Aldate

So scrumptious you can enjoy it twice... twice. 

Aldate is somewhat averse, in a personal capacity at least, to arty-farty illustrated glossies.  Nonetheless, it would be unfair to leave the new editors' first effort unmarked.   So first, please offer your thoughts on the new issue of Isis in the comments below.  Aldate is sure you will have many enlightening points to make without drawing gratuitous attention to ex-editor/current editor romance.    Second, help keep OSPL afloat by attending the Isis launch party at Baby Love Bar, 9pm.  £1 entry means even the editors of the OUSU Access Guide can get in.   Oh, and there will be music from the Action Station DJs to drown out conversation from Isis types.

Aldate found Nick Davies to be a captivating speaker, even if it took him a while to admit that he really has no plausible solutions to what is a very serious problem. A point that he emphasised was that a journo's most precious possession is time - rehashing a press release or previous reportage (eg. Sufiah Yusof) can be done in a matter of seconds, while a proper investigation can take days, weeks or months. Somewhat appropriate, then, that both papers ran with investigations on the front page this week. Full breakdown after the jump.

Author of Flat Earth News speaks today at 1.30 in the Union.   Churnalists beware. 

So delicious they printed it twice.

One commenter has had cause to question Aldate's independence.  Be assured that this blogger maintains a professional distance from all Oxford media outlets... unlike some.   Word reaches Aldate that Martin McCluskey and his in-house newspaper are getting a little too close for comfort. It would seem that the OUSU President is a regular attendee at OxStu weekly meetings, 'just for fun,' and a recent sneaky peek at his mobile revealed his inbox to be full of texts from:   - Holehouse - Holehouse - Holehouse - Mum - Holehouse - Holehouse - Holehouse - Mum Let's hope the Stu's star reporter isn't being influenced by those in need of some positive PR.

Full breakdown and comments after the jump.   OxStu still don't send Aldate their front page, so here's another artist's impression.   Aldate was most disappointed not to be invited to HK's house party last night.  Here's hoping she went easier on the juice than she did at last term's "Tell us what you know" party...   Front pages:   Aldate would argue that bursars searching rooms is more interesting than Proctors, on the basis that everyone within two light years of Carfax has been invited to McCluskey's Facebook group.   Both go for the obvious Langham pic, although "Union cancels Langham" invite is a little snappier than "Union courts more controversy as charity condemns invite to convicted sex offender Langham" (and take a breath).  Bad luck for the Stu with the cancellation timing though.   OxStu animal testing puff is very effective an

More contemplative readers might take a break from salivating over this week's Cherwell centrespread to consider the fate of that tasty-looking Chercake. Now we know what the Chief's on about when he mentions news feeds. 

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]