Articles written by Frances Laing in Politics, News & Issues

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About me - Frances Laing

I'm a freelance writer, journalist and blogger. My focus is people and the environment.

I write challenging, investigative features and articles as well as the ones about people enjoying themselves with travel, tourism, nature and their gardens. I try to

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Politics, News & Issues > News Industry Making informed decisions on whether to trust the media: 2 of 56
Can you trust the 'media'? I've got some pointers here for you: 1. The first thing to remember, is actually, there is no such thing as 'the media' as a faceless, blanket entity. There are journalists, reporters, photographers, multi-media specialists, press officers, investigative reporters, celebrity columnists...and they'r... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Food & Agriculture Assessing the success of the organic food movement: 2 of 17
This title is really the stuff of a doctorate thesis! It is difficult to chart the progress of any social movement. Take the suffragettes for example. Were they successful because women now have the vote? Or because Equal Opportunities legislation is now enshrined in law? Violence against women is now rearing it's head again... More..
Politics, News & Issues > News Industry The impact of blogs on the news industry: 7 of 40
As far as understanding the huge impact of blogs on the news industry goes - I believe we're only just beginning to scratch the surface. Most people who understand what a blog is (a computerised version of a journal or diary) - also understand that bloggers are publishers and editors of their own material. A blogger can own ... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Food & Agriculture The dangers of declining bee populations: 5 of 23
I hadn't thought about bees for a while. Strange for a gardener really. Started to take them for granted. Remember sitting on my deckchair in the sun in May, looking at them on the lavender bushes. They work hard. They've got little furry legs. I suppose most of us get into assuming they're one of those things that will alwa... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Politics, News & Issues (Other) Modern day "news" is not "news"!: 2 of 7
'News' in it's true sense should be just that. Something that is 'new'. Something that is not yet known to the world. Something that should be documented. News providers of all kinds are coming under pressure to cut costs, and to increase profits. This is exactly what the campaign called 'Journalism Matters' is about. Create... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Environmental Awareness Little everyday things that can help the environment: 9 of 31
We need to make big issues PERSON SIZED. Don't ever think 'everyday' things don't count for much. 'Little' things can add up to a huge difference. Here are some ideas: FOOD Start with changes you find easiest to make and which will benefit YOUR OWN health and YOUR family. The UN says eating less meat can help reduce global w... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Police & Prisons Is there an alternative to our present prison system: 4 of 13
On the 19th. February, 2009 a small group of citizens stood outside the Home Office in London remembering a woman called Sanda Dainty who died that month as a result of self-inflicted injuries at Foston Hall prison, Derby. The group tried to hand over an open letter of remembrance and protest to Jacqui Smith the home secreta... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Energy Issues The paradox of international environmental conference: 1 of 3
What do we understand by the word 'paradox'? We could define it quite simply as: 'a contradiction in terms'. On one level - environmental conferences are certainly that. International heads of state and other world leaders jet halfway across the globe to talk about 'Climate Change' and in doing so produce yet more carbon emi... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Politics in the Middle & Near East A look at personal suffering in the Gaza Strip: 2 of 5
The terrible cost of war is not only measured in numbers of lives lost. It can be seen when whole generations are lost. When their health and quality of life remains unvalued and is in danger of being thrown away. Human lives. Children's lives. If we're going to call ourselves global 'citizens' we should remember that the fi... More..
Politics, News & Issues > News Industry Why the news is never good news: 15 of 31
This is an interesting one. It has to do with the ways in which news systems work and the ways in which news is delivered. It also has a lot to do with speed. News people have generally always worked to very tight deadlines. This has been true for television as well as for the print media. It's increasingly true too for news... More..