RSS - feeding a hunger for news

If you are like me I need to know what is going on in the world – news, design, cycling, F1, iPhone updates, new technology... the list goes on.

The only way I can manage this without spending all day searching the web is to subscribe to RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feeds.

I get my daily dose of all things that interest me as soon as they are posted. The feed either lands in my Mail.app or one of my browsers - Flock is my browser preference at the moment.

When we created the website for Mansfield Building Society RSS feeds were one of the features we added to the site. When you subscribe to the MBS RSS feed you will be notified as soon as MBS post a new rate or news story. It means the MBS can get news out to their customers or potential customers quickly.

So, if you have news to tell the world why not think about RSS feeds? New products, new staff, new service developments... spread your good news, and it is really simple!

Paul

Cloughie - you’ve seen the film, now read the other book

I still haven’t seen the ‘controversial’ film ‘The Damned Utd’ but you can bet your life that’s not going to stop me commenting on it!

I have to say I’ve been a little amused by the outpouring of anger that has followed the release of the film and I guess a lot of it has come from Clough fans who, like me, have yet to see the film. I’m amused because somewhere along the line between David Peace’s book being published - which incidentally I have read - and Tom Hooper’s film, crashing into our consciousness, we moved from fiction to biopic!

As I understood it ‘The Damned Utd’ was never meant to be an accurate account of the actual events surrounding Cloughie’s infamous 44 Day reign at Elland Road, but an entertaining take on what may have been going on backstage.

Regardless of your views on this book or film, I would highly recommend another book, which I know is much, much closer to the truth of the matter where the late great Brian Clough is concerned. If you want to know about the real backstage Cloughie and don’t mind a few warts, Duncan Hamilton’s ‘Provided You Don’t Kiss Me’ is a right riveting read.
Duncan was the Nottingham Evening Post reporter who covered Forest for a large slice of the Cloughie era, and had to extract stories from Old Big Head on a daily basis - it was not an easy job!

I know that because Duncan used to tell me at every opportunity he got. I should explain. At the time I was also working as a sports reporter for the Evening Post, covering the mighty Mansfield Town. I had no such trouble getting Stags bosses Stuart Boam and then Ian Greaves to feed me story lines and juicy quotes, and whenever I met up with Duncan he would bemoan the fact that I had it easy when gathering my weekly news quota.


Many of the stories he would tell me at the time, in tones of exasperation, have since become chapters in his book. Sadly I don’t think my recollections of life at Field Mill in the early 80s would have publishers scrambling. So, for Duncan, through his excellent book, his suffering at the hands of the mercurial Mr Clough, has borne well-deserved fruit, and for the rest of us provided a real and accurate insight into Cloughie’s golden years - it’s well worth a read.

Jez

Making use of Multi Purpose Documents

What is a Multi Purpose Document? It’s a document that can be used in different steams of media - print, web or PDF, although not limited to just these three.

Often when you start a project you have a soul aim to create one item - newsletter/brochure/annual report/advert etc. You may have always sent your annual report out as a hard copy document, but now is a good time to consider the bigger picture.

When you start to think about your new project also factor in different media. You need an annual report printed but does it also need to go on to your website? Could you cut the number of printed copies and create a PDF version? The PDF could be emailed or put onto a CD/DVD.

By planning the different versions of the document at the outset we can factor in the requirements when creating the item, rather than it being an after thought and having to try and re-work the item to be usable on the web or as a PDF. It will be more cost effective because we are, on most occasions, only creating one document and not creating one item to work in print, and one item for the web, and then a PDF version.

You may be thinking ‘if I have a printed item I always get a PDF copy’. You may be right but that is probably just a straight forward PDF of the printed item. Take a look at http://shoutpr.blogspot.com/2009/02/not-just-pdf.html which shows you don’t have to have a plain old PDF.

Not joining the Beeb bashers

As the BBC (that’s us I guess) cops for a walloping £150,000 fine from ofcom (isn’t that also us?) in the latest piece of fallout from the Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand Andrew Sachs debacle, it could well be time for those Auntie Beeb debates to be dusted down again. The long-in-the-tooth question about the need for a state media operation and how relevant it remains in this age of a zillion free access media channels, will doubtless get plenty more airings.

The fact that the BBC has survived this long is testament to either the quality of output or indicates that us British subjects just do as we are told and pay up when demanded to do so. Because we can get our TV entertainment, our radio debate and our up-to-the minute on-line news from so many different sources - without dipping into our pockets - how come we are still made to pay for it?

It does seem a little perverse and I wonder which way a national referendum would go on the subject - I think I know!

However, despite all of this, and the not inconsiderable attraction of saving £142.50 every year, I think I would still find myself casting my vote in favour of the Beeb.

From where I’m sitting the news output of the BBC is still unmatched. I know we will always get the frequent claims of bias, one way or another, but I actually trust the BBC. I certainly trust it much more than any of the other commercial-dependent operations, and I genuinely believe that there are sufficient people in positions of power, who believe in the sanctity of independent broadcasting to ensure the BBC continues to work.

What’s more I feel the BBC has so far responded to the challenges and opportunities of the internet very well indeed. BBC News is my homepage of choice and iPlayer is simply stunning, so from me, despite the recent hiccups, it’s ‘Carry on Beeb!’

Watch out for our What’s On

We’ve just taken delivery of our copies of the new ‘What’s On’ guide for Mansfield’s forthcoming town centre events.

Commissioners chose us to create a lively new look for the ‘What’s On’ promotional material, following a competitive pitch. Working with Mansfield District Council’s Town Centre Events and Promotions Manager, Lisa Vincent, we have developed a powerful and engaging new visual identity for the events guide, posters and newspaper adverts.

We are sure that the commitment to providing a varied family programme, and quality information, will encourage locals to get behind the Council’s efforts to support market traders and revitalize its town centre.

Download the full programme from our website - Click here