« November 2007 | Main | January 2008 »
December 20, 2007
Barbara's return
While everyone is rushing around outside looking for those last minute Christmas presents there is a sense that things are starting to slow down a bit at Gazette House today.
We have just finished the next issue of the Gazette, which will be out on Boxing Day. I am not sure that too many people will be rushing out first thing to buy it and traditionally the paper after Christmas has the lowest sale of the year.
It is certainly quiet on the news front and the phones have virtually stopped ringing in the newsroom as people turn their attention to turkey and tinsel rather than riniging in with news stories.
Our subs are still beavering away as some of the other papers produced out of Uxbridge have pre-Christmas deadlines to meet. However, the initial surge of work at the start of the week has been replaced by a much more sedate atmosphere. Perhaps it's the calm before the storm!
I was particularly pleased to see that our popular reporter Barbara Fisher is well on the mend from her hip operation after she popped into the office yesterday.
The reporters were pleased to see her after he long spell away from the office especially as she gave them a large tin of sweets to scoff...
Barbara will be back in the office on January 2 and our new reporter for the Ruislip and Northwood area Charlene Mitchell will also be starting that day. It will mean that for the first time in many months the newsdesk will be at full strength - a great start for the new year.
This will be my lost blog of 2007 as after today I am off until the new year.
Have a great Christmas and a happy New Year.
Posted by aseal at 1:22 PM | Comments (0)
December 18, 2007
Going up in smoke!
It's organised chaos in the newsroom at Gazette House this week as one Christmas deadline passes and another one creeps up on us.
This week's Gazette is already done and dusted and we have now started on the next edition which will come out on Boxing Day.
Infact, it's quite easy to get a bit confused as to what edition you are working on this time of year - and that's not because we have all been hitting the bottle in the newsroom!.
To be honest it's a difficult time for newsrooms this time of year as papers are a lot smaller and there is generally not a great deal of news around but you still have to get two editions done in half the normal time.
One story that really caught my eye in this week's Gazette is our page three lead about a patient at Hillingdon Hospital complaining that he was unable to smoke on hospital grounds.
He claims that the hospital was like a 'concentration camp' and is angry that he had to resort to hiding behind a bush in his medical gown to have a crafty fag after being stopped by security staff from smoking in the hospital grounds.
I will let you make up your own minds as to whether you think his complaint is justified or not.
From a personal point of view as followers of this blog know I spent some time in hospital earlier this year.
Before entering hospital I was a smoker but during my stay it never entered my head to have a fag - to be honest I did not even feel like one.
And it has helped me to kick the habit as I have not smoked now for more than three months...
Today is shaping up to be a busy one and this morning I will be helping with the delivery of toys from our successful Christmas appeal and then have several meetings planned for later in the day.
Posted by aseal at 7:50 AM | Comments (3)
December 12, 2007
Christmas cheer
I have just returned from the Chimes shopping centre in Uxbridge full of festive cheer.
And the main reason is the generosity of Gazette readers towards our firsr ever Toy Appeal which we have been running in colaboration with the Chimes and Hillingdon Hospital.
The toys have simply been flooding in since we lanuched the appeal and now we are gearing ourselves up for their delivery across the borough next week.
I was down in the Chimes to have a picture taken with the shopping centre's marketing manager Michelle Moffitt.
Michelle always knows a good picture opportunity when she sees one and produced a giant polar bear, which has been given to the Toy Appeal, for the picture along with several other cuddly creatures.
One small child is going to have a wonderful Christnmas present with the bear and it sums up the tremendous generosity people have shown towards the appeal.
I will be back at the Chimes on Tuesday helping to load up the toys for delivery and judging by the amount at Gazette House and the shoppoing centre it looks like being a back breaking few hours.
While in the Chimes it was also interesting to see the people using the annual charity gift wrapping service which is now in full swing.
I must admit I am not only useless but also hate wrapping Christmas presents so a visit to the Chimes may be on the cards in the next few days.
Posted by aseal at 3:35 PM | Comments (0)
December 7, 2007
News story of the year
I must admit I have been captivated by the story of the 'missing canoeist' as it has unfolded this week.
It has to be the best 'news' story of the year and one that has got just about everyone talking. I have to say some the reporting and in particular the headlines in the tabloids have been superb and it looks like it's a story that is going to run and run ... I can't get enough of it.
Much of today has been taken up with interviewing for a new deputy production editor as our current one is leaving shortly to take up a position with Ealing Council.
Having now got back to my office I am looking at a deserted newsroom. I thought that everyone had left early for tonight's Gazette Christmas party but infact, they are all out delivering some of the mountain of gifts that have flooded in for our Toy Appeal.
It has been a tremendous success and the toys continue to pour in at Gazette House and the Chimes Shopping Centre in Uxbridge. To be honest we have all been astounded by just how generous readers have been in donating so many toys - and remember the appeal runs until December 16 so there is still time for you to donate your gifts.
I was looking forward to a nice restful weekend but I have just received an email from my daughter asking me if I can go Christmas shopping with her in Guildford tomorrow morning followed by a trip to B&Q to buy some Christmas lights and a tree.
So much for a peaceful weekend ...,
Posted by aseal at 3:37 PM | Comments (0)
December 5, 2007
Judging for heroes
Today the judging for our Local Heroes 2007 awards is taking place at Gazette House - and I have to say it's a real pleasure being involved and looking at some of the shorlisted entries there has been another great response this year.
Later today I will be joined by the Mayor of Hillingdon Catherine Dann and Uxbridge College principal Laraine Smith for the judging which is always a tough task.
I am also looking forward to meeting up with Laraine, who is the new college principal having taken over from Rachel Davies at the start of this term. This is the fifth year of the awards and once again they are being generously supported by the College.
I will let you know how the judging goes although I will be sworn to secrecy on who has won in the various categories until the Gala Finals night on January 31 when the winners will be announced and presented with their awards.
With this week's Gazette now out there is a bit of breathing space before we start on the next issue although with the dreaded Christmas deadlines looming up fast on us I don't think there is going to be much time to sit back and take things easy for anyone in the newsroom.
Posted by aseal at 8:08 AM | Comments (0)
December 4, 2007
Festive cheer
I am glad to see that after my earlier comments the Christmas tree is now up in Uxbridge town centre and festive cheer has been restored.
I have to admit I am a bit out of touch with what's making the news across the borough because our sports editor Scott is on holiday, yes again. That means I have had to step in and do 'some real work this week' and have been busy putting together the Gazette sports pages over the last couple of days.
However, with almost a full compliment of staff in the newsroom this week I am expecting great things with the paper!
I do know that we have a strong potential lead for the Uxbridge edition which is certain to get people talking.A major pub chain has announced plans to build a 'super pub' in the town centre and demolish a number of High Street shops in the process.
Some of these shops have been in business for more than 20 years in Uxbridge and I am sure there is going to be plenty of opposition from traders and the public to the pub plan.
You will be able to read the full story in tomorrow's Gazette and also have the opportunity to voice your views at http://www.uxbridgegazette/haveyoursay
Posted by aseal at 7:36 AM | Comments (0)