Politics

All right. So I know the politics of a country thousands of miles away might not be so interesting as this week’s Euro tantrum or Jeremy Clarkson’s most recent politically incorrect statement, but as journalists we should know a little bit about everywhere. So here go my two cents about the current state of digital media in Mexico. But first a little bit of history.

This year I'm the editor of the politics section on our campus's student news website; www.theMedwire.co.uk

I'm looking for students to write for us, so if you're hoping to go into political journalism then this is a great opportunity for something that would look really good on your CV! In addition, after writing a few stories for the Medwire, you can always use them to help build your portfolio (I cannot stress enough how useful it is to have stories ready to go into your portfolio when you reach the end of the year!).

Don't let the fact it's 'politics' scare you away either. if you're fairly new to the political scene you can ease in with some easier stories of your choice or cover campus politics stories. As a member of the UMSA I'm happy to explain how things work and send you to cover relevant meetings and events.

Have a listen to this excellent 3 part Radio 4 series which takes its title from the famous book by Bernard Crick 'In Defence of Politics'. It will be especially useful and of interest for the MA class where we will be discussing political apathy and participation next week. And the two episodes about cynical attitudes towards politics and unfair treatment of politicians by the media is relevant to the topic next week in the Power without Responsibility class.

They say journalists never let the truth get in the way of a good story, but the same might now be true of politicians. Was an illiegal immigrant allowed to stay in this country because he owned a cat, or wasn't he?

Just came across this on the student portal, hopefully it is of some use to someone!

Sales of Scottish newspapers have fallen steeply in recent years leading to job losses and a new democratic deficit. Debate has started about independence and the future of the union, but are there enough journalists to cover it and enough readers to take it seriously? The Independent on Sunday asked me to write about it. There is interest in Edinburgh. Feel free to participate in the debate.   

Before his future prospects were boosted by the death of Osama bin Laden, the US President was already in a good mood. His speech to Whitehouse correspondents last week was one of the best he has made. Watch, enjoy.

The veteran Labour politician Tony Benn is appearing at the Gulbenkian theatre on the Canterbury campus tomorrow evening. Some of you will have read his diaries and know that he is always a controversial and entertaining character.

The lecture on the coaltion and the constitution at Canterbury has been postponed due to the weather.

Congratulations to Alan McGuinness (Third Year) who helped the Independent on Sunday to cover Ed Milliband's crucial relaunch speech in Gillingham yesterday.  Alan is credited it at the foot of this story by Matt Chorley, the IoS's Political Correspondent.  Well done also to every CforJ student who took the initiative and went to the speech with their notebook.