My favourite thing!

Each week we're expected to read various blogs on the web and choose our favourite. It gave me an opportunity to read all kinds of blogs about all kinds of things – chocolate, politics, music. You name it, there’s a blog about it!

My favourite blog was that of Richard Brunstrom, North Wales Police’s Chief Constable. I’m sure most of you have heard about Mr Brunstrom mainly due to the comments posted on his blog. His blog is the source of many of his controversial statements, and has generated a number of lively debates subsequently covered in other media (here is one example). Is this the start of a new phenomenon? Are blogs the new medium for generating news stories?

One of Mr Brunstrom’s most recent statements was regarding the policy of handing out clean needles to drug users in the UK. Here are some quotes from his blog…

"The policy is based upon humanity; a recognition that drug users are human beings not vermin, that they have needs and aspirations like the rest of us, and that common decency requires them to be treated as victims and patients not just as criminals (though many are that too). "

I'm also intrigued with the way he handles the press.....

"In the meantime the media have got hold of it (I deliberately did not publicise the planning application in order not to sensationalise the matter) and are doing what they usually do with such issues - seeking to polarise it still further."

As a journalism student it’s interesting to see how these two sources – the media and the police – are reacting to each other. Who'd have thought that the Chief Constable would have the opportunity to say what he thought about the media via the web? This proves how essential it is for us as journalism students to keep our finger on the pulse in this blogging world.