Journalism in Practice News Stories

Journalism in practice – 8 News Reports

1 | P a g e Gemma Harris

‘Photorealism’ the retro experience comes to Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery

A new display at Birmingham’s local gallery “is the mus t see exhibition of the

season” says Hannah Carroll, a marketing officer at the gallery.

This retrospective exhibition includes work from the artists such as ‘Davis Cone’,

‘Roberto Bernardi’, ‘Audrey Flack’ and ‘Raphaella Spence’, ranging from the 1960’s

to the current day.

Hannah Carroll added: “it surveys work by Birmingham-born artist John Salt and by

the major US artists considered to have developed the genre such as Chuck Close.”

“I'd recommend that people visit the exhibition because it’s the first major large-

scale retrospective in Europe devoted to Photorealism. Not since the 1970s has

there been the opportunity to view so many Photorealist paintings in one place. This

exhibition - the first in Europe to gather all the star names of the genre - is a real

coup for Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery.”

‘Photorealism’ features paintings that appear like photographs. This style of art

comes from a movement of American artists in the late 1960’s and was first

constructed as a touring exhibition by the Institute for Cultural Exchange.



A local art student, Léa Campbell, said: “the suburbia section was really good along

with the portraiture section mainly due to Chuck Close and his fame; however, for

those who are not interested in paintings it is possibly slightly too expensive.”

Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery is the only UK venue to showcase Europeans

largest and first retrospective art. The exhibition runs until the 30th March 2014.



Technology takes over studies

Recent concerns, within local Birmingham universities, are that technology is too

heavily relied upon within teaching and learning.

In current society the impact of technology is increasing; it is important to consider

how this will affect the future. The education industry requires technology to

survive.

It is estimated that many students use technology for between 10 and 40 hours per

week solely for study purposes.

Mel Moore, the lead academic for technology enhanced learning and teaching, from

Birmingham City University said: “We see technology as an adjunct to the classroom

learning experience. It allows us to support learning activities over a wider time

frame, make use of collaborative tools to help students to construct their own

learning and facilitate activities such as online assessment and submissions of

assessed work, which would be time consuming or impractical given the numbers of

students who want to come to BCU.”

“Year on year growth in the use of technology within modules and course has grown

and we anticipate it to continue growing.”



The growth of technology is increasing the independent studying of students. It is

considered to be a natural thing. Students are expected to have access to technology

in order to complete study tasks. Concerns have risen about what happens when this

relied upon technology fails.

A local student, Jack Brassington, said: “my tutors set me work online all the time;

therefore, technology and internet is important, within my studies, so I can access

everything from home. If this technology were to fail, I would have no way of

completing my work.”

As the increase in technology within learning continues does this mean we are saying

goodbye to the old fashioned way of doing things?



‘Blood Bikes’ Emerging Throughout the UK

An emergency rider’s service has launched in Solihull.

Best known as ‘Blood Bikes’ a voluntary service consisting of voluntary motorcyclists ,

who transfer items between hospitals outside of courier service operating hours , has

started because of Touchwood.

Andy Cole, the general manager of Touchwood shopping centre, said: “I used to ride

for one [an emergency rider’s service] down in Bristol and when I came to Solihull I

noticed there wasn’t one. Rather than volunteering for one far away I thought I

would establish one here.

“Someone died in an accident around here and it is a good charity to support” “The

CSR (corporate social responsibility) is easier for touchwood.”

The service runs between 7pm and 6am and at weekends. It operates during these

hours so other couriers, which are not readily available, are not brought; this would

otherwise generate higher costs and delay treatment for patients. Key transport

vehicles such as ambulances or police cars are not being used meaning important

members of staff are not prevented from being in the places they are most needed.

Mr Cole said: “The service benefits anyone in hospital needing blood and the

hospital as they use a free voluntary service to transfer items otherwise they would

have to pay for a courier or use an ambulance.”



“People can get involved by either giving donations or by co-ordinating phone calls

at hospitals.” The voluntary service relies solely on donations from the public.

The service has been established by Touchwood but is starting to branch out as a

separate charity. The manager said: “It is not fully up and running yet but we are,

however, merging with Warwickshire free wheelers. We have ordered our first bike

that should arrive on Saturday.” [8th March]

Warwickshire free wheeler’s is another emergency rider’s service founded in 2011. It

operates using the same basis. It also runs outside courier service operating hours

between 7pm and 6am, at weekends and 24 hours over bank holidays.

The chair of this charity, Lee Nash, is also a volunteer for the Warwickshire service.

He said: “I became aware of the service by seeing a Bloodbike on the motorway and

wondering what they were doing. I thought like a lot of people that the service is

run by the National Blood Service so I had a look on the internet and found out they

were volunteers. I looked for my local group which at the time was Midland

Freewheelers and contacted them. I was too far out of their area but they informed

me that a local group was being set up in Warwickshire so joined them.”

The main aim of the charity is to keep costs low and to gain volunteers. They need

help with raising funds, taking incoming calls and co-ordinating riders.

Mr Nash said: “The hospitals were charged by local taxi firms to transport the items

we now transport which on some occasions was costing in excess of £50.00 of public

money so the money we now save them can be put back into helping save lives.” “All



of our volunteers give a lot of their time to support the service helping sick patients

who need medial specimens, blood, x-rays, or equipment transporting. If you can

help then please get in touch.”

This charity is spreading to smaller regions of the UK. Volunteer riders can be

available 2 or more nights per week. They have to be over the age of 25, have held

an unrestricted bike license and hold a current advanced riding qualification.

Images of the ‘blood bikes’ in action.

Obtained from Warwickshire free wheelers.



Council issue fines for residents parking outside own homes

Residents of Solihull are complaining about the issue of fines for parking outside

their own homes.

A resident was issued a fine of £70, on 2nd January 2014, for parking on the road of

Witham Croft outside his own home.

The resident, Jack Brassington, said: “I came out of my house at around 9.30am to

find a big yellow ticket slapped on my window. I was given a ticket because I was

parked on the road as there was no room on the drive.”

“I parked my car where I did because the driveway was full and we have already

converted the garden into a drive for additional space but there was still not enough

room. And as a student I was only using the car to take myself to work and after that

I was dropping it at my granddads for the night. The council won’t offer me a parking

permit.”

“I am appealing this parking fine as I believe there was not anywhere else I could’ve

parked.”

Car parking fines are issued within the Hill field area of Solihull to prevent non-

residents from parking there when dropping off children at the nearby schools ‘St

Peters Catholic School’ and ‘Tudor Grange Academy’. The nearest school, ‘St Peters’



is in fact a 15 minute walk, once the car has been parked on this road, and there are

plenty of parking opportunities en-route, closer to the school.

This parking restriction is doing what it was intended to do but is also affecting the

residents of this area.

Julie Harrison, Communications Officer, from Solihull Metropolitan Borough council

said: “Parking in a restricted street is the most common contravention. It’s believed

that most of the parking relates to the residents and visitors to the residents. Initially

there was some suggestion that there was some town centre parking.”

Solihull council were, however, unable to comment on why Mr Brassington received

the fine.

The council allows parking permits in other areas of Solihull such as ‘Kilsby Grove’;

the next road down from ‘Witham Croft’ and only under a minute further away from

the schools.

The council said the reasoning for this was: “After an exhaustive consultation, a

proposal was presented to residents where a suitable majority, on a street by street

basis, would need to agree to the scheme. When each street was approached, the

response was very slight with only 3 locations actually agreeing to having the scheme

in their street. So it was implemented as a trial.”

To resolve this situation more people would have to agree to allow parking permits

for residents on their street.



Worldwide marches attempt to stop “Canned Hunting”

A global march, to raise awareness of “canned hunting” of lions, is taking place this

Saturday.

“Canned hunting” is the breeding of white lions for the purpose to kill them, when

the lions are big enough, using their heads as trophies for a large amount of money;

this practice is legal in South Africa. The march is taking place with the hope to ban

this legal torture.

The official website, ‘global march 4 lions’, says: “There are around 20,000 lions left

in Africa. 900 Lions a year are legally hunted and exported for trophies (in the whole

of Africa). Over 160 “Canned Lion” killing camps in South Africa established over the

past 15 years. The captive killing of tamed lions (“canned hunting”) is a growing, un-

policed industry.”

There is a march starting from Chamberlain Square, in Birmingham, at 11am to

support this global event. The event remains in Chamberlain square throughout. 62

cities around the world are participating in this campaign. Birmingham is one of five

cities taking part in Britain.

Kerry Partridge, the organiser of the event, said: “This is the first ever Global March

for Lions. We are expecting 100-150 people to attend. It was reported that around

20,000 people attended a recent protest against the badger cull.”



She said: “We are marching to call for an end to canned hunting.” “We want the

South African government to ban this kind of hunting and the EU and US to ban

import of lion trophies to help reduce demand.”

“As our event is static we will ask people to sign our petition and also to write to

their MP asking for the ban on import of trophies.” she added.

Tricia Holford, Co-ordinator of the BFF (Born Free Foundation), is helping to organise

and speaking at the Birmingham event. She said “organisers of the 55 marches

around the world are ‘just’ members of the public who are horrified by what they

have learnt about canned hunting, and want to make a difference.”

The BFF’s purpose is to provide animals with a voice. The official ‘Global march for

lions – Birmingham’ Facebook page says that Birmingham’s purpose, for the lions, is

to “restore their pride”.

Ms Holford also said “The Born Free Foundation has campaigned against canned

hunting since 1997, and this is why I was invited to be one of the speakers.”

“Hopefully the event will raise awareness of this horrible industry and also we will

have more support for our aims.” said Ms Partridge.



Campaigners are still encouraging people to sign up, to a march in their local area,

and take part in this event.

Ms Partridge added: “I would recommend that people take part in the event if they

believe canned hunting should end.”



Birmingham prepares for new neighbourhood of residential living

Canal and River trust are in partnership with Birmingham City Council (BCC) over

potential residential living plans on a local building site.

The 55 acres of land, at Icknield Port Loop, is soon expected to become available on

the market; investors such as MIPIM will be invited to invest in this plan. The

development will provide a new residential neighbourhood in the centre of the city.

James Lazarus, head of property development, from Canal and River Trust said the

reasoning of partnership with BCC is because “we are adjacent owners and have a

common vision for our respective landholdings.”

He added: “The way we envisage matters being structured as we move forward will

give us the opportunity to participate in the actual development process if we so

wish or alternatively development parcels may be sold to third party developers.”

Local residents will benefit from this development. If planning permission is

accepted the development will provide potential residents with an estimated 1,150

homes, 12,900 sq m of new retail, employment space, a hotel and a swimming pool.

The plan is also expected to create an active community vibe and bring residents

together.



HBD (Housebuilder and Developer) official website says: “The wider area will see

over 3,000 new homes and a range of employment and community-based

developments put in place over the coming years.”

Mr Lazarus said: “We hope to select a Private Sector Partner to help BCC and us

bring the scheme forward during the latter part of this year with work starting in

2015. It could take as much as ten years for the full 55 acres to be built out.”

Arial views of the potential plans for the Brownfield site. Provided by James Lazarus.



Midlands Supports World Water Day

Local areas are getting involved with supporting world water day.

World water day is an annual event that takes place all over the world. This year’s

world water day is tomorrow (22nd march 2014). Its purpose is to raise awareness of

the link between water and energy. Water supplies are needed to generate energy.

Energy is needed for water.

The midlands environment agency has already raised £151, 911.56 for water aid UK

over the past 18 years. The campaign wants people who have clean, safe water to

think of those who do not have these luxuries. 768 million people around the world

do not have access to clean water.

Chris Pedridge, the planning manager and rep for water aid UK, said: “Water aid UK

is the main chosen charity of the environment agency. We hold different events to

raise money and awareness, for world water day and water aid UK, such as raffles.

One event we held recently was a competition to guess the exact amount of water;

the person who won received a prize.”

Mr Pedridge added: “1 in 10 of the worlds population do not have access to clean

water. To raise awareness a giant interactive waterfall was created and run by HSBC.

They encouraged people to sign up and have their name projected onto the

waterfall. 1,000 people tweeted to have their names projected.”



Counties, including the midlands, are encouraging the public to sign their

‘watergraph’ to show their support for the campaign. 1,000 people have signed up

so far to take part in this.

The official water aid UK website says: “It's a chance for us to think about what safe

water means to us. And what it could mean to the millions of people around the

world living without it.”

“We want everyone, everywhere to have clean water, sanitation and hygiene by

2030.”

Unido and United Nations University (UNU) are co-organising the event. The official

UN world water day website says “the UN System – working closely with its Member

States and other relevant stakeholders – is collectively bringing its attention to the

water-energy nexus, particularly addressing inequities, especially for the 'bottom

billion' who live in slums and impoverished rural areas and survive without access to

safe drinking water”

The day hopes to find solutions to water and energy related issues and to continue

to develop practical and sustainable ideas to continue to raise awareness for this.

“The day will help to support the work of water organisations and local people that

are involved. It will help to support the work of partners involved with water aid UK;



water aid is involved with 26 countries across the world. There are hundreds of ways

to get involved.” said Mr Pedridge.



“Death of a salesman” at King Edward VI Camp Hill School

A fresh perspective of the play “Death of a salesman” graced the stage at King

Edward Camphill school last night.

The play is set in Brooklyn, New York, in the late 1940’s.

“Death of a salesman” follows the final twenty four hours of the main character and

salesman’s, Willy Loman’s, life. It starts off introducing Willy Loman as an

unsuccessful salesman who has not gained the rewards for his efforts in life that he

deserved.

Producer of the play and history teacher at the school, Mike Southworth, said: “It is a

serious, multi-layered drama which makes tremendous demands on the actors.”

“I have been producing and directing plays [at the school] since 1971. I had

previously produced A View From a Bridge which is also by Arthur Miller and had

enjoyed that.” he added.

He explained the process of the production of plays like this “We start with auditions

followed by read through’s and walk through’s and numerous rehearsals during

lunch breaks and after school. This production has been very intense taking only 5

weeks from beginning to end.”



As the play unravels so does Willy’s life particularly focusing on the relationship

between him and his son. The play ends with the death of Willy Loman. It is the

writer’s, Arthur Miller’s, interpretation of American dream. The cast of

actors/actresses is small consisting of only 12 people.

An audience member, Judie Harris, said: “The best part of the play was the fact that

such a small cast kept the audience’s attention throughout the whole of the play.

There was a huge amount of dialogue and little action which required concentration

throughout and the students who took part did an amazing job in remembering all of

their lines. I thought they were an incredibly talented bunch of actors/actresses who

entertained despite the depressing storyline from start to finish.”

She added: “I would recommend that people see the play because it was amazing to

see the talent within the school. It is unbelievable that they can learn and retain this

amount of dialogue. It was clever the way that the flashbacks of Willy’s life were

portrayed. It was a play of morbid fascination.”

Special thanks were given, on the night, to members of staff at the school who

helped with the play. The play is running, at Camp Hill, for 3 nights on 27th, 28th and

29th March from 7:15pm onwards. Tickets are still available for purchase.



Images of the set. The set was produced by Philip Carman.

Mike Southworth, pictured above, the producer of the school play.

Education

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