Snap-happy teens on show

SIX young photographers from Liverpool East are unveiling a stunning new exhibition which captures the city from a unique perspective.   It is the culmination of a series of workshops, where the teenage group aged from 13 to 19, who were challenged to take shots of the city, using the theme ‘Liverpool from the corner of my eye’.

The project has been supported by Liverpool Youth Service and the Youth Opportunity Fund, which allows young people to bid for funding to support their own ideas, activities and projects.

Working with professional photography company MADPANDA, the group learned a range of skills including lighting, aperture, speed, style, composition and how to use professional photography equipment, achieving accreditations in photography skills as a result of their involvement.

The group used their new skills and creativity to capture their perception of the city during a studio shoot, outdoor city shoot and fashion shoot with breathtaking results.

The youngsters will officially open the exhibition at 7pm, Friday, 18 February 2011, at The Gallery on Stanhope Street. The exhibition runs until 25 February 2011.

Councillor Ann O’Byrne, Cabinet Member for Community Safety said:- “This fantastic project has encouraged young people to learn new skills, gain accreditations and work together as part of a team. Initiatives like this really connect with young people, because they are encouraged to get creative and think about how they perceive their own city. We have unearthed some fantastic talent, and we are very proud of our young photographers. To have their own exhibition is a fantastic achievement – as well as a great opportunity for them to show off their work!”

Young people can find out more activities and similar projects in their area by visiting:- liverpoolyouth.org.

UK TV's First Product Placement Logo

OFCOM has launched the logo that TV channels must use to signal to viewers when a UK-produced programme contains product placement.  The logo must appear for three seconds at the start and end of programmes, and after any advertising breaks.  Broadcasters will be allowed to slightly adapt the logo, according to our guidelines, to enable use on either dark or light backgrounds.

Product placement will be allowed in UK television programmes for the first time from 28 February 2011. This follows the Government’s decision to allow product placement in UK TV programmes, as a result of changes to European broadcasting legislation. The requirement to signal it in UK-produced programmes is set out in law, and will be reflected in Ofcom’s Broadcasting Code. Around this time, TV channels will run on-screen information campaigns to let viewers know that some UK -made programmes will soon be able to include product placement, and to explain the meaning of the product placement logo.  This campaign will be screened across a number of major TV channels. The campaign will also direct viewers to Ofcom’s specially-created product placement webpage  which gives more information about product placement and Ofcom’s new rules.

Other broadcasters who want to use product placement in their programmes when the rules first come into force are also obliged to give similar information to their viewers.    Product placement is the paid-for placement of products, services and trade marks in TV programmes.  Where products can be shown Product placement will be allowed in films (including dramas and documentaries), TV series (including soaps), entertainment shows and sports programmes. But it will be prohibited in all children’s and news programmes and in current affairs, consumer advice and religious programmes made for UK audiences.

Restrictions on product placement mean that European legislation bans the product placement of tobacco (and related products) and prescription only medicines in all programmes. In addition, UK legislation bans the product placement of alcohol, gambling, foods or drinks that are high in fat, salt or sugar, all other medicines and baby milk in programmes made for UK audiences. These prohibitions are reflected in Ofcom’s new rules. Ofcom has also prohibited the product placement of products and services that cannot be advertised on television, such as weapons and escort agencies.

In line with EU and UK legislation, the rules state that product placement must not impair broadcasters’ editorial independence and must always be editorially justified. This means that programmes cannot be created or distorted so that they become vehicles for the purposes of featuring product placement.  Placed products and services cannot be promoted or endorsed, or be featured in an unduly prominent way within programmes.  Do you think this will be a good idea or not?  Do you feel websites should also follow the same style of warning? Email your views to:- news24@southportreporter.com.

Liverpool group living with mental health problems wins Inspiring Voices Award from Media Trust

A Liverpool based group with experience of mental health problems has been recognised with a £500 Inspiring Voices Award from Media Trust for using digital media in an inspiring way within the local community.

The group, made up of 32 members of Richmond Fellowship a voluntary sector provider of mental health care, from Liverpool, Knowsley, Wirral, Yorkshire and Blackpool, were involved in creating a 20 minute stop frame animation called Blue Horizons, containing five individual stories, illustrating the negative impact social and economic exclusion can have on someone’s life and the positive impact inclusion can have. Creating an animation also provided the group with the opportunity to learn new skills in a supportive environment.

For the Service Users, the project was another step in re-building confidence and self-esteem through creative expression, skills development, group work, and social interaction. Each participant has been given a copy of the DVD so they have a permanent reminder of what they have achieved and are able to share this with family and friends.

During World Mental Health Week 2010 the animation was also shown on BBC Big Screens in Manchester, Middlesbrough and Derby.

Tracy Aston, Creative Arts Programme Manager from Richmond Fellowship said:- “We are delighted to receive this recognition from Media Trust as we believe that Blue Horizons will inspire others to create their own work and tell their own stories in a format which can reach a wide range of audiences. None of the people involved in this project had had any previous experience in story making or animation but their achievements are clearly demonstrated in the finished film.”

Media Trust’s Inspiring Voices Awards celebrate the varied and inspiring ways disadvantaged communities have empowered themselves with the help of digital media. Media Trust has awarded £500 awards to inspirational communities across the country whose work is helping to give the community a voice through digital media.

The awards form part of Media Trust’s Community Voices scheme, a nationwide campaign that aims to inspire, engage and
support disadvantaged and isolated communities to get their voices heard through digital media.   Media Trust’s Director of Marketing and Communications Services, Gavin Sheppard, said:- “It’s really exciting to see the wealth of digital media work going on in so many communities. These awards help to highlight that excellence as well as providing them with the means to further grow their work and inspire other communities to find their voice and make it heard.”  To find out more about Richmond Fellowship you should log on and visit:- richmondfellowship.org.uk.

SATISFIED BUS PASSENGERS GET ON BOARD WITH ARRIVA

AN independent survey of Arriva North West bus customers has revealed that nine out of 10 are satisfied with the company’s services. An impressive 93% of passengers in the region were either fairly, very or extremely satisfied with Arriva’s services. There were also considerable improvements for Arriva North West in other key areas, including the cleanliness, frequency and reliability of the services.  Phil Stone, regional managing director for Arriva North West, said:- “We are particularly pleased with the improvement in our frequency rating, as customers are obviously noticing that we are adding more services to many of our most popular routes. We are working to improve our services by making bus travel more accessible for passengers. The launch of our innovative mobile ticketing service at the end of 2009 and the re-launch of our website are typical of how we have made it easier for passengers to buy a bus ticket. Our investment in new buses has made getting onto the bus easier for many more people – something our customers have told us they value in this latest survey.”

Over the last year Arriva’s investment in new buses means the proportion of accessible low-floor vehicles in the company’s UK bus fleet has increased to 86%. Thanks to the adoption of new technology, almost half a million journeys have been made by customers who bought their bus tickets through Arriva's mobile phone ticketing service.  Arriva’s value for money rating also improved following the launch of an online Fuel Calculator at:- arrivabus.co.uk/fuel. The easy to use feature allows customers to compare the cost of travelling by car with the equivalent bus journey, taking rising petrol prices into account.