Aldate

It looks like a new lease of life is to be breathed into Oxford Media Society this term, with a couple of good speakers already lined up in the form of John Witherow (Editor of the Sunday Times) and Nick Davies (of Flat Earth News fame). But it's going to have to host something a bit more exciting than speaker meetings if it wants to distinguish itself from the Union et al. Aldate would like to see workshops in law, new media, and perhaps even regular shorthand classes.   Imagine how thrilling* the OxStu/Cherwell rivalry could become if it were extended to competitive speed writing...     *insert pinch of salt here 

It's that time of year again: the annual scramble to see who Rupert and his cronies will pick to be one of the chosen Murdoch scholars (PDF). The scheme has an illustrious set of alumni. Well, not really, but a few of the recent scholars are in pretty decent meedjya jobs these days. Last year saw four Cherwellites, two OxStuds, one from someting called Oxide (?) and some randomer that no one knew head off to Wapping, but in previous years it's been weighted in the OxStu's favour. They tend to only pick newsy types, and those with lashings of work experience, but anyone with a hanful of decent news cuts is in with a good chance. Maybe the wide-eyed young hopefuls would like to send Saint Aldate their CVs so we can sort out some odds: [email protected] So the question is, who's going for it this year? All the current editors (Kenber, Cox Jensen and Kuchler) are having a go. So's Lolhouse, who spends so much time on the OxStu front page that he's applied for citizenship. Maybe

  In the red corner: Oskar Cox Jensen and Billy Kenber's first issue   In the blue corner: Hannah Kuchler and MattheHannah Kuchler's first issue   Get your commenting fingers ready - what did you like and what would you spike in these honourable first efforts?   More astute readers may have spotted that the Stu's front page is not quite what was delivered to JCRs on Thursday.  Our esteemed editor-in-chief* assures me that Miss Kuchler is consulting the powers-that-be in OUSU towers about copyright.  In the meantime, you'll have to make do with our artist's impression   * He also assures me that ed-in-chief "certainly wasn't second prize you ****"

Ladies, gentlemen, journo hacks - welcome to Aldate's blog about the incestuous world of Oxford's media. This corner of computer interweb will be dedicated to: 1) Filling the Bowden-shaped gap left by OxGoss's weekly "Cherwell vs OxStu" threads. Minus the "crack whore on crystal meth" comments.   2) Scattering sprinklings of derision upon Oxford's more colourful media characters. Which prominent journo hack is depicted here in her younger, more idealistic days (on the left, somewhat appropriately, of the picture)?  First correct email will win a free Cherwell delivered straight to their JCR.   3) Finding out if anyone actually listens to Oxide. Have you?  Help is at hand.      Got journonews? [email protected]