REFLECTIONS ON BIG STORIES WHICH HAVE MADE THE NEWS ACROSS THE SUMMER
As next month we officially are into autumn and the summer is behind us, I want to look back to a summer where there have been many different stories that were big, and trending.
I hope that it will give you pause to think where your comment, expertise could have added value to a national debate – and given you more visibility.
There have been plenty of stories that have been available for you to contribute with your own personal standpoint.
The stories may have impacted on you personally, or you may have a very strong opinion about something, either for or against – or your expertise and knowledge from your career may have had validity.
*wildfires in Europe – while we were having loads of rain and wet weather. Did the weather impact you? At home or overseas? Could you have shared that story with pictures or a video? Do you have strong feelings about climate change and could you have blogged about it, shared a long form social media post about it? or a video? These weather events can provide a useful hook for you to have a little limelight – all with the intention of ‘serving’ not ‘boasting’.
According to Copernicus, the EU climate and weather service, July was the hottest July ever, and the hottest month ever on record. And scientists are predicting that 2023 will go down as the world’s hottest year.
So why was Europe living through the disaster of fires, while here in the UK, we’ve had a summer which has felt more like autumn?
The heatwave in Europe is driven in large part by an area of high pressure trapped over the southern Mediterranean, in Spain in particular.
By contrast, the southern shift of the Jet Stream that has pushed the high pressure southwards across Europe has also led to low-pressure systems being directed into the UK.
The jet-stream plays a key role in the weather system, and by remaining in a southerly position it is holding a high-pressure system over the continent, but also blocking it from reaching the UK and leaving us with a low-pressure system.
*university chaos as graduates didn’t know their grade – this is personal for me, and I got coverage on that myself – and get some stats on that.
My daughter, and many other students of her cohort, had already had their A levels disrupted, when the pandemic broke out, stopping their learning in its tracks. Then, when she reached university, much of her first year was online to stop the spread of infection. Now their last year, these students are graduating without all of their work marked, or not knowing grades, because of the national marking boycott by lecturers. Many universities called them ‘Completion ceremonies which seems pointless without a degree classification – although students were told whether they had passed. They just didn’t know how well.
Plus, it’s hugely annoying when they’ve paid out thousands in tuition fees, and end up in this situation.
Whilst out for a celebration lunch, we told our story to a local BBC TV reporter.
The day after, my daughter received her results – she achieved a first class BA Hons in English Literature and Drama, and we as a family are incredibly proud of her.
*examination results. Yet more disruption to our children’s education. How many students?
According to Ofqual, the exams watchdog, it appears that A-level and GCSE results will not be adjusted to consider the disruption caused by strikes.
They are also imposing tougher grade boundaries this year, partly to rid the system of grade inflation in 2020 and 2021, when teacher-assessed grades caused a huge jump in top marks.
However, the number of appeals this year are likely to grow, as many parents and students are annoyed with Ofqual’s stance, refusing to factor in the strike disruption.
This also follows the disruption in their learning due to COVID. A report has found that Year 11 pupils have only had one year of undisrupted learning since starting secondary school.
This also leads on to sharing your views on things like ‘back to school’, ‘changing schools’, ‘starting school’ or ‘starting university’ – you can share your experience around your own children or grandchildren or your own experience back in the day.
*strikes and arguments. We have suffered a year of strikes that has involved, teachers, university lecturers, NHS staff, train drivers, airline staff, airport workers, the passport office, Amazon workers – all jobs that ultimately affect our infrastructure, and our ability to live our lives normally. More working days have been lost to strike action than any time since 1989, in Margaret Thatcher ‘s government.
Depending on your politics, or own personal views, you will perhaps agree with why the people are striking, but not necessarily with them actually doing so. The strikes cause a lot of upset, especially people unable to get to see doctors when they need urgent care.
The strikes will affect every one of us, and we all have views about them. You may feel comfortable to share those views – or any personal impact on you if you were affected by any of these actions eg. Waiting in hospital, cancelling travel plans, making alternative travel plans etc etc.
*bi- elections – these have taken place in different areas around the UK, but the outcome of these will probably affect the current government and Rishi Sunak. Even if you may not have had a bi-election in your area, you can still have very strong views about what is happening. This also provides commentary for 2024 when there will be General Election. For many of you, talking about politics will be something you want to avoid – and that’s fine. However for some, it will be unavoidable as a subject.
*cost of living – due to a whole range of things, completely out of the general public’s control, including the impact of the pandemic, disruptions to global supply chains, depleted gas supplies, the continuing war in Ukraine and Brexit have impacted on the rise in the cost of living.
Sadly, as always it affects the low-income families most, however, it is also having an impact on middle-class families too.
*Christmas in July – this was a theme I mentioned several times which is easy for anyone to talk about. It relates to planning for the Christmas period in business during the summer months. Do look it up and see if this can be included in your PR strategy for 2024.
Have any of these things affected you and your family? Did you comment on any in the media? Could you have done and you missed out? Book a power hour with me to plan how you can improve your ability to be media-friendly https://go.scottmedia.uk/power-hour
