You are spot on J – the problem with Birmingham is, certainly in regards to the media scene, it’s a cartel – run by a group of ninnyist nomark internalists who largely cannot see the wood for the trees.
They cannot recognise that, actually, what Birmingham needs more than anything is an injection of new faces, new people and new ideas from OUTSIDE.
Many are governed by self-interest for their own businesses and how public money can line their own pockets. Other are rampant political careerists who will trample over or sleep with anyone for the No. 1 spot.
Others just plain egotist control freaks.

There are some good honest people within this mix – but many find working in this climate such a drain, the best will leave and head to other cities where ideas, knowledge, aspiration and perspiration CAN make a difference. Sure, enterprising people will come and go and seek out bigger opportunities – but I know of 4 ‘good people’ who have exacuated in the last 6 months, and no ‘bad people’ who have. A pattern?

People outside say ‘Birmingham, funny place to work’. Then the negative connotations of the industrial grime still cling to the city.
The landscape of Brum may smarten up, but until better people and less corruption exist within the business landscape, it will not achieve true regeneration as has been seen in Manchester, Newcastle, Sheffield.
Do you best to clean it up, Jo…

Thanks for your message. It’s good to think that at least there’s a forum for people to talk about these issues. But, my big question is, how can this be used to improve the way support and funding are delivered in the city?
I became a journalist because I wanted to start debate between those that have the power to make things happen and those that know what needs to change. But I now realise that, as great as the medium is, there are some instances when a newspaper story suffers from being too public a forum. It can frighten people (especially if they think their support is at risk). So, what can I do? Are my hands tied?

Really think that you are right to raise the issue but for this old hand’s twop’worth I think we are in with a better chance of tilting the balance here and now than ever before.

Blogs like yours and the obvious other ones are leaving those feeling caught in this vice at least less lonely than they have been for decades and that’s a good start in dealing with the shenannigans that you refer to.

Perhaps you can at least now direct those suffering souls that you meet to places where they might find some succor and we haven’t been able to do that before!

Blog on and good luck to us all,

John

Good to see your blog.

I agree Re: your post – there appears to be much ‘back slapping’ and little in the way of constructive critisism. I also have had this conversation with a number of people over a number of years. I think this might be a multi-level situation i.e. at policy, strategy, institutional and industry level. Good critical debate/support would help hone delivery, ideas etc at each level. It’s interesting that in the education of, for example, art and design students the notion of a ‘crit’ and to be critical (constructively) is part of the culture of creating/innovating.

Charlotte