Eight battle it out for Midlands Newspaper of the Year

Nominations announced for region’s media stars.

Blues for a forgotten crooner

Richard Lutz catalogues another seven days.

Sir Howard speaks on The Great Bake Off row

Thoughts on the great events of the day.

Press beats Post

Better late than never.

Cracked Mirror

Labour MP Keith Vaz is under fire after a tabloid secretly recorded alleged trysts with male escorts. We’re all victims, says Richard Lutz

Newsroom Diary: Heading South to the North

Richard Lutz leaves Scottish journalism and heads for the back channels of England newspapers. 

Tales from a freelance

Richard Lutz continues his slow rise forty years ago to journalistic mediocrity

Days of My Youth: 2nd June, 1975

Richard Lutz walked into his first newsroom 40 years ago today – 2 June, 1975. He revisits his entry into journalism that began a slow rise to mediocrity.

Court Life: Coulson and Harris

Richard Lutz turns a baleful eye towards the two high-profile court cases ending in jail terms for well-known media figures.

Of Benefit Street, Birmophobia and Benjamin Z

MAX CARLISH is working on a film with poet Benjamin Zephaniah and local social entrepreneur Jason Turner about finding work for former prisoners. He finds it raises a great deal of questions about Birmingham, its profile….and, of course, the curse of Benefit Street.

System failures

The Birmingham Press has experienced some tech issues over the last 10 days.

What’s in a name?

Larry Inman ponders this whilst contemplating an outbreak of violence.

Birmingham – Where the world meets

Meet Birmingham has unveiled a new marketing campaign designed to attract more major events to Birmingham, the Black Country and Solihull.

Tune In, Vote Tory

Steve Beauchampé doesn’t like what he’s hearing on the airwaves.

Creative industries compete to raise money for charity

Media and creative professionals from across Birmingham revealed their competitive sides as they battled against each other in a bid to raise more than one thousand pounds for two local charities.

New look for the World’s oldest press club

Birmingham Press Club, the oldest of its kind in the world, has given itself a face-lift – with a new logo and a vibrant new website.

Birmingham Airport main sponsor of Midlands Media Awards for 2013

Birmingham Press Club has launched its Midlands Media Awards for 2013 – with new categories for Blogger of the Year and Best News Website.

BBC Strike: Sir Howard Gives You The Background

Sir Howard Elston, our roving reporter without portfolio, explains the background to today’s strike by BBC journalists

Music students given real-world insight by record industry luminaries

Students on Coventry University’s music technology course gained a fascinating insight into working in the music and recording sector when they heard from a panel of industry heavyweights.

When Light Entertainment Hits Dark Times

‘Times were different then’ say some under the legal post Savile spotlight. No, they weren’t says journalist Richard Lutz

Howard Elston Scoop: New Man at the BBC Helm

Sir HOWARD ELSTON (DOA) gives the inside line on who will be the new top man at the scandal-scarred BBC. Here’s his crucial report:

The Poisonous World of Anti-Social Media

Richard Lutz is worried how social media is ruining the spread of free speech.

BBC Radio’s Rob Nothman to give talk on sports commentary

Veteran BBC radio presenter Rob Nothman will be visiting Coventry later this month to present a special lecture entitled Fifty years of Radio Sports Commentary.

Bridge takes a different Vu to its corporate website

A leading Coventry communications company has reaffirmed its stance as a digital pioneer with the help of mobile web experts Digi-Vu.

The Birmingham Salon Debate: Have we got copyright wrong?

So what do we make of the current copyright regime? Join in the debate at The Ropewalk, 15-20 St. Paul’s Square, Birmingham

Money for Light House

Wolverhampton Centre for the National Trust makes important donation to Light House’s fund-raising efforts

SHOCK REPORT: TV To Re-Start News Coverage After Olympics

Howard Elston, our media analyst, unveils new plans by the BBC to cover news once the magnificent Games end.

Of Machiavelli, Murdoch and The Media

RICHARD LUTZ peers into a crystal ball to see how the Murdoch Saga might really be playing out behind the tattered scenery.

And Here Is Lots of News- North of the Border At Least

        by Richard Lutz Banished to Scotland for a while, and thoughts turn to tv once I tire of haggis flavoured crisps, ‘interesting’ weather patterns and monomanic Old Firm sport coverage ITV’s local franchise STV, out of Glasgow, is an intriguing offer. Whenever I come north of the border, I notice it…

When The Sky Really Is the Limit

Tv news station Sky has admitted it hacked into emails for a story…but it was in the public interest. The public what? asks Richard Lutz Earlier this week James Murdoch left the board of Sky. He said he didn’t want his other troubles with creepy News of the World and the deluded and deranged Sun…