Journalism in Practice News Stories

Journalism in practice – 8 News Reports
‘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
This retrospective exhibition includes work from the artists such as ‘Davis Cone’,
‘Roberto Bernardi’, ‘Audrey Flack’ and ‘Raphaella Spence’, ranging from the 1960’s
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
‘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
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season” says Hannah Carroll, a marketing officer at the gallery.
to the current day.
coup for Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery.”
constructed as a touring exhibition by the Institute for Cultural Exchange.
Gemma Harris

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.
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Gemma Harris

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Gemma Harris
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
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
As the increase in technology within learning continues does this mean we are saying
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relied upon technology fails.
completing my work.”
goodbye to the old fashioned way of doing things?
Gemma Harris

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Gemma Harris
‘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
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
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
The main aim of the charity is to keep costs low and to gain volunteers. They need
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 publi c
money so the money we now save them can be put back into helping save lives.” “All
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that should arrive on Saturday.” [8th March]
between 7pm and 6am, at weekends and 24 hours over bank holidays.
me that a local group was being set up in Warwickshire so joined them.”
help with raising funds, taking incoming calls and co-ordinating riders.
Gemma Harris

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
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.
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help then please get in touch.”
Gemma Harris
Images of the ‘blood bikes’ in action.
Obtained from Warwickshire free wheelers.

Residents of Solihull are complaining about the issue of fines for parking outside
A resident was issued a fine of £70, on 2nd January 2014, for parking on the road of
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
“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
“I am appealing this parking fine as I believe there was not anywhere else I could’ve
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’
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Council issue fines for residents parking outside own homes
their own homes.
Witham Croft outside his own home.
parked on the road as there was no room on the drive.”
permit.”
parked.”
Gemma Harris

is in fact a 15 minute walk, once the car has been parked on this road, and there are
This parking restriction is doing what it was intended to do but is also affecting the
Julie Harrison, Communications Officer, from Solihull Metropolitan Borough council
said: “Parking in a restricted street is the most common contra vention. It’s believed
that most of the parking relates to the residents and visitors to the residents. Initially
Solihull council were, however, unable to comment on why Mr Brassington received
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 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
To resolve this situation more people would have to agree to allow parking permits
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plenty of parking opportunities en-route, closer to the school.
residents of this area.
there was some suggestion that there was some town centre parking.”
the fine.
the schools.
in their street. So it was implemented as a trial.”
for residents on their street.
Gemma Harris

A global march, to raise awareness of “canned hunting” of lions, is taking place this
“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
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
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
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
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Worldwide marches attempt to stop “Canned Hunting”
Saturday.
this legal torture.
industry.”
cities taking part in Britain.
20,000 people attended a recent protest against the badger cull.”
Gemma Harris

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
“As our event is static we will ask people to sign our petition and also to write to
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
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
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
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import of lion trophies to help reduce demand.”
their MP asking for the ban on import of trophies.” she added.
have learnt about canned hunting, and want to make a difference.”
to “restore their pride”.
have more support for our aims.” said Ms Partridge.
Gemma Harris

Campaigners are still encouraging people to sign up, to a march in their local area,
Ms Partridge added: “I would recommend that people take part in the event if they
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and take part in this event.
believe canned hunting should end.”
Gemma Harris

Birmingham prepares for new neighbourhood of residential living
Canal and River trust are in partnership with Birmingham City Council (BCC) over
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
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
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potential residential living plans on a local building site.
common vision for our respective landholdings.”
together.
Gemma Harris

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
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.”
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developments put in place over the coming years.”
Gemma Harris
Arial views of the potential plans for the
Brownfield site. Provided by James
Lazarus.

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Gemma Harris
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.”

‘watergraph’ to show their support for the campaign. 1,000 people have signed up
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
“We want everyone, everywhere to have clean water, sanitation and hygiene by
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
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;
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Counties, including the midlands, are encouraging the public to sign their
so far to take part in this.
world living without it.”
2030.”
safe drinking water”
Gemma Harris

water aid is involved with 26 countries across the world. There are hundreds of ways
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to get involved.” said Mr Pedridge.
Gemma Harris

A fresh perspective of the play “Death of a salesman” graced the stage at King
“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
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
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
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“Death of a salesman” at King Edward VI Camp Hill School
Edward Camphill school last night.
The play is set in Brooklyn, New York, in the late 1940’s.
deserved.
enjoyed that.” he added.
weeks from beginning to end.”
Gemma Harris

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
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
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
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
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writer’s, Arthur Miller’s, interpretation of American dream. The cast of
actors/actresses is small consisting of only 12 people.
entertained despite the depressing storyline from start to finish.”
portrayed. It was a play of morbid fascination.”
29th March from 7:15pm onwards. Tickets are still available for purchase.
Gemma Harris

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Gemma Harris
Images of the set. The set was produced by Philip
Carman.
pictured
producer of the school

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