PMA tutors will be travelling a lot over the next few months. Chairman Keith Elliott was besieged by requests for training workshops when he attended the Asia Pacific Publishing Convention in Kuala Lumpur. Click 'MORE'.
Among countries asking for training were India, Singapore, Taiwan, Malaysia and Dubai. I have high hopes that we will be able to set up a permanent base in the Far East within the next year, Elliott said. The convention was the latest in a programme of trips by Keith and Riva Elliott to the Far East to boost PMAs profile in the region. Other destinations have included China and Malaysia.
SUMMER FIRST
-- 10/09/2007
Helen Dutton is the first person from our summer postgraduate course to get a job and shes only six weeks into the course. She starts in September as features editor on Overseas Property Professional. If you're looking for bright, keen, people for your publication, why not come along to our PG Course graduation day on 7 September? Click 'MORE' for details.
We have twelve excellent people on the summer 07 Postgraduate Course in Magazine Journalism. By the time of their graduation on 7 September they will have gained a wide range of skills, including news and feature writing, online writing, subbing, shorthand, media law and layout. Additionally they have produced a magazine 'Attract London' about the business of entertainment in London. The graduation day is a perfect opportunity to chat informally to some excellent prospects. If you're on the lookout for a bright person, you may find what you're looking for without having to pay recruitment or advertising fees. For more details call Vicky Chandler on 01480 280 238, or Gemma Austin on 01480 280 236
PMA ACCREDITED BY EXOR
-- 10/09/2007
The management services group Exor has accredited PMA to train over 40 public sector organisations in communications and media skills.
PMA already works with many government departments and we are pleased to be able to offer this silver seal of approval. If you would like more information about how we can work with your local authority, housing association or educational establishment, please call or email Riva or Mel on 01480 300653 or training@pma-group.com.
PMA POSTGRAD TORI'S BLOG GOES LARGE
-- 10/09/2007
PMA tutor Humphrey Evans gave a talk recently to PMA's current crop of postgrad students including a few words on the value of NUJ membership, some of which PMA student Tori Hunt then wrote up to the PMA Postgrad blog. So what was it that earned her, and Humphrey, a mention in Press Gazette's 'Axegrinder' column, under the headline: 'Axegrinder drugs special'?
It was, of course, all innocent enough. Humphrey was merely commenting on how NUJ members could expect the union to defend them should they be alcoholics or drug-takers: "It would be reasonable to expect the employer to agree for you to go into rehab, rather than be fired," he told the students. Later that day, Tori wrote up the PMA blog, including these and more comments from Humphrey: "Obviously no-one wants drug-dealers snorting cocaine in the office loos, but let's face it, if you're having to wait around in the cold for your witness to come home, of course you're going to start drinking. It's warm and welcoming." Press Gazette, a fan it seems of the PMA Postgrad site blog, picked up on the comments, and slotted them neatly into its 'Axegrinder drugs special' along with an item about Felix Dennis giving up crack cocaine, and another about a production company searching for journalists to take cannabis and Ecstasy for a month. There was not a single mention of another of Tori's blogged notes from Humphrey's talk the bit about the NUJ being: "...a den of iniquity that makes the Spectator look like a creche." To read the PMA PG blog, copy and paste: http://blog1636757.123-reg-blogs.co.uk/blog/_archives/2007/7/13/3090428.html#comments Press Gazette's 'Axegrinder' blog is at http://blogs.pressgazette.co.uk/axegrinder/
KEITH MAKES THE FRONT PAGE, THEN DELIVERS A PAPER
-- 13/08/2007
This month Keith Elliott has appeared on the front page of the Miramachi Leader, met Shawn Graham, Premier of the Canadian state of New Brunswick, and the chief of the Micmac tribe, Noah Augustine. His next trip will see him delivering a paper in Kuala Lumpur.
The Canadian trip was all in a good cause. He was on a press trip to help regenerate an area with 70% unemployment by promoting the wonderful fishing. Despite floating icebergs, he caught (and released) plenty of salmon. He is also off to deliver a paper to far eastern publishers on how we tackle news gathering in the UK and Europe for the Asia Pacific Publishing Convention conference in Kuala Lumpur in August. Should be good for his Airmiles collection, but he'll be planting trees for the next month to reduce his carbon footprint.
