What a refreshing and welcome change to see the word ‘boost’ in a headline about northern journalism jobs (Prolific North yesterday).
Just as the broadsheets seem to be waving goodbye to their northern readers – no staffers at either the Times and the Telegraph and just the one person at The (no longer Manchester) Guardian – groups which can spot an opportunity are moving in.
Along with these newly announced national jobs with the Mirror in Manchester, take a look up to the north east where Sky is doing some pioneering video journalism and employing plenty of journalists.
These are undoubtedly hard-headed decisions and not some woolly nostalgia for a left-ish Pink-on-a Saturday buying readership – for one thing it’s cheaper to run operations up here and talent is plentiful.
But alongside the business case I also hope it will lead to a more balanced view of the north seeping into the national media scene purely by virtue of having bums on seats here.
Think that sounds far-fetched? Seems to be how it works in London.
Dim Sum Digital 