Neil Merrick

Are journalists using rhetorical questions too much as headlines?

As a matter of interest, how much is a private covid jab?

Another highlight from day 1 of @hiddennotes.bsky.social festival - mesmeric mix of Indian classical singing & electronica from Arushi Jain.

Great to be back @hiddennotes.bsky.social festival in Stroud. Incredible range of music & music lovers packed into a beautiful church. First day highlights inc @annaphoebe.bsky.social previewing new LP Divergence.

This, from The Londoner yesterday, also features people on the march who claim not to be racists. Though the things they say prove otherwise

Daisy Rickman's set was definitely one of Friday's highlights @endoftheroadfestival.com. #EOTR25

I'm currently at a housing conference & it's a slightly out of body experience politically, given the vibe here is thrilled with getting £39bn + basically all they asked for in spending review. Not that govt isn't in deep trouble elsewhere but it's a striking eg of how easily the popular stuff...

Can't recommend this book by @lanre-bakare.bsky.social highly enough. Brilliantly mixes politics & culture to explain so much about multicultural Britain at a time when multiculturalism is sadly under such threat.

Accommodation for asylum seekers - what are the options for local authorities? - LGiU Introduction The Home Office is responsible for housing and supporting people who seek asylum in the UK and would, generally, otherwise be destitute. Asylum seekers are offered ‘initial’ accommodation...

Could councils play a bigger role in housing asylum seekers? My briefing for @lgiu-local-gov.bsky.social (£).

lgiu.org/briefing/acc...

Essential reading, especially if you’re going to Glastonbury! @nujofficial.bsky.social @ruthaddicott.bsky.social Also featuring @stephaniecpower.bsky.social on podcasts; @lindaharrisonpr.bsky.social on networking; @neilmerrick.bsky.social on AI; @rorywrites.bsky.social on student awards

bylinetimes.com Just got my copy and this editorial is exactly why it is such an important publication

Mid- & East Devon has some of the worst broadband connectivity in the UK - many areas here are in the bottom 10%. Yet companies like Airband have been allowed to withdraw from contracts without anything to replace them. Building Digital UK must do better for residents and businesses in rural areas.

Welcome back Mary Anne. Au revoir Tom Ravenscroft.

New Radio Show:

It's a joy to return to BBC 6 Music

Sundays 6-8pm
from June 8th

The Show will be a borderless space for music across all spectrums.
Open conversations with Artists we love.
New experiments in storytelling & sound.
Come with us..

Photography:
@photobrettwalker.bsky.social

Spring statement: What it means for social housing and residents - HQN By the time the chancellor delivered her spring statement on Wednesday afternoon, the housing sector had known for 24 hours that it would be spared any

Spring statement: What it means for social housing and residents. In this review, @neilmerrick.bsky.social combs through the finer details of the chancellor's annoucement
hqnetwork.co.uk/news/spring-... #ukhousing

Still pinching myself that Marika Hackman is playing local parish church in Devon this Saturday. Amazing chance to see her live in a wonderful setting.

old but gold

Public services matter for living standards

Some poorer households should see marginal gains in their living standards

But incomes for those at the very bottom are set to stagnate

Higher-income households also face a tough outlook

What's the outlook for living standards in 2025?

Disposable incomes are set to fall across low-, middle- and high-income families alike. But improvements in public services will help to boost broad living standards for some.

Pleased to have listened to most of Mary Anne's shows on 6Music, including the weekend breakfast show before 2019. Shame she's leaving daytime radio but here's to the next chapter.

Mary Anne Hobbs is leaving the building, for now...
I'll be back on BBC6Music in late Spring with a totally new Show.
My Mid-Morning Show
ends February 21st 2025.
I came to change Daytime radio and i believe the job is complete.
Thank you so much for listening...

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

Cricket's Forgotten Team When the Taliban regained power in Afghanistan, the women's cricket team fled the country. Jo Currie tells the story of their battle to play competitive cricket and represent their country.

Cricket's Forgotten Team: www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0028cjq via @bbciplayer

Read the latest issue of HQM now! In this issue Neil Merrick reports on how a housing association’s tenants are helping to spread the word about energy efficiency, while enjoying lower bills hqm.hqnetwork.co.uk/housing-in-p... #ukhousing

The January issue of HQM is out! With Shelter CEO Polly Neate; features on FoI research into tenancy fraud, the first year of TSMs & the future of social housing rents policy; & we ask sector leaders & influencers to give us their housing predictions for the year ahead hqm.hqnetwork.co.uk #ukhousing

No, Sky. Non-EU visitors will pay more, not just those from the UK.

What are Kemi Badenoch's thoughts on the intergration of these criminals in mainstream British society?

News:

My agenda has been to change Daytime radio at BBC 6 Music.
Creative life is progression.
Once the work is complete, stand at the edge of everything you know and ask a different question.
My Daytime show ends in February, I'll return to 6 Music in Spring with something new.
Come with me..

Thanks. I did read this article but as is often the case with The Economist it did not present any quotes or evidence to support what it says is the opinion of the women players.

A thought provoking article. Maybe we should hear what Afghanistan's female cricketers feel about the men's team still competing in international tournaments?

The Journalist Dec-Jan 2025

Last year we were interviewed by @neilmerrick.bsky.social for a report on the Values in the Media for the latest edition of the @nujofficial.bsky.social's The Journalist: content.yudu.com/web/3pylg/0A... Let us know what you think!

Johnnie Walker remembered for his “loyal and effective” support for the NUJ Broadcaster held firm during strike

Johnnie Walker remembered by former NUJ colleagues for his “principled” outlook and “commitment to the union”, particularly during a showdown with management over a strike
www.nuj.org.uk/resource/joh...