WINOL Election Coverage!

WINOL's first ever election broadcast was a fantastic success. It wasn't flawless, but nothing is. What we have to look at is what we accomplished and the context in which we managed that.

To an outsider, the task we set ourselves would have seemed insurmountable. Here we were, a collection of students, giving live election coverage with outside broadcasts and news packages to provide context for the viewers.

This is, as far as I can tell, no different to what Channel 4, the BBC or Sky News provided for their viewers. The only difference was the failings of modern technology. In terms of journalistic integrity, we were no worse off than any of the big guns.

I think we may have tried to go a bit too far with our Skype link to Austria. While a nice idea in principle, the technology wasn't good enough and having an expert who couldn't speak English also proved to be a bit too much of a hinderance.

Presenting was a consistent strong point. Graham Bell is a total pro and Claire did excellently, especially considering she had no script and everything went a bit Pete Tong around then. On a personal note I was absolutely bricking it about being on camera, but as soon as I answered that first question I felt far more comfortable and even wanted to answer more questions!

It seems likely that we'll be having another election soon. If that results in another WINOL election night, I think we can bank on another success and hopefully an even better show!

Kid torturers aren't a sign of Cameron's "Broken Britain", just a sign that people aren't saints.

The locking up of two children responsible for the torture of two other children has caused outrage amongst the public and has been seized by the Tories as being a clear sign that Britain is "Broken". In my humble opinion this is sheer nonsense.

The attack by these two children is horrific for sure, but to say it's symptomatic of a wider problem is the sort of politicking that's become expected of the Conservatives and of David Cameron. To seize upon one incident and use it to your own ends is sick and twisted.Of course these things should be talked about and action should be taken to try and prevent them from happening again, but they've always happened and unfortunately always will.

It's not a sign that Britain has degenerated to some Mad Max style free for all, just that the media like to stoke up shock stories like this. It's the current news bogeyman; the terror on Britain streets, with hoodies and feral pre-teens fed on a diet of drugs, Grand Theft Auto and blue Smarties.

The death of Jamie Bulger was almost a twenty years ago. Is society any worse now than then? No, of course not. It's much the same as it was and as it has been for decades previously. And if Cameron hasn't forgotten, who was in charge when Jamie Bulger was killed? Oh yeah, the Tories.

It's no failing of any political party or of society as a whole. It's just an unwelcome reminder we live in a nasty, violent, horrible world.

"Oh Mandy. You kissed me and stopped me from shaking...". Yeah, for all of 20 minutes.

So the Labour party has learnt to love resident Prince of Darkness Darth Mandelson. Considering the hoo-hah that surrounds him whenever he manages to worm his way back into Downing St that's quite an achievement. The (somewhat considerable) applause eventually died down and he was no longer the Rasputin-esque figure of yore, but a new darling for the Labour party to look up to. He had more charisma through the duration of his speech than Gordon Brown's managed in two years since taking office.

However, while his speech no doubt lifted the battered spirts of poor Labour supporters, the spring in their step will no doubt be unsprung when they remember that anyone with an ounce of grey matter can't stand the bloke. How crap must your lot be when the only beacon of light in the fetid mire that is Labour is a politician that nobody else likes?

I equate being a Labour supporter to like being a Newcastle Utd fan; you know you're really too good to be doing as badly as you are, but that doesn't stop you being a bit rubbish and everyone else having a good laugh at your expense.