How to tweet a photo and tag people for Police Officers

Anyone can use this technique to get a fast message out.

1, Compose a Tweet 2, Add a Photo 3, Tag up to ten people 4, Send

Using twitter to tweet a photo to tag up to ten people can be invaluable to get a fast message out to people. Here's how to do it with an example..

60 News Organisations on Twitter: Followers, Tweets, References and Charts by Mike Downes

Following on from a post I made in the We the People, Google+ and the BBC Community, I've become curious on how often News Organisations Tweet - and what they get out of it.

As a two line background, I saw a BBC twitter account making 84 tweets a day compared to 8 posts at facebook and 3 posts at Google+ in a day.

Mohammed Saleem Press Conference: How West Midlands Police made history this morning at YouTube while searching for a murderer

+West Midlands Police made Press Conference history today LIVE at YouTube.

In a Google world where fast is better than slow (on the web or in catching a murder), anyone can become their own media company.

Google+: Sarah Hill's Broadcast News Hangouts with full Audio Transcript

Google released a video today featuring Sarah Hill and many more people who I've come to call my friends since my involvement with the News in Missouri. 

It's no secret to reader's of my stream at g+ (and this blog) that Google Hangouts have changed my life forever.

Little did I know in July 2011, when I sat on a sofa forcing myself to learn what Google Plus really was and how to use it, it would lead to this. I've seen things and gone places that I could never have dreamed of.

For many who have not experienced it before, it seems odd that a webcam, a headset and a microphone can do that. We are a year on now and my passion for Google Plus and what Hangouts can achieve is only just starting. I know Sarah feels the same.

Here is the audio transcript edited for you to read. By reproducing it here, makes it Google Searchable. That's a lesson for another day. 

0:07 Sarah Hill: My wheels are constantly turning about what might we be able to do in our news broadcast.
0:12 Sarah Hill: It all has to do with providing an accurate record, and being a resource for
0:19 people who reach out to us.
0:21 Sarah Hill: In our business, sometimes we think that we need to give you information, information,
0:27 information - and we’ve kind of forgotten the fact that that we need to listen.

0:32 Chad LaFarge: What Sarah’s doing is she’s gone from traditional news reporting format,
0:36 where there’s a person standing on the screen and they throw news at you - to a format where
0:40 people can come in and join the conversation. from your home you can log in...
0:44 Chad LaFarge: ...Sarah gives the news and says, “Chad what do you think about that”
0:47 Sarah Hill: It’s essentially a hybrid newscast that combines social media with TV.

0:52 Kim Beasley: Sarah does something that’s really unique. She has a earbud in each ear.
0:56 In one ear she’s listening to her producer.
0:58 Jen McMillen: You’re about a minute from headline.
1:00 Kim Beasley: In the other ear she’s listening to us.
1:02 Kim Beasley: Sarah what are you talking about today.

1:04 Kim Beasley: As she’s reporting the news, she’s hearing our feedback. Sometimes she
1:08 incorporates that into the newscast.
1:10 Jen McMillen: Standby. Headline.
1:10 Sarah Hill: If you guys could help me with the mute button.
1:18 Floor Director: Three, Two, One.
1:21 Jen McMillen: Go.

1:22 Sarah Hill: Hey Gang, I’m Sarah Hill welcome to U_News. Chad Lafarge you have an announcement
1:25 regarding your muckraking here in town.
1:26 Chad LaFarge Yeah, the muck ruckus that we talked about last Monday has moved.
1:29 Producer: Sarah top story on the website. E Coli strain.
1:31 (Guest: ...its in honor of.. .)
1:33 Sarah Hill: Okay. Guys.
1:34 Michele Spry: Yeah?

1:35 Sarah Hill: Two more reports of the same strain...
1:38 Kent Collins: The host or anchor for a show using social media...
1:41 Kent Collins: ...Is like the only air traffic controller on duty in New York or Chicago....
1:46 Kent Collins: ...It’s Mind Boggling.
1:47 Kim Beasley: No longer will news stations have to have someone on the scene of breaking news.
1:51 Kent Collins: People who are unhappy about the condition of a street in their neighborhood.
1:55They now are significant contributors to a story.

1:57 Sarah Hill: As news organizations we are realizing that we need to come down from that mountain
2:02 that we’ve placed ourselves on, and listen to people.
2:05 Chad LaFarge: I don’t want for my kids to be sitting there in front of the TV, having
2:09 the news thrown at them and not have a say. I want them to have the feeling that they
2:13 can contribute to that conversation.
2:14 Sarah Hill: There’s beauty in giving people a forum, and allowing people to share their stories.

 

LIVE from the NEWS™ in five Hangouts On Air: Real Time Story Telling just got a whole lot easier

The Latest on Syria at Topsy

It should be everyone's aim in the media to broadcast high quality text, photos and videos to the world. And if it's not, then is should be your aim to take an interest in those who do.

By high quality, I would define that as having believable, thorough and relevant content. It should be everyone's aim to act in real time as we have the tools to make that possible.

Live from the News - The Romance or The Reality only you can Decide

LIVE from the NEWS™

Here's a project called +LIVE from the NEWS™ where we make sense of the Blurring between What is News, Who makes it and the Audience who cope with it .. 

Thanks to Porthgwidden Beach, Cornwall, UK for the photo .. 1940s on the left, more recent on the right .. Which do you prefer: The Romance or The Reality only you can Decide .. The same applies to the News doesn't it ? 

Take this from wikipedia where the word blurred is used in every step: 

Schudson has identified the following six specific areas where the ecology of news in his opinion has changed: 

1. The line between the reader and writer has blurred 

2. The distinction among tweet, blog post, newspaper story, magazine article, and book has blurred 

3. The line between professionals and amateurs has blurred, and a variety of “pro-am” relationships has emerged 

4. The boundaries delineating for-profit, public, and non-profit media have blurred, and the cooperation across these models of financing has developed 

5. Within commercial news organizations, the line between the news room and the business office has blurred 

6. The line between old media and new media has blurred, practically beyond recognition

These alterations inevitably has fundamental ramifications for the contemporary ecology of news. “The boundaries of journalism, which just a few years ago seemed relatively clear, and permanent, have become less distinct, and this blurring, while potentially the foundation of progress even as it is the source of risk, has given rise to a new set of journalistic principles and practices”,[17] Schudson puts it. It is indeed complex, but it seems to be the future. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/News

France 24 Come to Google Plus Hangout On Air TONIGHT Thursday 15 March 2012, 8pm Paris Time

If European TV News Hangouts are to be successful, then someone has to lead the way. I'm giving my vote to +FRANCE 24 +François Picard and +Eric Olander 

Join us at 8pm Paris Time (7pm UK, 3pm New York, 12pm LA) for a lively On Air Hangout: Syria, One Year One [ The On Air Hangout will be broadcast by +Mike Downes look out for the link our Google Plus stream ]

Community Action Forum in the Warwick District at The Kenilworth Centre Monday 19 March 2012

A place where everyone in Warwick Ditrict who has an interest in the community can come together to network at The Kenilworth Centre

The Kenilworth Centre is a recently established charity which will take over the running of Kenilworth Youth & Community Centre on 1st April 2012. They run an evening senior and junior youth club and a Saturday cinema, up to (PG) cert, for young people. This is a buzzing, well used new centre with excellent facilities and a fabulous work environment.

For more information please check out the website: www.thekenilworthcentre.com 

• Come and see our very latest community run project in Kenilworth 

• Hear what they have to offer you and your group

Calling Kenilworth community groups and voluntary organisations to showcase your services. Did you know that WCAVA has an accountancy and payroll service that may be able to help your group and to save you money? Many groups in the Voluntary and Community Sector are paying too much for an audit and their year end accounts.

Paula Wilson from the Community Accountancy Service will attend the forum to provide a short presentation on “Essential Financial Controls” and also to demonstrate how CAS may be able to save you money, leaving you with more resources to spend on vital service delivery. Paula will be on hand afterwards to discuss any individual finance, accountancy and payroll issues you may have.

For any queries about booking contact us on 01926 477515 or email: warwickinfo@wcava.org.uk

Alternatively visit our website: www.wcava.org.uk or download the BOOKING FORM

Monday 19th March 2012

11.30am - 2.00pm (11.00am registration, lunch included)

The Kenilworth Centre, Abbey End Car Park, Kenilworth,

Warwickshire, CV8 1JP Abbey End car park charges apply Monday to Saturday 8.00am to 6.00pm,

2-3hrs £1.50 or 3-4hrs £2.00

GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCEMENT OF HS2 DECISION (as emailed to me at 9.06am today) In full it reads..

HS2 at Kenilworth, Warwickshire

Find Revised Route Maps (Kenilworth is Map 23)

Justine Greening, Secretary of State for Transport, has today announced her decision to proceed with the plans to build a high speed rail line between London and the West Midlands and on to Manchester and Leeds. HS2 will improve capacity across the rail network, shorten journey times between Britain’s major population centres, boost the economy and create thousands of jobs.

I am aware of the strong feelings for and against HS2 but the Government has now decided that the time is right to build a high speed network that connects our major cities, Heathrow and continental Europe.  This will be one of the most significant transport projects ever undertaken in the UK.

Burton Green

The first phase – from London to the West Midlands - will free up much needed space for other services on the West Coast Main Line, help drive economic benefits and enhance business productivity, while taking you from London to Birmingham in just 49 minutes.

Now that ministers have decided to go ahead with the project our purpose changes significantly.  Rather than just advising Government we will now move to promoting the project as well.   Engineering, design and environmental work begins immediately in preparation for the hybrid Bill for the London to West Midlands section, and we will continue to develop proposals for the Manchester and Leeds legs.

CHANGES TO THE PROPOSED LINE OF ROUTE

The consultation that ran from February to July last year generated 54,909 responses and helped inform a series of refinements that have been made to the route. 

A package of alterations were recommended by HS2 Ltd and accepted by the Transport Secretary. (See key changes below) Compared to the consultation route there will be a 50 per cent increase in tunnel or green tunnel - totalling around 22.5 miles.  In addition, around 56.5 of the 140 miles of the London to West Midlands line will be partially or totally hidden in cutting.  In the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) just over one and a half miles of the route will be visible.

LINE OF ROUTE CHANGES

Lichfield

1. Increase the clearance of HS2 over the Trent and Mersey Canal near Lichfield. The change is required to keep the canal navigable and will slightly improve flood management.

Warwickshire

2. Move the route slightly further away from Middleton. The changes to the scheme in this area will result in fewer demolitions and less noise impacts.

3. Mitigation of impacts on Balsall Common by moving the line further away from the community and lowering the height of the viaduct.

4. A shallower cutting and longer green tunnel at Burton Green. Changes here include mitigating local impacts and reducing spoil generation, whilst still shielding the visual impact of the trains from the community.

5. Avoid Kenilworth Golf Club, lower the line further into cutting through the National Agricultural Centre, and introduce a narrower cutting through South Cubbington Wood. This will help mitigate the impacts in this area and also avoid the need for the demolition of a Grade II listed farmhouse at Kenilworth.

6. Introduce a longer bored tunnel at Long Itchington Wood. This will reduce land take, noise, landscape and visual impacts significantly.

Northamptonshire

7. Introduce a longer green tunnel past Chipping Warden and Aston le Walls, and curve the route to avoid a cluster of important heritage sites around Edgcote. These changes will provide additional mitigation for Aston le Walls, reduce setting impact on Grade I listed Edgcote House, avoid a Scheduled Monument (the Roman Villa site) and the possible location of the historic Edgcote Moor battlefield.

8. Lower the alignment and introduce a green tunnel past Greatworth, and a short green tunnel at Turweston.  These changes will help mitigate landscape, noise and visual impacts as well as remove the need for a viaduct.

Buckinghamshire

9. Move the route further from Twyford, taking it further away from Twyford and reducing noise. This will assist mitigating impacts on Twyford by making some land available between HS2 and the village that would allow for landscaped earthworks that will reduce noise and visual impacts.

10. Lower the alignment past Aylesbury and Stoke Mandeville to reduce local impacts and eliminate the need for larger scale works to local roads and the Chiltern Railways line.

11. Introduce a longer, now continuous tunnel from Little Missenden to the M25 through the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) to reduce the need for deep cutting and to avoid a major aquifer. This will provide an overall benefit to landscape and features in the AONB.

London

12. Introduce a 2.75 mile (4.4 km) bored tunnel along the Northolt Corridor to avoid major works to the Chilterns Line and impacts on local communities in the Ruislip area. This will have the effect of removing all surface impacts apart from the need for an intervention shaft.

NEXT STEPS

Consultations

The Department for Transport intends to introduce a hybrid Bill to Parliament by the end of 2013 to provide the necessary powers to construct and operate Phase 1 of the project.  In order to achieve this timetable the following work will be carried out.

Environmental Impact Assessment

HS2 Ltd will develop the preliminary design of the route and the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to enable an Environmental Statement to be produced and consulted on in the Spring 2013.

Safeguarding consultation

Safeguarding boundaries will protect the land that will eventually be needed to build and operate HS2 from the development of new construction projects. We intend to draw up a provisional set of boundaries and hold a consultation on them also in Spring 2012, around the same time as the consultation on blight proposals.

We will consult with the statutory bodies, including local highways authorities and planning authorities, which have a direct involvement in safeguarding issues. We will use their feedback to finalise the arrangements for safeguarding, which are likely to be in place in autumn 2012.

Blight consultation

In Spring 2012 HS2 Ltd will undertake a public consultation on proposals to help people who are close to and affected by the route. The consultation will last for 12 weeks and it will help to shape a package of compensation measures which we again expect to be in place for autumn 2012.

Compensation

The revised route announced today almost halves the numbers of dwellings at risk of land take and reduces by a third the number experiencing increased noise levels.  To assist affected homeowners, communities and businesses a package of property measures are to be brought in over and above what affected homeowners are already entitled to under law. 

There will be a streamlined purchase scheme, a refreshed hardship scheme, support for those affected by construction, measures to reinforce confidence in properties above tunnels and a sale and rent scheme

How will we work with local communities?

We will work closely with local authorities, communities and stakeholders to develop the route, identifying potential impacts and exploring the best opportunities to mitigate them.

As part of our ongoing engagement with local people and organisations on the London to West Midlands route we will set up community forums, planning forums and an environment forum.

• Community forums will enable communities to identify the most significant impacts in each area and contribute to our efforts to mitigate them.

• Planning forums will facilitate discussion of route design development, planning issues, environmental impacts and mitigation principles. They will involve officers from local authorities and other transport and planning bodies.

• An Environment forum will involve national representatives of environmental consultees and government departments. This group will assist the development of environmental policy for the development stage of HS2.

Community Forums:

We will establish community forums along the line of route from London to the West Midlands as one way of working with local communities. We will discuss with county, district and parish councils how best to create community forums that will work in each area.

These forums will meet over the coming year. We hope that approximately 15-20 representatives of each local community will work with us to:

• inform the local community about HS2 proposals and consultations.
• highlight local priorities for mitigating the environmental impacts of the route.
• discuss potential mitigation options, such as screening views of the railway, managing noise and reinstating highways.
• identify possible community benefits.

PHASE 2 – THE ‘Y’ NETWORK

HS2 Ltd will also continue to work on proposals for the line of route from Birmingham to Leeds and Manchester - phase 2 of the project. 

We plan to submit recommendations for route and station options for phase 2, including a connection to Heathrow, to ministers by Spring 2012.  We anticipate that a period of engagement and consultation will follow.  Following consultation, it is expected that a decision will be made by ministers on the preferred route for phase 2 by December 2014.

This timetable will be kept under review with a view to ensuring as swift a process as possible while recognising the need for extensive engagement.

You can find all the recently published decision documents at: www.dft.gov.uk/topics/high-speed-rail

You can also contact the public enquiry line for more information on 020 7944 4908 or hs2enquiries@hs2.gsi.gov.uk. 

Yours sincerely,

Sir Brian Briscoe

Chairman

High Speed Two (HS2) Limited, registered in England.  Registered number 06791686.  Registered office Eland House, Bressenden Place, London SW1E 5DU

Talk to the Chief Constable at Warwickshire Police, UK in first online chat

Warwickshire Chief Constable Andy Parker will be going online to chat with members of the public on Thursday night in the first trial of a new way of communicating for the force.

Mr Parker will be online using the CoverItLive system between 7.30pm and 8.30pm on Thursday, December 22, and will welcome questions and comments on issues of concern to the community.

Questions not answered during the hour will be dealt with offline and the whole conversation will be published at a later date.

If you want to take part in the discussion visit the force website http://www.warwickshire.police.uk/pubscheme2009/ASKCC

Alternatively you can email your comments to yourevent+eb8f9d3021@mailcomments.coveritlive.com(make sure you add END at the end of your question) or you can pose a question using the hashtag #talktoAndy via Twitter.

Crisis in Midlands Journalism Audio from the 8 Dec 11 NUJ Meeting

On 8th December the Birmingham and Coventry branch of the National Union of Journalists held a meeting to discuss the Crisis in Midlands Journalism. If you are passionate about how you get your news then listen. 

You can follow the local NUJ on twitter @NUJBirmandCov and at their blog Birmingham and Coventry NUJ

   

A Northern Ireland Police Water Cannon was on display at the Emergency Services Show 2011 in Stoneleigh, UK

This could be some topical footage. It shows The Police Service of Northern Ireland demonstrating a Water Cannon on the UK Mainland for the very first time. 

The Government resisted it's use in the Summer Riots. This vehicle is one of six used in Northern Ireland. Watch out for the crowd soaking.

Press Release from the show organisers below the video.

Johnston Press to relocate three Isle of Man titles

150 miles to Sheffield

I''m not from The Isle of Man but if I were, I'd want the ink drying on My News on My Island and not transferred to the shore. How can Home Grown News be printed 150 miles away?

Job losses, as printing transfers to Sheffield

The printing of Isle of Man Newspapers' three weekly titles is to be transferred to the United Kingdom, with the loss of up to seven staff. The news was announced this afternoon (Monday) by managing director Helen Byrne.

In a media statement she says the board has decided to transfer printing of the Isle of Man Examiner, the Manx Independent and the Courier to the Johnston Press print site in Dinnington, Sheffield. Source: Manx Radio

The BBC weigh in with this about the breaking Isle of Man Printing Press Closure. Editor Richard Butt said, Content would continue to be produced by staff on the island under the new plans and it would then be emailed to Dinnington (in Sheffield). Hold the Phone What? Can email travel across water then?

This comes at a time when Johnston Press been involved on many other issues including strikes in Yorkshire and closure of offices.

Dinnington to Douglas will take five hours (road and ferry) and the population of the Isle of Man is 80,085.

The Kenilworth Weekly News: Print Digital Balance

thedrum

When Digital met Print. The curious case of an ex Microsoft BBC iPlayer guy joining Johnston Press to help them find a solution.

Ashley Highfield said, ..the brands of the local newspapers are incredibly strong in local communities...the trick is to help move those brands into the digital age.'

On a local level, we have five JP Print Editions. Weekly price rose to 55p Jan 11 and 60p two weeks ago with circulation down average 6% across those five titles http://goo.gl/5ImcS [ABC Certificates]

Kenilworth Town Council provides long term financial backing for the takeover of the Kenilworth Youth and Community Centre

At the Kenilworth Town Council meeting on Thursday 20 October there was unanimous support by Councillors for the Town Council to provide funding of between £30 - 40k per year for the next three years to The Kenilworth Centre, a new charity, which is in negotiation with Warwickshire County Council to take over the running of the centre, and provide youth activities in Kenilworth. 

Councillor Norman Vincett, leader of Kenilworth Town Council, said, 'We see youth activities, and the community centre, as key to our community and the Council felt that it was essential that we should provide this financial support to ensure that the transfer to a Kenilworth based charity happens.'

Occupy London Stock Exchange sets up camp in the City

PRESS RELEASE JUST EMAILED TO ME Reproduced here in full..

Occupy London Stock Exchange sets up camp in the City

Between 4000 - 5000 people gather in London’s Square Mile to voice their anger at the social and economic inequality in the UK and beyond

• OccupyLSX holds first people's assembly this afternoon to decide future plans for its occupation
  
• People's assemblies spring up near St Paul's despite police refusing to allow protesters onto Paternoster Square

Black Eyed Peas hanging out on Google+ with Will.i.am intervewed

I'm delighted for my online friend +Peter McDermott who snagged an eleven minute interview with +Will.i.am last night. Here's the video (which starts at 32.10 to 43.15) If the YouTube does not start at 32.10 wind it forward. 

Let the Record Show - The Sun was Out Today

This was a Google Plus post, but as it's unusual, I share it here:

Don't give the British a chance to talk about the weather, because they will.

And as you are here - Seen our September Sunshine..

The Average temp for Sept is just 14 C ( 28 C = 82.4 F )

Kenilworth's Connect2 Bridge is OPEN - Early Bird photos from the Ceremony

In almost tropical heat, the bridge finally opened. Here's a handful of photos from the Opening Ceremony. 

In the normal way, when you have more send in your own and I will link all the Tweets, Facebook and even Google Plus albums in tandem.

KOMU-TV Missouri talks to CI Kerry Blakeman on the Live Cyber Couch

Chief Inspector Kerry Blakeman from West Midlands Police is a regular on this site. He's now made it to Columbia, Missouri with U News @ 4 with Sarah Hill. I've been on the show for three weeks running now.

This broadcast made history as it was the first time a mobile hangout was broadcast at KMOU (using an iPhone). Link to: Official KOMU Monday News Segment with Kerry Blakeman and thanks go to +Al Navas for the video.