A plea to my many friends in the media

OK, so I’m on my high horse again. This time, it’s aimed at members of the media – journalists, sub-editors, editors and managing editors. Maybe teachers and headteachers too.

I cannot pick up a newspaper or magazine, or look on-line or on screen at media websites without there being a plethora of typos and grammatical errors. And before anyone comments, yes I have been guilty of these myself even in this age of the on-line spell check.

But the media (in any guise) should, at the very least, take special care to be accurate, not only in content but in spelling and grammar. After all, adults and children look to the media to set a good example.

Sub-editors are paid to check copy and headlines. I appreciate there have been cuts in resources in recent years, but come on! Do your jobs properly and be paragons of virtue.

Here’s a great example spotted recently:

What hope do we have for the younger generation if the BBC (not guilty in the case above, by the way, but certainly on its websites and on some of the sub-titling on its websites) and its many media colleagues can’t get things right – or simply can’t be bothered?

Young journalists these days come straight out of schools and colleges where spelling and grammar seem to be old-fashioned and unnecessary; but I still feel we should hang on to some semblance of standards in a world where text-speak is in danger of taking over and some of the most peculiar street words are finding themselves in new versions of dictionaries.

So my plea today is for editors and advocates to get to grips with this phenomenon for lack of education, laziness and inaccuracy before standards drop any further.

Is it really important? To me, yes it is.

If you agree, do let me know.

Taking ownership of a busy work schedule

You may have noticed, dear reader, that I haven't blogged for a while. That's because I've been busy. Too busy to do my own blogs; busy doing so for others!

I have the typical 'builder's syndrome' - you know, where the builder's house needs doing up but they just don't have the time. 

Surely, I hear you say, you should be on top of your own blogs so you can show clients how wonderfully you do it. That's all very well in theory but in practice? Not so much.

So, it seems, "write a blog post" has reached the top of the priority list - at last. Which can only mean one of a few things: (a) I am so well organised that everything else is done; (b) I'm putting off vital things and choosing to write this instead; (c) I have no work; or (d) I need some light relief on this Monday afternoon.

Actually it's more that I've shamed myself into doing it. If, as a PR professional, I can't find ten minutes to sit down and write a blog, it's very sad. Of course there are days when I can just sit down and write all sorts of things very easily, after all it's my job - and others where the words just won't come. Then writer's block becomes something I want to lay my head on and wield the axe myself.

Source: creativemarbles.com

It's true that we really do have to take ownership of a busy work schedule to make things happen. I have 'to do' lists all over the place. Some have pretty colour-coded meanings and I feel deeply satisfied if all the yellow tasks are completed on the day they're meant to be done. Today is almost one of those days. There are fewer yellow squiggles showing than there were first thing, so I feel justified in taking the time to do this post.

Those who know me know that I frequently say: "Nobody goes to their grave wishing they spent more time at the office". And so, on the days when it seems that ten minutes out of a busy schedule is completely out of the picture, I must learn again to take a deep breath and make sure I find the time to smell the coffee, daffodils or whatever else floats my metaphorical boat. 

Will I go to my grave wishing I'd written more blog posts? What do you think?!