WIDELY reported, including here, by the BBC: “Tributes have been paid to TV presenter, Michelle Watt, after her sudden death at her home near Falkirk.
“The 38 year-old former The Hour presenter, daughter of boxing champion Jim Watt, was found dead at her home in Airth on Wednesday.
“Fellow presenter, Lorraine Kelly, said she was ‘absolutely shocked’ by the death of the ‘lovely woman and fantastic mum’.
“Police said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death.”
The Herald’s Jill Castle quotes (here) Elizabeth Partyka, deputy director of channels at STV and former producer of The Hour, as saying: “This news has saddened all of us who knew and worked with Michelle.
“On behalf of STV, I offer our sincere condolences to her family.”
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BEGINS the website, holdthefrontpage (here): “A second senior executive of the Scottish-based Romanes Media Group has decided to leave the company following its recent purchase by regional publishing giant, Newsquest.
“Earlier this month, it was announced that Graham Faulds, finance director of the group, was leaving after 17 years with the company.
“Now it has emerged that group publishing director, Keith McIntyre, is also leaving ‘to pursue other business interests’.”
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AND begins The Scotsman: “Creative agency, 20/20 Productions, is pushing the button on a Dubai office on the back of ‘significant’ contract wins.
“The Edinburgh-headquartered firm, which also has an office in San Francisco, said it was making the move following an increase in demand from clients looking for communications support in the Middle East. It has already delivered projects for major players in the oil and gas industry in the region.”
Read more, here.
And Saturday’s Scotsman was also reporting (here): “Shares in SpaceandPeople, the Glasgow-based promotions and marketing firm, rose sharply last night after the company announced it had been named as preferred bidder for a significant contract.
“The firm, led by chief executive, Matthew Bending, said it had been selected by Network Rail as preferred bidder for its concourse exhibitions, events and distribution contract.”
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SAYS STV in a media announcement: “STV Productions and GroupM Entertainment have been commissioned by Sky to go inside Scotland’s prisons to make a documentary series about life behind bars in the 21st century.
“The production team for Prison – First and Last 24 hours (eight x 44 minutes) has been given unprecedented access to film in a number of prisons including HMP Barlinnie and HMP Cornton Vale.”
Read more, here.
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THE Radio Academy is getting ready for a relaunch, as it hires new managing director Roger Cutsforth – says the website, radiotoday.co.uk.
It notes, here: “Roger joins from Global where he’s spent the last eight years at the group’s Yorkshire station, Capital FM. Earlier this month he moved to Global in Birmingham on interim secondment in addition to working on the group sales strategy.”
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A HEAD of communications, based in Glasgow, is being sought by the charity, Mary’s Meals.
The one year, fixed-term contract is advertised here, on the allmediascotland.com media jobs board.
It is also being showcased on twitter.com/allmediajobs.
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RUMOURS – soon enough denied by the relevant authorities – that the Scottish Government might cut its contribution towards the Royal budget yesterday exercised columnists Ian Bell of the Sunday Herald and Gerry Hassan of the Sunday Mail.
Bell’s article was headed, ‘Queen’s funding’ claptrap debases the Unionist press still further’, and can be read here.
Hassan’s piece (here), meanwhile, feared for the prospects of proper debate, especially if you add to the mix ‘social media misbehaviour’.
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SAYS the University of Glasgow, in a media announcement: “The archaeologist, broadcaster, journalist and writer, Neil Oliver, is to be given an honorary degree by the University of Glasgow at a ceremony at its Dumfries campus.
“Dr Oliver attended Dumfries Academy and studied Archaeology at the University of Glasgow. He will become a Doctor of the University (DUniv) on Tuesday, July 7, in recognition of his contributions to broadcasting and public engagement.”
Read more, here.
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REPORTS The Scotsman’s Gareth Mackie: “Technology incubator, CodeBase, has teamed up with a UK government-backed innovation agency to invest up to £1 million in Edinburgh’s digital media sector.
“Under the partnership, CodeBase and Innovate UK – formerly called the Technology Strategy Board – aim to draw further investment into the city region, encouraging collaboration and networking to strengthen the sector.”
Read more, here.
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AND The Scotsman’s arts correspondent, Brian Ferguson, wishes the Edinburgh Festivals enjoyed the sort of saturation TV coverage enjoyed by the likes of the Glastonbury and T in the Park music festivals.
Read him, here.
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SEEN anything you think readers of www.allmediascotland.com should be made aware of? Then just send the weblink to here and we’ll do the rest. All suggestions gratefully received. We’re back at noon tomorrow.
