Ends and odds

So much going on, so here's a catch-all post...

OFCOM find John Myers' suggestions for testing how "local" reformed local commercial radio should be, too straightforward, so invent four alternatives. The Guardian

Meanwhile, regional newspaper groups, the Guardian and ITN are apparently creating "consortia" to compete with the BBC's regional news teams - with no indication from Andy Burnham or OFCOM that there's anything to bid for... The Guardian

Five Sony Golds for Radio 5Live suggests the station's making friends again. However Nicky Campbell (gold with Shelagh Fogarty for Breakfast) must be confused at losing Watchdog to Anne Robinson. (More on unsung Sony heroes later....)

Jon Gaunt gets a rap on the knuckles from OFCOM for a "bullying" interview on Talksport. This seems on the face of it a good outcome - but it's a dodgy precedent. When does hectoring become bullying ? When does persistence become offensive and hurtful ? And is this just a last twitch from OFCOM against an old foe, now ranting from the safety of online Sun Talk ?

Very much enjoying journalists criticising MPs for a culture of maximising their expenses. I'm reminded of a sheet I was handed on entering the a certain BBC newsroom on claiming for meals taken at work above five during week. The sheet explained how you could make any extra meal work out to be "dinner", which produced substantially more dosh. And then there was the newsroom John Bull printing set in the corner for producing newspaper "receipts".