Link to the article: Channel 4 News
By Channel 4 News
Economic growth is back in France and Germany with surprise figures showing both economies expanded in the second quarter of last year.
That contrasts with the UK where output continued to fall.
German and French output grew by 0.3 per cent in the second quarter, the first quarter of growth since early 2008.
But in the UK official estimates showed output declining by 0.8 per cent during the same period.
Across the 16 countries that use the euro, output fell just 0.1 per cent, much lower than expected by economists.
In further positive signs, the US Federal Reserve said its economy was "levelling out" while the FTSE 100 Index reached new highs for the year.
David Buik of BGC Partners said Germany and France would recover more quickly because of their prowess in exporting contrasting with the UK's emphasis on services and banking.
Thursday, 13 August 2009
Monday, 10 August 2009
Apprentices scheme off target
Link to the article: Channel 4 News
By Channel 4 News
Channel 4 News has seen evidence that the government's apprentices scheme, backed by Sir Alan Sugar, has failed to take off.
They have promised to take on 400,000 new apprentices over the next ten years and put the new Enterprise Tsar, Lord Sugar, at the helm.
But figures show that the apprenticeship website only filled 3 per cent of the vacancies that it had on offer in the first half of this year.
The Tories have branded the website a celebrity gimmick but the government insists that the site is increasing in popularity.
By Channel 4 News
Channel 4 News has seen evidence that the government's apprentices scheme, backed by Sir Alan Sugar, has failed to take off.
They have promised to take on 400,000 new apprentices over the next ten years and put the new Enterprise Tsar, Lord Sugar, at the helm.
But figures show that the apprenticeship website only filled 3 per cent of the vacancies that it had on offer in the first half of this year.
The Tories have branded the website a celebrity gimmick but the government insists that the site is increasing in popularity.
Illegal music downloads still popular
Link to the article: Channel 4 News
By Channel 4 News
Threatening letters and free, legal music services are having no success in discouraging young people from sharing music online.
A large academic survey found that the proportion of young people downloading illegally remained the same, at 61 per cent.
And nearly four out of five said they had no interest in using legal streaming services, preferring to own music rather than play it temporarily over the internet.
By Channel 4 News
Threatening letters and free, legal music services are having no success in discouraging young people from sharing music online.
A large academic survey found that the proportion of young people downloading illegally remained the same, at 61 per cent.
And nearly four out of five said they had no interest in using legal streaming services, preferring to own music rather than play it temporarily over the internet.
Sunday, 9 August 2009
Scotland's growing alcohol problem
Link to the article: Channel 4 News
Which is the bigger problem, the future of Scotland's favourite drink or Scotland's chronic drink problem? Girish Juneja reports.
As Scotland's historic whisky industry suffers another blow this week, with another major producer Whyte and Mackay announcing job cuts, the Scotch industry says it wants to curb goverment efforts to stop binge drinking.
Whyte and Mackay confirmed that it would shed up to one sixth of its Scottish workforce, shedding around 85 jobs.
The company, owned by an Indian billionaire, may also shed another 15 overseas sales staff.
On 26 June, 20,000 people took to the streets in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, to protest over plans to axe 900 jobs.
Drinks giant Diageo announced plans to close the plant in the Scottish town which bottles Johnnie Walker whisky, which could lead to a loss of 700 jobs.
Another 200 jobs may be lost under plans for the company to close its Port Dundas grain distillery in Glasgow.
Diageo has said it will "offset" the closures with 400 new jobs at its Fife packaging plant. As well as the Fife expansion the drinks firm has said a coopering centre will be created in Clackmannanshire, and has stated there will be no compulsory redundancies for one year.
The Scottish government has pledged to support the distilleries, but with one of the worst alcoholism rates in Europe, critics say it is the national drink problem not the national drink which should be the priority.
Which is the bigger problem, the future of Scotland's favourite drink or Scotland's chronic drink problem? Girish Juneja reports.
As Scotland's historic whisky industry suffers another blow this week, with another major producer Whyte and Mackay announcing job cuts, the Scotch industry says it wants to curb goverment efforts to stop binge drinking.
Whyte and Mackay confirmed that it would shed up to one sixth of its Scottish workforce, shedding around 85 jobs.
The company, owned by an Indian billionaire, may also shed another 15 overseas sales staff.
On 26 June, 20,000 people took to the streets in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, to protest over plans to axe 900 jobs.
Drinks giant Diageo announced plans to close the plant in the Scottish town which bottles Johnnie Walker whisky, which could lead to a loss of 700 jobs.
Another 200 jobs may be lost under plans for the company to close its Port Dundas grain distillery in Glasgow.
Diageo has said it will "offset" the closures with 400 new jobs at its Fife packaging plant. As well as the Fife expansion the drinks firm has said a coopering centre will be created in Clackmannanshire, and has stated there will be no compulsory redundancies for one year.
The Scottish government has pledged to support the distilleries, but with one of the worst alcoholism rates in Europe, critics say it is the national drink problem not the national drink which should be the priority.
Thursday, 6 August 2009
Is Obama’s economic plan working?
Link to the article: Channel 4 News
Even with signs that the US economy is improving, high unemployment remains a major problem in the country's heartlands.
Unemployment in the US has hit a 26 year high - with almost 10% out of work. On the flip side, new claims for unemployment benefits have fallen by more than expected.
Last night President Obama headed to Elkhart, Indiana, home of the motorhome industry, where unemployment has quadrupled in just a year.
The president, however, insists his stimulus plan is working.
Even with signs that the US economy is improving, high unemployment remains a major problem in the country's heartlands.
Unemployment in the US has hit a 26 year high - with almost 10% out of work. On the flip side, new claims for unemployment benefits have fallen by more than expected.
Last night President Obama headed to Elkhart, Indiana, home of the motorhome industry, where unemployment has quadrupled in just a year.
The president, however, insists his stimulus plan is working.
Tuesday, 4 August 2009
'Paying for online content won't work'
Link to the article: Channel 4 News
By Channel 4 News
Media commentator Roy Greenslade tells Channel 4 News online that newspapers using the FT model to charge for online content are doomed to failure.
Media commentator Roy Greenslade says that the Financial Times’ plan to charge for online content can work because it offers a niche product to a niche readership.
But the professor of journalism at London's City University warns FT editor Lionel Barber’s prediction that “almost all” news organisations will be charging for online content within a year is doomed to failure.
Greenslade says that the sheer wealth of free news services – compounded by the BBC – means charging for content is a non-starter for general news.
He told Channel 4 News: “I think the Financial Times is a special newspaper, it can charge for some of its content because its audience is well-heeled and its readers need that information to do their jobs.
"I appreciate what Lionel Barber says, but I think when we says almost all news organisations will be charging within a year he is wrong.
"The problem is for general newspapers where people don’t need it to do their job; I think they will have a real problem with charging.
"It is very, very difficult in Britain, because there is this free website called the BBC. And if general newspapers start charging even more people will just go there.
"Rupert Murdoch is going to trial charging at the Sunday Times, which is going to create its own separate website which readers would have to pay for. It’s a trial and an experiment and I think it will fail.
"I think Murdoch can afford to experiment with the Sunday Times, but it’s my opinion that it won’t work.
"And this is the problem as I see it - all charging is failed if there are alternative news sources. When there is a whole range of alternatives it is very difficult to start charging.
"You would have to stop the news agencies and then reach an agreement with pretty much every news organisation in the world to stop publishing stuff for free, I just don’t see how it could work.
"Some papers already have small audiences and they wouldn’t want to reduce that further by becoming a subscription site – because that would strangle advertising.
"At a local level, the prospects are very slim for regional papers. They do have the unique content so that should be a positive, but the enthusiasm for local news already seems pretty small and there is not much chance of it reviving.
"It is unlikely that too many people would pay for their local paper online in the future. But in fairness many local papers still have strong brands and good reputations.
"Do some newspapers still make money? They can’t say it publicly but in an interview with the FT chief executive it became clear they make money as a newspaper, although they would never release the exact figures.
"The Wall Street Journal do too – although Murdoch paid too much for it – I am sure it makes money. And this is interesting again because it is a niche product, with a wealthy readership.
"Newspapers are making money elsewhere, including some local papers. The trouble is that the companies that own them are saddled with debt and huge pension contributions – they tried to make super-profits when they should just have settled for profits.”
By Channel 4 News
Media commentator Roy Greenslade tells Channel 4 News online that newspapers using the FT model to charge for online content are doomed to failure.
Media commentator Roy Greenslade says that the Financial Times’ plan to charge for online content can work because it offers a niche product to a niche readership.
But the professor of journalism at London's City University warns FT editor Lionel Barber’s prediction that “almost all” news organisations will be charging for online content within a year is doomed to failure.
Greenslade says that the sheer wealth of free news services – compounded by the BBC – means charging for content is a non-starter for general news.
He told Channel 4 News: “I think the Financial Times is a special newspaper, it can charge for some of its content because its audience is well-heeled and its readers need that information to do their jobs.
"I appreciate what Lionel Barber says, but I think when we says almost all news organisations will be charging within a year he is wrong.
"The problem is for general newspapers where people don’t need it to do their job; I think they will have a real problem with charging.
"It is very, very difficult in Britain, because there is this free website called the BBC. And if general newspapers start charging even more people will just go there.
"Rupert Murdoch is going to trial charging at the Sunday Times, which is going to create its own separate website which readers would have to pay for. It’s a trial and an experiment and I think it will fail.
"I think Murdoch can afford to experiment with the Sunday Times, but it’s my opinion that it won’t work.
"And this is the problem as I see it - all charging is failed if there are alternative news sources. When there is a whole range of alternatives it is very difficult to start charging.
"You would have to stop the news agencies and then reach an agreement with pretty much every news organisation in the world to stop publishing stuff for free, I just don’t see how it could work.
"Some papers already have small audiences and they wouldn’t want to reduce that further by becoming a subscription site – because that would strangle advertising.
"At a local level, the prospects are very slim for regional papers. They do have the unique content so that should be a positive, but the enthusiasm for local news already seems pretty small and there is not much chance of it reviving.
"It is unlikely that too many people would pay for their local paper online in the future. But in fairness many local papers still have strong brands and good reputations.
"Do some newspapers still make money? They can’t say it publicly but in an interview with the FT chief executive it became clear they make money as a newspaper, although they would never release the exact figures.
"The Wall Street Journal do too – although Murdoch paid too much for it – I am sure it makes money. And this is interesting again because it is a niche product, with a wealthy readership.
"Newspapers are making money elsewhere, including some local papers. The trouble is that the companies that own them are saddled with debt and huge pension contributions – they tried to make super-profits when they should just have settled for profits.”
Newspapers to charge for web content
Link to the article: Channel 4 News
By Benjamin Cohen
Badly hit by the recession, newspapers are planning to charge for their online content. Benjamin Cohen reports.
At the moment just one UK paper, the Financial Times, charges its subscribers.
But Channel 4 News has learned that others, including the Sunday Times, are drawing up plans to follow suit.
Indeed, one editor has admitted that the industry's biggest mistake in the past 10 years was not to charge its users.
With steadily a declining circulation and advertising revenue hit by the recession, the newspaper industry may now look to charge users for access to its website content. Currently only one national paper - the Financial Times - charges its subscribers.
The editor of the Financial Times, Lionel Barber, admitted to Benjamin Cohen that the biggest mistake the industry made in the past ten years was not to charge users.
Remaining information and videos on the article
By Benjamin Cohen
Badly hit by the recession, newspapers are planning to charge for their online content. Benjamin Cohen reports.
At the moment just one UK paper, the Financial Times, charges its subscribers.
But Channel 4 News has learned that others, including the Sunday Times, are drawing up plans to follow suit.
Indeed, one editor has admitted that the industry's biggest mistake in the past 10 years was not to charge its users.
With steadily a declining circulation and advertising revenue hit by the recession, the newspaper industry may now look to charge users for access to its website content. Currently only one national paper - the Financial Times - charges its subscribers.
The editor of the Financial Times, Lionel Barber, admitted to Benjamin Cohen that the biggest mistake the industry made in the past ten years was not to charge users.
Remaining information and videos on the article
Monday, 3 August 2009
UK loses 52 pubs a week
Link to the article: Reuters
Aug 3 - Pubs across the UK are closing at an alarming rate, spurred on by mounting costs, fragile consumer confidence and the smoking ban.
Sarah Barden reports.
Aug 3 - Pubs across the UK are closing at an alarming rate, spurred on by mounting costs, fragile consumer confidence and the smoking ban.
Sarah Barden reports.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
Posts
