The Original Sims

http://www.paidcontent.co.uk/entry/419-industry-moves-bbc-ni-new-media-boss-sims-leaving/

Over the last six months I have been hinting heavily that I expected to leave the BBC in 2008.  I’ve been with the corporation for 22 years working in Belfast in Radio Ulster - across a range of genres - and Radio 1 and Radio 4 in London.  There was even a bit of TV for a short while until I came to my senses. For the last 10 years I’ve been in New Media where I have led the team since 2001.

The escape committee was formed, plans were laid and a tunnel has been dug.  So barring any unexpected alarm bells and over zealous camp guards, I’m outta here. 

Dates are to be confirmed and final plans are to be laid.  But it’s time to go.

It’s always worth reviewing predictions.  My favourite is Epic 2014  which I first watched about three years ago. Start at This Page http://www.poynter.org/content/content_view.asp?id=85631 for the background to the story and links to the videos.

There are moves every day in the internet business which bring the predictions closer (and faster) most recently the Microsoft/Yahoo failed deal – or perhaps “stalled” would be a better word than “failed”

The Irish Times comes into the office each day – but I rarely lift it to read it.  Like the Guardian, I skim the online version and sometimes take a section to read on the train home.

This story in the Irish Times from about 10 days ago is in line with the EPIC prediction from four years ago.

The report, conducted by Zogby International for the World Editors Forum and Reuters, revealed that newspaper editors were still optimistic about the future of their publications but believed they would have to adapt further for the digital age.
Some 86 per cent of respondents believed newsrooms should become more integrated with digital services as two in three believe the most common form of news consumption will be via electronic media such as online or mobiles within a decade.
"For these editors the future is self-evident and our survey shows that they see the writing on the newsroom wall," said pollster John Zogby. "The evolution of the 4th Estate is no longer questions of if, when or how. Editors now know the solution: Innovate. Integrate. Or perish."
According to the survey, 56 per cent of respondents believed that the majority of news, be it via print or online, would be free in the future. That was up from 48 per cent who answered yes a year ago.

Oh, and another good thing about newspapers online is you can find a story like this when in analogue time the paper would have gone to recycling (or to light the fire).

A few months ago I had an idea in the middle of a meeting.  Why not get all BBC Radio (national and local) together in a morning to celebrate the Dawn Chorus throughout the UK.  I didn’t do anything else, so that’s all the credit I’m taking for BBC’s Dawn Chorus this morning.  Liz Howell is the person to take the credit for making it work.  But it’s satisfying to have an idea that works from time to time.

On Thursday to Magee Campus of the University of Ulster in Derry.  I was part of a panel evaluating a new course; BA (Hons) Creative Technologies.  This is a fantastic course that they hope to launch for September intake.  It answers some of the expectations of the Creative Industries in Northern Ireland. There is a 300 page document outlining the course and several other documents added to that.  So in short how do I explain it? They plan to bring together computer technologies, performance arts, business and some other disciplines to build a course that is not Media Studies, but a place for young performers to understand their performance and then to build their digital stage. 

We, the panel, were extremely enthusiastic about the proposal.  It is visionary.

Normally I would drive to Derry, but this time (and from now on if possible) I took the train.  What a fantastic journey with spectacular scenery.   This is Magilligan Strand (I think) on the return journey.  Just look at the size of the empty beach and those Atlantic breakers.