is all about." But is it really? It certainly is a plan that is hard to see the positive effects in, unless you are one of the rich businessmen behind the team's in the top flight. For men like West Ham's non-executive chairman Eggert Magnusson, this is a chance to sell more merchandise and get more support.
But what about the clubs below the Premiership, the smaller sides with less money? There is already a huge financial gap between the Premier League and the Football League, evident from promoted Derby's spending of just over £8 million on six players last Summer, yet they have still struggled in the top division this season. This included Robert Earnshaw, Claude Davis and Andy Todd, arguably good players, but for less than that between 1991 and 1992, they could have signed Peter Schmeichel, Alan Shearer and Eric Cantona, certainly fantastic players.
And what about even further down the league? With many lower league sides in a lot of debt already, there is no positives in Scudamore's plan for them and they are being more and more priced out of competing by chairmen that can steam roller their side to the top by pumping a seemingly endless cash supply into them. And there is seemingly nothing some of them will not do for profit, even if that means moving the club from its fanbase to a more profitable area.
Just ask Womble on Tour, who knows what it is like for football's money-men to ignore the fans. He was a Wimbledon fan until chairman Peter Winkelman moved the club to Milton Keynes, ignoring its history and fans and re-named it the MK Dons, a franchising move that lost it many supporters and, like Womble on Tour, they went to support a new side, AFC Wimbledon, who they felt was starting from where they think any football side should start, from the bottom of the league.
He says in his blog:
"The Premier League long since stopped caring about the supporters and arguably
about the integrity of the game. What they're interested in is profit. That's
fine in most businesses, but in football fascination with money alone is a
dangerous thing. You risk destroying the nature of the game and with it, its
long term well-being. Football is already endangered in this country. Young fans
are priced out of going to games which means they'll never get into the habit of
watching their team. Years down the line that's going to have a potentially
disastrous effect on attendances. Now here's another scheme that isolates
football from its followers. It simply mustn't happen."
Like the MK D0ns situations, English football fans are being ignored while their clubs are franchised. Like the MK Dons situation, the Premier League is not, as Birmingham co-owner David Gold says, "making history", but ignoring it.
If Scudamore believes that his plan will enhance English football's reputation abroad, he could not be more wrong. It has already had an adverse effect on England's bid to host the World Cup and the plans have already been rejected by the USA, Asia, and UEFA President Sepp Blatter, who has seen through Scudamore's plan for globalisation for what it really is, a plan to make the rich clubs richer.
Fifa will examine the Premier League's proposals at its executive committee meeting on 14 March.
Wednesday, 13 February 2008
The Dwain Chambers debate
The Dwain Chambers drug-taking debate has been one of the most controversial sports stories of the past week, dividing sports commentators and dividing athletics fans over whether Chambers should still be allowed to compete.
Dwain Chambers was banned from athletics in 2003 after taking performance-enhancing drugs and served his ban before going into American football in 2006. Because of this change in sports, he has been able to return to athletics, no longer monitored for drugs and therefore illegible to compete in the World Indoor Championships, having been selected.
But what should the stance be on this? LBC (London's Biggest Conversation) Radio presenter, James O'Brien, sums up the different sides of the argument. Should Dwain Chambers be stopped from competing in the World Indoor Championships and any athletics event altogether, or has he served his ban adequately and be allowed to carry on with a clean slate? O'Brien also discusses what the social consequences of the different courses of action available and whether throwing the book at a drugs offender has any positive effect in attempting to rehabilitate them.
O'Brien is quite right to investigate the social consequences of the action taken against Chambers because drug-taking is, first and foremost, a criminal offence. O'Brien's questions whether the full rehabilitation of an athlete like Chambers is the "holy grail of all matters to do with criminal offences in Britain at the moment", and I would say it is. First of all, it is hypocritical for anyone to criticise a person for drug-taking and not to give them credit for rehabilitating. What incentive to rehabilitate does this give to anybody. Secondly, Chambers' ban is comparable with a jail sentence. What I think jail sentences are for is to prepare somebody who is a danger of society to be released back into society without being a danger, so in my eyes, Chambers has the right attitude now and should have his slate wiped clean.
Tanni Grey-Thompson, the woman charged with UK Athletics’ anti-doping review, is certain of her view and believes the book should be well and truly thrown at Chambers. She told Setanta sports: "My view is that an athlete who takes a banned substance should be banned for life and not be able to run for their country again". But my question to her is, 'what about a reformed athlete who has shown remorse for their actions?'. Chambers certainly has done this.
And Chambers could be worse. Compare him with Floyd Landis, the American cyclist who claimed victory in the Tour De France only to test positive for unusually high levels of male testosterone later. Landis later denied cheating.
Perhaps some people do not trust that Chambers really is remorseful about his actions. Either way, it is fair to give him the chance to show that remorse further and would be foolish for the authorities not to keep their options open. Chambers knows he is walking a disciplinary tightrope in the future, so let's give him that chance to prove to himself and Great Britain that he can knuckle down and bring home a gold medal without the illegal substances.
Dwain Chambers was banned from athletics in 2003 after taking performance-enhancing drugs and served his ban before going into American football in 2006. Because of this change in sports, he has been able to return to athletics, no longer monitored for drugs and therefore illegible to compete in the World Indoor Championships, having been selected.
But what should the stance be on this? LBC (London's Biggest Conversation) Radio presenter, James O'Brien, sums up the different sides of the argument. Should Dwain Chambers be stopped from competing in the World Indoor Championships and any athletics event altogether, or has he served his ban adequately and be allowed to carry on with a clean slate? O'Brien also discusses what the social consequences of the different courses of action available and whether throwing the book at a drugs offender has any positive effect in attempting to rehabilitate them.
O'Brien is quite right to investigate the social consequences of the action taken against Chambers because drug-taking is, first and foremost, a criminal offence. O'Brien's questions whether the full rehabilitation of an athlete like Chambers is the "holy grail of all matters to do with criminal offences in Britain at the moment", and I would say it is. First of all, it is hypocritical for anyone to criticise a person for drug-taking and not to give them credit for rehabilitating. What incentive to rehabilitate does this give to anybody. Secondly, Chambers' ban is comparable with a jail sentence. What I think jail sentences are for is to prepare somebody who is a danger of society to be released back into society without being a danger, so in my eyes, Chambers has the right attitude now and should have his slate wiped clean.
Tanni Grey-Thompson, the woman charged with UK Athletics’ anti-doping review, is certain of her view and believes the book should be well and truly thrown at Chambers. She told Setanta sports: "My view is that an athlete who takes a banned substance should be banned for life and not be able to run for their country again". But my question to her is, 'what about a reformed athlete who has shown remorse for their actions?'. Chambers certainly has done this.
And Chambers could be worse. Compare him with Floyd Landis, the American cyclist who claimed victory in the Tour De France only to test positive for unusually high levels of male testosterone later. Landis later denied cheating.
Perhaps some people do not trust that Chambers really is remorseful about his actions. Either way, it is fair to give him the chance to show that remorse further and would be foolish for the authorities not to keep their options open. Chambers knows he is walking a disciplinary tightrope in the future, so let's give him that chance to prove to himself and Great Britain that he can knuckle down and bring home a gold medal without the illegal substances.
A look at...The Independent
Taking a change from the norm for me today, I picked up a copy of The Independent. Despite its editor being Simon Kelner, a graduate from the same course as me (Journalism at the University of Central Lancashire) and its uniquely eye-catching front pages, I don't usually feel inclined to buy it. This actually surprises me about myself because I do often wish I could read a broadsheet that is less unwieldy than The Guardian and The Daily Telegraph, which The Independent certainly is, the first broadsheet to move to a tabloid size.
But during reading it today, that is not the only feature of The Independent that strayed from a traditional broadsheet style. What caught my eye was on page 18, a five-minute interview with TV presenter, Tim Lovejoy (formerly of Sky's SoccerAM), which featured simply 12 listed questions and answers. This surprised me. It led me to think: "Does this really satisfy the newspaper's broadsheet audience?". And my conclusion was "no".
A feature such as this is good for those in the newspaper's audience who would like some lighter reading than usual broadsheet writing, but these people would surely choose a tabloid newspaper for that instead. Therefore, this particular feature serves little purpose in a broadsheet. In my opinion, this feature would not feature in a tabloid newspaper either, unless urgent filling of space was required, what I think its main purpose really is in The Independent.It is more characteristic of a magazine.
Just a small point now, but it surprises me nonetheless. Richard Morgan received a by-line for this interview. For five minutes of interviewing, I wouldn't have expected the newspaper to bother putting a by-line on this feature.
But during reading it today, that is not the only feature of The Independent that strayed from a traditional broadsheet style. What caught my eye was on page 18, a five-minute interview with TV presenter, Tim Lovejoy (formerly of Sky's SoccerAM), which featured simply 12 listed questions and answers. This surprised me. It led me to think: "Does this really satisfy the newspaper's broadsheet audience?". And my conclusion was "no".
A feature such as this is good for those in the newspaper's audience who would like some lighter reading than usual broadsheet writing, but these people would surely choose a tabloid newspaper for that instead. Therefore, this particular feature serves little purpose in a broadsheet. In my opinion, this feature would not feature in a tabloid newspaper either, unless urgent filling of space was required, what I think its main purpose really is in The Independent.It is more characteristic of a magazine.
Just a small point now, but it surprises me nonetheless. Richard Morgan received a by-line for this interview. For five minutes of interviewing, I wouldn't have expected the newspaper to bother putting a by-line on this feature.
Tuesday, 29 January 2008
Blogging for UCLan journalism course's 'Digital newsroom' module
I am a 20-year-old student in the second year of a BA (Hons) Journalism module at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) and this blog is part of my work for the Digital Journalism module on the course and beyond that.
There are several subjects that can be expected to be covered on this blog. Firstly, being a journalism student, I will be blogging about aspects of journalism in general. This could be the quality of reporting, expectations of tabloid newspapers compared with broadsheets, and my thoughts on anything journalism.
More specifically, I have been put into a group for the purposes of my assignment and given the subject of sport to write about and will be giving analysis of issues and articles in relation to contemporary sport news, as well as my own viewpoint.
The other people in my group are covering Health (Sarah Anou), Politics (Danielle Boothroyd, http://www.danielleboothroyd.blogspot.com/), and Entertainment (Kay Taylor, http://www.kaytaylordigitalnewsroom.blogspot.com/).
Expect some interesting analysis to come.
There are several subjects that can be expected to be covered on this blog. Firstly, being a journalism student, I will be blogging about aspects of journalism in general. This could be the quality of reporting, expectations of tabloid newspapers compared with broadsheets, and my thoughts on anything journalism.
More specifically, I have been put into a group for the purposes of my assignment and given the subject of sport to write about and will be giving analysis of issues and articles in relation to contemporary sport news, as well as my own viewpoint.
The other people in my group are covering Health (Sarah Anou), Politics (Danielle Boothroyd, http://www.danielleboothroyd.blogspot.com/), and Entertainment (Kay Taylor, http://www.kaytaylordigitalnewsroom.blogspot.com/).
Expect some interesting analysis to come.
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