Many thanks to Andy Kershaw, without whom I wouldn't have discovered so much brilliant music from around the world and would have spent a lot less money on CDs.

Are journalists using rhetorical questions too much as headlines?

Another highlight from day 1 of @hiddennotes.bsky.social festival - mesmeric mix of Indian classical singing & electronica from Arushi Jain.

Great to be back @hiddennotes.bsky.social festival in Stroud. Incredible range of music & music lovers packed into a beautiful church. First day highlights inc @annaphoebe.bsky.social previewing new LP Divergence.

This, from The Londoner yesterday, also features people on the march who claim not to be racists. Though the things they say prove otherwise

Daisy Rickman's set was definitely one of Friday's highlights @endoftheroadfestival.com. #EOTR25

I'm currently at a housing conference & it's a slightly out of body experience politically, given the vibe here is thrilled with getting £39bn + basically all they asked for in spending review. Not that govt isn't in deep trouble elsewhere but it's a striking eg of how easily the popular stuff...

Can't recommend this book by @lanre-bakare.bsky.social highly enough. Brilliantly mixes politics & culture to explain so much about multicultural Britain at a time when multiculturalism is sadly under such threat.

Could councils play a bigger role in housing asylum seekers? My briefing for @lgiu-local-gov.bsky.social (£). lgiu.org/briefing/acc...

Essential reading, especially if you’re going to Glastonbury! @nujofficial.bsky.social @ruthaddicott.bsky.social Also featuring @stephaniecpower.bsky.social on podcasts; @lindaharrisonpr.bsky.social on networking; @neilmerrick.bsky.social on AI; @rorywrites.bsky.social on student awards

bylinetimes.com Just got my copy and this editorial is exactly why it is such an important publication

Mid- & East Devon has some of the worst broadband connectivity in the UK - many areas here are in the bottom 10%. Yet companies like Airband have been allowed to withdraw from contracts without anything to replace them. Building Digital UK must do better for residents and businesses in rural areas.

New Radio Show: It's a joy to return to BBC 6 Music Sundays 6-8pm from June 8th The Show will be a borderless space for music across all spectrums. Open conversations with Artists we love. New experiments in storytelling & sound. Come with us.. Photography: @photobrettwalker.bsky.social

Spring statement: What it means for social housing and residents. In this review, @neilmerrick.bsky.social combs through the finer details of the chancellor's annoucement hqnetwork.co.uk/news/spring-... #ukhousing

Still pinching myself that Marika Hackman is playing local parish church in Devon this Saturday. Amazing chance to see her live in a wonderful setting.

old but gold

What's the outlook for living standards in 2025? Disposable incomes are set to fall across low-, middle- and high-income families alike. But improvements in public services will help to boost broad living standards for some.

Mary Anne Hobbs is leaving the building, for now... I'll be back on BBC6Music in late Spring with a totally new Show. My Mid-Morning Show ends February 21st 2025. I came to change Daytime radio and i believe the job is complete. Thank you so much for listening... www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

Cricket's Forgotten Team: www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0028cjq via @bbciplayer

Read the latest issue of HQM now! In this issue Neil Merrick reports on how a housing association’s tenants are helping to spread the word about energy efficiency, while enjoying lower bills hqm.hqnetwork.co.uk/housing-in-p... #ukhousing

The January issue of HQM is out! With Shelter CEO Polly Neate; features on FoI research into tenancy fraud, the first year of TSMs & the future of social housing rents policy; & we ask sector leaders & influencers to give us their housing predictions for the year ahead hqm.hqnetwork.co.uk #ukhousing

No, Sky. Non-EU visitors will pay more, not just those from the UK.

What are Kemi Badenoch's thoughts on the intergration of these criminals in mainstream British society?

News: My agenda has been to change Daytime radio at BBC 6 Music. Creative life is progression. Once the work is complete, stand at the edge of everything you know and ask a different question. My Daytime show ends in February, I'll return to 6 Music in Spring with something new. Come with me..

Last year we were interviewed by @neilmerrick.bsky.social for a report on the Values in the Media for the latest edition of the @nujofficial.bsky.social's The Journalist: content.yudu.com/web/3pylg/0A... Let us know what you think!

Johnnie Walker remembered by former NUJ colleagues for his “principled” outlook and “commitment to the union”, particularly during a showdown with management over a strike www.nuj.org.uk/resource/joh...

In the week of his death, proud of this interview I did with Johnnie Walker in 1984 for the Wootton Bassett Standard, a local paper. Met Johnnie in the Cross Keys pub after his lunchtime show for GWR. He would later be advised by station bosses to spend less time in the pub each afternoon!

Presumably we can now expect Cathy and other reporters to highlight the problems caused by Brexit on Channel 4 News.

Reporting on people the state makes destitute via NRPF is one of the most distressing things I've done as a journalist, but this is truly disgusting - a child who died after being denied foster care by her local council because of her mother's immigration status. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024...

In July, I FOI'd the Home Office for the full breakdown of spending on the Rwanda scheme I was refused because the government planned to publish the data in future, and today is the day. These numbers are in millions www.gov.uk/government/p...

a haunting front page, and rightfully so: we should be haunted by this. www.nytimes.com/live/2024/11...

Excellent feature on @maryannehobbs.bsky.social 6Music show today about sustainability & live music. Including @bristolbeacon.bsky.social initiatives. Wonder if gigs could finish earlier to encourage public transport. Say 10pm?

Really pleased to say I am presenting an ITV programme on hospice and end of life care. Since my mum received hospice care a decade ago I’ve been investigating the state of the sector and its lack of funding. Keeping Care Alive: Hospices in Crisis? will air on ITV, 8:30pm, Thursday 28th November