How to make the most of the 'silly season'
Summer has finally arrived and silly session is upon us. MPs have disappeared to their constituencies, the government media machine is in arrest and bare news pages are up for grabs.
Without the daily round of Government announcements, August is renowned as the time of year when journalists are often desperate for stories. Bulletins and newspapers are often filled with copy that totters on the silly to the obscure.
It can lead to global news frenzies around stories that amount to little. Like the Brit' Bondi beach shark attack, which two years ago threatened to shut down one of Australia’s most popular beaches but ultimately transpired as canny tourist out to make more of a simple knife wound.
It can also free up a lot more space for worthy research-led science and health stories. But on the flip side you are always in danger of coming a cropper on a sticky story you hoped would melt away that catches the eye of an enquiring journalist with a bit more time on their hands and ends up making front page news.
To find out about the pitfalls and pinnacles of silly session, join the Department of Health’s Head of News, James Sorene and University College London’s Media Relations Manger, Jenny Gimpel for an informal pub discussion.
Date: Wednesday 27 August 2008
Time: 18:30 – 21:30
Venue: Upstairs, The Burlington Arms, 21 Old Burlington St, London, W1
Map: http://www.burlingtonarms.com/
Cost: Free, but places are limited.
To register: please email events@stempra.org.uk
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