‘Trolling’ – the abuse of people online – is actively encouraged by the social media giants which dominate our world. For Facebook and Twitter, the more heated, angry and abusive the debate gets on their platform the happier they are, because bigger arguments mean bigger audience numbers – and bigger […]
UK
Hansel and Gretel show goes on in socially-distanced tent across region
WITH entertainment venues having to remain closed due to Covid-19, theatre company Theatre Space North East have come up with the idea of hosting socially-distanced shows in mobile tents at locations across the North East. AFTER receiving help from the government’s Culture Recovery Fund, the Sunderland-based theatre company Theatre […]
Coronavirus: from the latest UK death toll to … a debate about Scotch eggs
‘Substantial meal’ rule is no yolk … or is it? There was confusion today over what legally constitutes a ‘substantial meal’ for the purposes of coronavirus restrictions, as Michael Gove described a Scotch egg as, first, a starter then as a “substantial meal”, in two media interviews. The definition is […]
How to support Sunderland charities this Christmas
WITH less than a month until Christmas Day, most of us are dreaming of stuffing our turkey, opening presents, and seeing loved ones (up to three households!) – but spare a thought for those less fortunate than ourselves. With such a large percentage of North Easterners unemployed or furloughed […]
We love the NHS – but there’s a new ‘elf service’ in town for Christmas!
WITH a large number of Christmas events being cancelled, Sunderland-born dancer Jennifer Foulds has found a way of bringing the festive magic directly to your front door in a Covid-safe way. JENNIFER Foulds, 27, is used to working in performing arts, but – along with so many of her […]
Covid: deaths top 71,000, most schools report outbreaks, ministers plan Xmas
Highest death as leaders meet to plan UK Christmas family get-together News that the Government plans to discuss ways to allow families to reunite over Christmas with the leaders of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland were overshadowed today by the latest weekly death toll – the highest for months. According […]
Leading UoS media expert to help protect journalists from online abuse
A MEDIA expert from the University of Sunderland is joining a panel of editors to help tackle the torrent of online abuse facing many journalists. Lee Hall is currently head of the School of Media and Communications at the University, overseeing undergraduate and postgraduate courses. He will join editors and […]
Covid latest: vaccine misinformation and joy – and ‘wilful disregard’
MPs to challenge media giants on vaccine misinformation Facebook, Google and Twitter have been asked to explain their handling of vaccine misinformation online to MPs, amid fears that ‘fake news’ and conspiracy theories could hinder efforts to end the coronavirus pandemic. Tech giants have faced increasing pressure to tackle false […]
PM’s ‘shipbuilding renaissance’: will Sunderland re-launch a lost industry?
BORIS Johnson may have raised hopes that shipbuilding could make a surprise return to the North East, with his pledge today to “restore Britain’s position as the foremost naval power in Europe”. The Prime Minister told MPs he intends to raise defence spending by £24.1billion pounds over the next […]
Christmas for shoppers and families in Sunderland now a virtual reality
Following the success of the monster trail to mark Halloween, Sunderland Bid is now creating a virtual Christmas full of magical creatures. Sam Boal went to meet some of them. DUE to coronavirus, the run-up to Christmas is different to most years – but there are still plenty of […]