Daily Post Editor

Woman police officer done for speeding

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 16:38:45 +0000

83mph in a 40! Through the roadworks! Tut, tut. The boss wouldn't be happy.
It's especially bad news if your boss happens to be the man dubbed by the Daily Mail as the leader of the Traffic Taliban, one Chief Constable Richard Brunstrom.
As things stand, policewoman Jacqueline Edwards' appearance in court today (she got a 50-day ban) is going on tomorrow's front page.
After a quiet-ish week there are some strong stories around today. We've some fantastic news about 300 jobs being created in Bangor.
Read about the rather bizarre request that the boys in blue have made to lock down Rhyl's pubs after the town's footballing finest entertain Irish side Bohemians this Saturday.
Page three is devoted to touching tributes to a brave little girl from Anglesey who has lost her fight with stomach cancer. Thanks to her family for sharing their story with us.

Best picture story of the week? Hats off to our sister paper the North Wales Weekly News for the amazing image of the blazing bus in Conwy yesterday. We've now popped it on our website but they certainly scooped us today!

Things are moving on apace over our plans to create a Welsh language news website. More news follows soon.

Brickbats for Conwy's traffic wardens. Booking people's cars in the nine-tenths empty car park in Deganwy the other night. Shame on you. And what has Conwy council got against Deganwy? The business rates have killed off half the shops, the Chinese restaurant is made to sweat over their expansion plans and the car park fees have gone through the roof.

No fear of Conwy council workers having to pay for parking at Bodlondeb - it's still free on weekdays!

The A(aagh)55

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 07:41:14 +0000

Have you ever felt like gnawing the steering wheel with rage? The A55. The A bloody 55.
It's just a long, thin car park.
After agonisingly long trips on consecutive days to Liverpool and back, I hate it more than easy strip of tar deserves to be hated.
Yesterday's front page piled on the misery - the delays are likely all summer.
I want to find the bloke who said 30-odd years ago, "I reckon we can manage without a hard shoulder on the 55. If there's roadworks we'll just have single lanes. It will be fine."
I want to find him and I want to take him for a little drive.

At least I came back from the Capital of Clutter with something useful - a great insight into the absolute latest developments on the web from Trinity Mirror's finest internet minds who joined us for a strategy day. Some of the stuff coming out of the states is "awesome" as those people who leave comments on YouTube say.

And I love the innuendo-riddled language of the web. This blog has already introduced to the delights of "content squirting". Now I bring you "soft scraping" which is apparently okay, whereas "hard scraping" is definitely a Very Bad Thing.

Grant goes to Golwg

Thu, 29 May 2008 16:48:45 +0000

So the Assembly Government funding for Welsh language news media has gone to Golwg. All £600,000 of it.
I need to declare an interest here. We put in a bid for just some of the money to help us develop a Welsh language news website. We came away empty handed which was a pity because, as well as being staunch supporters of yr iaith we have a fantastic reputation for delivering news in print and online.
Golwg cyf, based in Lampeter, does pretty well out of public sector funding. They already get £75,000 a year from the books council to support their weekly magazine's art pages. Other publications they produce have also received public funding.
The question for us now is whether we press on and create a brilliant Welsh language news website and make it so popular that advertisers and sponsors will be clamouring to come on board with us.
A little leg-up would have helped. But I wouldn't mind having a crack at it anyway. What do you think?

The BBC - yesterday's news tomorrow

Wed, 21 May 2008 15:44:52 +0000

There is considerable venting of steam from ears across the newspaper industry over reports that the BBC is planning to take £68m of licence fee money to put lots of video on their local news websites.
It’s for “young people” says Auntie Beeb, as though anyone under 21 can only cope with bright, shifting colours.
Silly me, thinking that my licence fee was just a protection racket for TV owners. Now, it seems, I am forced as a telly owner to hand over chunks of money to support a non-commercial organisation seeking to steal my customers.
But the BBC remains what it is, a follower of the news agenda set by other media organisations. No doubt we will be seeing lots of videos based on stories (and videos) which have appeared days before in the Daily Post or on dailypost.co.uk.
So if you want to get the news first, stick with us.

Here’s my first update on life as publishing editor North Wales.
“Congratulations on the new job” said a colleague on day one. “You ought to know that the men’s loos have flooded”.

See, shouldering the burden already.

Trains, strains and automobiles

Mon, 19 May 2008 23:01:21 +0000

Commuter chaos is the theme of Tuesday's page one lead.

Two gargantuan sets of roadworks on the A55 were bad enough. Then a fire in a derelict school close to the railway line halted all train services between Chester and both the North Wales coast and Wrexham.

I was caught up in the roadworks on the way back from a morning meeting in Chester. How utterly frustrating to be burning £1.25 a litre diesel when you're not moving. I filled up in Llandudno Junction yesterday. At these prices I half expected a sommelier to be manning the pumps.

We also have the story of a headteacher of a school where a child fell and later died who has had his health and safety conviction quashed. James Porter, the owner of Hillgrove School in Bangor, was found guilty last July following the death of Kian Williams, who died from MRSA after the accident.

We report how local MPs have voted in the embryology debate in the Commons this evening.

Come on you Reds

Sun, 18 May 2008 20:25:16 +0000

If you saw Saturday's Daily Post then you'll know I've been in the news myself.
Happily it wasn't a court story with a photo of me emerging from a police van with a blanket on my head - nothing so exotic as that.
No, this was just a little story to say that I have a new job as publishing director for Trinity Mirror North Wales. I will still be editing the Daily Post but my range of responsibilities now extends across editorial and advertising for all our newspapers, websites and other publications in North Wales.
What exactly does that entail? Well I think I'll spell things out to you as we go along, via this blog.

Anyway, enough about me. Monday's splash centres on an arrest of a man on suspicion of murder after a pensioner was found dead in Bangor. We have a great eight-page pullout previewing Wednesday night's Champions League final between Man Utd and Chelsea in Moscow. This is one Manchester blue who'll be cheering on the Reds, if only for the fact that I'd rather see anyone win than Abramovich's bunch.

And don't miss the letters page for Dafydd Iwan's last word on what happened in the Gwynedd council elections. It's great reading, as is the Professor's Monday column which asks some very tricky questions about the mess that government support for Welsh tourism seems to have got into.

Proof that a good website helps to sell newspapers

Tue, 06 May 2008 16:45:27 +0000

The traffic on dailypost.co.uk doubled on Friday as we revealed the results of the North Wales council elections - and Saturday's paper sold like hot cakes.
This is the latest of many examples of stories that are a hot topic online and which sell well in print too. So all that stuff about the Internet being the death of newspapers doesn't quite stack up.
Tell me if I'm wrong but we feel that we have achieved what we set out for with dailypost.co.uk - and that's for it to serve as a companion to the print edition. The web gives you the instant news while the paper puts flesh on the bones.
The election provided real drama - not just the nationwide meltdown of Labour but the drama in our own part of the world, particularly in Gwynedd where the issue of school closures burst onto the party political scene to the detriment of Plaid. Such great stories were as usual passed over by the London papers who were far more obsessed with the capital's mayoral battle.
I'm still getting my head around the notion that Boris Johnson is among the most powerful half dozen politicians in the UK, considerably more important than his own party leader. Have thousands of Londoners woken up in the night in a cold sweat, asking themselves; "Oh no, what have we done?"
Still, let's see how he gets on. At least he combed his hair for his first day at work.
Tomorrow's splash is about the High Court's decision to throw out plans for a multi-million marina in Beaumaris to protect the nearby mussel beds. We're working on a terribly clever headline involving mussels with muscle (now stop groaning!).
And page three reveals the shameful truth about where Welsh councils buy their daffodils.

LIVE ELECTION UPDATE

Fri, 02 May 2008 01:51:23 +0000

Our content management system is poorly. Great flipping timing!
So I am using my blog to update you on the latest election situation in North Wales.
Here you go:
02.14am
Flinshire latest Flint Trelanwy - Labour x2, Hawarden Cons, Holywell West - Plaid, Mold West - Lib Dem, Saltney Stonebridge Ind
01.58am
We have the last few on Anglesey and they as follows......
Beaumaris - Ind, Trearddur bay - Cons, Llannerchymedd - Ind, Maeshyfryd - Plaid
All in all a 54% turnout.
01.46am
Time for a catch up on Anglesey.....
Amlwch Port - Labour, Parc a'r Mynydd - Ind, Porthyfelin - Ind, London Road - Labour, Morawelon - Labour, Kingsland - Labour, Mechell - Ind, Llaneilian - Lib Dem, Llanbedrgoch - Ind, Llanddyfan -Ind, pentraeth - Ind, Cwm Cadnant - Plaid, Bodorgan - Ind
01.44am. A few more from Flintshire....
Flint Castle has gone to Labour, Flint Oakenholt is Ind - a big Labour loss there, Holywell east - Lib Dem as is New Brighton
01.33am.
Okay this is how Flinshire looks at the moment
Aston - Ind, Bagillt East - Con, Bagillt West - Lab, Broughton North East - Lab, Brynford - Con, Buckley Bistre West - Lib Dem, Buckley Mountain - Ind, Buckley Pentrobin - Ind, Caergwrle -Lab, Caerwys - Con, Cilcain - Con, Connah's Quay South - Lib Dem, Connah's Quay Wepre - Ind, ffynnongroyw - Ind, Greenfield Lib Dem, Gronant - Ind, Gwernaffield - Con, Holywell Central - Lab
01.21am
Well in the time we have been away it has been a nightmare for Labour in Flintshire where they have had some big big losses
Labour have won in Bagillt West and Caergwrle but have been beaten badly in the likes of Bagillt East where they have lost to the Conservatives
01.16am
Right folks I'm back in the game, some technical glitches but here goes....
00.52am
Big shock in Flintshire, Labout stalward Kevin Jones is hammered in Bagillt East by Norma Jones from the Conservatives. Could this be a signs of things to come. Words is there has been a really low turnout in Flintshire and that usually spells bad news for Labour.
Elsewhere in the countyMike Reece (Lab) holds Bagillt West, Owen Foster (Cons) holds Cilcain, and William Mullin hold Broughton North east for Labour.
00.45am
Dyffryn Ardudwy is won by Eryl Jones Williams (Ind)
00.42am
More from Gwynedd, coming in thick and fast now.
Corris / Mawddwy is won by John Roberts and Independent and Diffwys and Maenoffere by Gwilym Euros Roberts from Llais. That will make it three.
00.37am
Another run from Anglesey....
Llanfaethlu is won by Ken Hughes (Ind), Valley Goronwy Owain Parry (con), Rhosneigr Philip Fowlie (ind), Bodffordd - William Hughes(Plaid), Aberffraw Glyn Jones (Ind), brynteg Ieuan Williams (ind), Llgoed - Lewis Davies (Plaid), Braint Jim Evans (ind), Llanidna Hywel Eifion Jones (ind).
Phew....
00.33am. Word on the street is it could be all change on Anglesey. Stay tuned.
Welsh First Minister Rhodri Morgan admitted he was ``apprehensive'' about Labour's prospects in Wales, where he said other parties had fought the election as an opportunity for voters to ``give an interim verdict on Gordon''.
Mr Morgan said Labour’s strategy of seeking to fight the Welsh elections on local issues did not seem to have worked, with the party’s supporters staying at home.
The elections came at a "very inauspicious" time for Labour in Wales, with many low-income workers in the principality hit by the abolition of the 10p tax rate.
"If Labour voters are disaffected they are not going to come out and we are going to lose seats," he told Sky News.
00.25am The POWER in Trawsfynydd (sorry bad joke) is with Thomas Ellis (Ind)
00.20am
Here we go again, Llangelynnin is won by Louise Hughes of Llais Gwynedd. 2-1 up after the first three, and unlike Liverpool last night this one cannot go to extra time.
00.10am
Linda Morgan takes Dolgellau South for Plaid
00.00ish
Well we have our first big story of the night as the party formed on the back of Gwynedd school closure plans have their first council seat. Could this be a sign of things to come. Just to point out only one of the three parts of Gwynedd will be counting tonight, the other you will have to wait for until tomorrow.

Lights out in the ty bach

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 15:30:26 +0000

Apologies for the lack of blogs. Writer's block/couldn't be bothered - that sort of thing.

Anyway, here's the latest from the Daily Post multimedia news hub.

The men's bathroom has a new energy-saving lighting system. The light comes on when you open the door and if you spend too long in the "ty bach" you are plunged into darkness. It's 21st century fridge technology like this that will save the planet. Just don't go to the loo planning on reading The Times cover to cover.

Andy Gilpin is no longer acting deputy editor. He is now deputy editor. The promotion is helping him through the pain of the demotion of Wrexham FC. Dragons fans needn't fret. We will be with you all the way as the team battle their way back out of the Conference.

I am advertising for a sports editor (Andy's old job). If you fancy applying then check out the advert on holdthefrontpage

Congratulations to Andy's predecessor Gregg Fray who has played a big part in the launch of the new Abu Dhabi daily newspaper The National. Fellow Daily Post graduate Roland Hughes bagged the front page lead of the inaugural edition.

I have signed up to take part in the British Heart Foundation's inaugural mass charity bike ride in Rhyl on June 8. It's a 15-mile circular route away from traffic and starts at 9am. If you fancy joining in then visit the British Heart Foundation website

A new hospital for North Wales announced

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 16:56:55 +0000

Just back from a week in sunny Mallorca. Very pleasant but unbelievably expensive. What's happened to Sterling? It's worthless. Europeans are burning it for fun.
Regular readers may recall my last trip there and a few choice "lost in translation" menus. I am pleased to report that the beach bar in Ciutat Jardi is still serving "mussels to the sailor's blouse". Add to this a great new find at a restaurant in Portixol which is serving up steaming bowls of "crap bouquet". Mmm.
I managed to find a telly to see Wales' triumphant conclusion to the Six Nations. No thanks by the way to an Irish bar in Palma which assured me the Wales v France match was 6pm on Sunday. Good job I happened to be thirsty at 6pm on Saturday and in the vicinity of another bar which had a giant telly.
Anyway, back to reality. We'll be splashing tomorrow on the good news that £300m is to be spent on a new main hospital building at Glan Clwyd. There is also more hopeful news about the future of breast cancer services at Llandudno.
We have the shortlist for our wedding of the year competition which attracted many thousands of votes. This event is shaping up to be a big success.
And we have a page lead on the frightening cost of a litre of diesel in North Wales - now up to £1.16 a litre.
Even with the dodgy exchange rate I could have bought wine cheaper than that to wash down my crap bouquet.

New tourism website launches

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 14:37:21 +0000

Our new tourism website for North Wales has launched. I'll say no more other than to ask you to visit www.northwales.co.uk and fill in the message box below with any comments you have on the site.

Many thanks, Rob Irvine, editor of the Daily Post and fretful father of a newborn website

Are you sick of gangs with their 24-packs of booze?

Tue, 04 Mar 2008 17:18:38 +0000

We are starting to crank up our coverage of the issue of binge drinking and its associated problems of anti-social behaviour and ill health, especially among the young.
To me, a lot of the sound and fury around the issue of extended licensing hours misses the point.
I think that round-the-clock availability of booze in licensed premises has had a limited impact in North Wales. By all means tell me if I'm wrong or if your lives have been affected.
The bigger issue, to me, is the ready availability of cheap booze in bulk. Teenagers used to slip off to the park with a bottle of cider. Now they are shouldering two cases of 24 packs of lager to the park. The more you buy, the cheaper it seems to get.
Our page nine report today highlights the misery one gang of boozed up people is causing in Porthmadog. This problem is repeated across North Wales. I've seen it and I bet you have too.
And I am pretty fed up of walking Max and seeing the aftermath of these ghastly soirees, the smashed bottles and discarded beer cans, the chip papers and fag packets.
So if you're fed up of gangs (mainly of young lads) tripping into the local store and out again with a crate of beer and a bad attitiude, and if you know that they are making a bloody nuisance of themselves, drop me a line or call our news desk (Debbie James and Rob Davies) on 01492 574455.

Station announcement...
A new reporter joined us today. Kelly Fenna has worked on the Pioneer, Wirral Globe and Wrexham Evening Leader. In a couple of weeks, Owen Hughes also joins the team. He doesn't have far to come - about 10 yards from his desk on the North Wales Weekly News. Join me in wishing them all the best in their new posts.

The first Christmas party memo of spring

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 07:46:41 +0000

A Victor Meldrew moment.
I don't belieeeve it.I have just received the first memo about the company Christmas party for 2008.
I am sure D Day wasn't planned this far ahead.

That said, our plans for the Daily Post calendar for 2009 are well advanced. North Wales Castles and Coastline should be on sale in time for the summer holiday season. As with this year's very successful North Wales from the Air calendar, we are producing a DVD to go with it.

To whet your appetite, next week's Daily Post will feature a five-part partwork building into a 40-page photo special called Castles and Coastline. There is also a short promotional video on dailypost.co.uk. We are also using a slightly heavier type of paper to maximise the reproduction quality. Let me know what you think.

And the other big, big piece of activity at the moment is the launch of our new touism website, northwales.co.uk. The site is now prepared and is being rigorously tested prior to the full launch on March 10. I am devoting one of next week's blog entries to this subject.

Prince Harry fights the Taliban in Afghanistan

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 17:30:21 +0000

The Press Association has just reported that Prince Harry has been fighting the Taliban on the front line in Afghanistan.
The Ministry of Defence confirmed the 23-year-old Household Cavalry officer has spent the past 10 weeks secretly serving in war-ravaged Helmand Province.
Editors had been sworn to secrecy while Harry was out there to avoid adding to the dangers he and his fellow soldiers faced.
But the arrangement broke down today after news was leaked out on a US website the Drudge Report.
A full story is going online at dailypost.co.uk asap - and we'll have plenty more in tomorrow's paper which also has a damning report on a North Wales council - and the chance to win Grand National tickets!

Here's tomorrow's news list

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 19:55:27 +0000

The debate goes on over where we should break news first - the paper or the web. As a clue to which side of the debate I am on, here is tomorrow's newslist as of 8pm-ish.

p1/p5 Interview with family of man who has been killed sniffing lighter fluid.
p2 David Jones MP claims in Parliament that only eight patients in England are still waiting more than 13 weeks for treatment but in Wales there are 47,000
picture: Madagascan ambassador visits Ysgol Bryn Elian, Colwyn Bay
p3 Axe-wielding husband jailed for six years after attacking a man he wrongly thought was having an affair with his wife
p4 Climbdown by health minister as future of cardiac services at Llandudno hospital is fudged
Picture: Duffy to headline the Wakestock festival at Abersoch
p6 North Wales reaction to earthquake which struck UK in the night, with panel and national situation from Press Association - with pictures and graphic
p7 tbd
p8 Police on Anglesey put “suggestion boxes” in primary schools across island to encourage youngsters aged 3-10 to give them advice - cross reference to comment
p9 Owner of amusement arcade in Rhyl says the new Gambling Act is hammering business -
pic of owner at arcade
p13 Thug went up to man sitting on a park bench and hit him in the face, fracturing his jaw in a completely unprovoked attack, court told
pic: Appeal to find a home for Roly the lurcher
p15 - national page - fears there are more bodies at Jersey children's home.
Farm and Country front page - fears that new charging systems will hit small abattoirs
Business lead - new unit in Rhyl to produce insulation made from Welsh wool
Nostalgia page - do you remember the game Tin Can Alley?

The sports pages are still in their infancy and are covered in headlines that just say hydydydyd dhdydydydd headkline herepepe at the moment. Rest assured that the post mortem on Wrexham's latest defeat continues.

Let me know what you think.
That's enough now - if you want more you'll just have to go and buy the paper!