So after a busy media day covering Ben Norman's Activists Academy and the School of Rock's acoustic night, all of which were good fun and will have pictures available shortly, i was on my walk home.

 The whole of Hampshire Terrace was closed off by police, with cones, tape and everything everywhere. I was intrigued.

 Found a police officer leaning over the front of a collision investigation unit and I asked if he could give me a clue what was going on, he nodded towards a car with a large dent in the side, I then enquired about the possibility of getting a few pictures, I was just thinking a few stock images of police tape, vehicles stuff like that. 

The office asked me very politely if I would mind doing it from a particular side of the road as they had a perimeter and didn't want me getting in their way. I agreed to the very fair request and trotted off. At this point i spotted a Police motorcycle laying underneath the dent in the side of the car, this now became a very tense situation. Accidents are one thing, accidents involving the police are typically a little emotional for the staff on scene. 

I casually get my kit out of my bag during which time another officer politely asks me who i am taking pictures for. I whip out my collection of press cards and explain i'm a student and a freelance photographer, the officer passes me back my cards commenting on how grumpy i look in my photo. 

I take my first photo, with my flash gun and all hell breaks loose. A chap in the pub starts hollering at me something about seeing my press card, and "what do you think your doing" a police sergeant arrives claiming that its incredibly rude to start taking pictures without his permission. I explain to the Sgt that i had already spoken to two of his colleagues.  He assures me that it is my responsibility to seek his approval. 

I am then told that if I don't do as I'm told he will confiscate my camera, At this point I get a little confused, I'm on public property, taking photos of something on public property. There is as far as I'm aware no reason why anything I'm doing is wrong, unless somehow i am in breach of the 2005 prevention of terrosim bill which I really can't see anyone justifying that. 

 I point this out to the helpful Sgt who sulks away,

Now the guy from the pub reappears and now refers to me as "pap scum", "a parasite on society" and "the reason princess Diana died"

 All in all i think this shows an incredible level of hatred and misunderstanding to the media world. Not everyone involved in media is sensationalist, money grabbing whore, some of us actually believe in fair journalism. In holding ourselves to the highest levels of accountability, using the NUJ code of conduct not as target but as a bench mark to what I do, the press complaints commission code of practice is not something to find ways around, but to be strictly and vehemently abided by.

I'm not a journalist to make money, become famous and expose peoples private life, that's the job of gossip merchants. I'm here to inform, stimulate debate, to help people make up there own minds  to provide people with information and to act as a way of people expressing themselves.

(this is a copy of email I've just sent out) 

Hullo to you all.

This is aimed at all those who want to write News articles for Pugwash, Pugwash News and upsu.net

I want to thank everyone who has got involved so far. I've been looking at ways of organising the News Team. I've decided to go in a old  newspaper style and assign people correspondent positions. This positions will be awarded on merit. I'm looking for people with an interest and knowledge on a particular area. These correspondents will be assigned an area and will be expected to find and present their own content, with guidance from myself and the rest of the News Team. This news would hopefully be presented regularly and will include news which is of relevance and interest to the rest of the student body.

So far I have a Cultural and Social Affairs correspondent but the areas that I am looking at include

Local News

Technology & Science

Education

University

Union

Political

International

and I really fancy a bit of investigative journalism if someone is willing.

Also if you think I've missed something out let me know and we can develop another position...

Well,

My head is killing me. Literally, I'm tempted to lop it off in an attempt to limit the pain. So lots of painkillers wooooo everything is so deep man.

 So managed to miss a few deadlines this week, I'm hoping to get back on my feet and submit a few ECF's as well. (if any of my lecturers are reading this, i am sorry and it is genuine)

So in my sick state a few people have come and sorted out the News mainly Toru and I also stole Tallie from the SubEd of Reviews section to come to my aid and without them i fear the paper we are still working on would have started with either 4 blank pages or a HUuuuuuugeee editorial abouts crufts and dogs and various deep fried snack foods.

So what else was I going to talk about ahhh

My MP3 player, its stopped working, so I've just lost about 40GB of music. I'm not a happy bunny and I've had the same CD playing for the last few days now so if anyone has any idea how I can cheaply, effectively and legally gain an extensive music collection I'll be very grateful. Oh and by the way peppered pitta bread with peanut butter is to die for, I mean this stuff rocks my slightly skid marked pants off!

 And I think on that note I should sign out

just to say though

 (266) 

L13 1-7 

Well,

We got the second issue done. Wooo. Its on the Shelves now! We also no have a team of people to help. Laura's decided she wants all the stress' and strains of brandish her red pen. She is more than welcome to spent late nights with Alex. (ahem) It means that actually I get a funky new title and to focus upon what i actually really enjoy doing. News Editor! yes that means every fortnight I now need to be finding/expanding/or down right fabricating news content. Oh the joys. Of course if you have any suggestions let me know. What else, well I've been home now for a while and hopefully i'll have internet in the pad by Monday which means i can do work from home. Oh and a hole has appeared in my wall

Well thats it

Oh and again thanks are due to Perkins, and she owes Alex a favour as he stopped me throwing chairs and making abusive 2am phone calls.