Shaz Wheeler
@lartonmedia.bsky.social
Day job is journalism and PR to finance an expensive stationery habit. Recovering sports writer. Main topic of conversation is rugby, with media and music not far behind. Co-editor of www.crimereview.co.uk.
Journalist friends, please respond to the UK government's consultation on late payments and poor practices. The NUJ has responses to help your submission. This is an important opportunity for every freelance journalist. #StopTheFreelanceRipOff: nuj.org.uk/resource/stop-the-freelance-rip-off.html
Stop the freelance rip-off
All freelances in the UK should respond to government's consultation on late payments and poor payment practices. It's time for urgent change.
nuj.org.uk
September 24, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Journalist friends, please respond to the UK government's consultation on late payments and poor practices. The NUJ has responses to help your submission. This is an important opportunity for every freelance journalist. #StopTheFreelanceRipOff: nuj.org.uk/resource/stop-the-freelance-rip-off.html
Thursday night and I’m settling down to watch Pro D2 rugby on YouTube. Tonight it’s Grenoble v Nevers. And it’s free to view! www.youtube.com/live/eWK4JyX...
Grenoble V Nevers
YouTube video by FR-UK Rugby
www.youtube.com
September 18, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Thursday night and I’m settling down to watch Pro D2 rugby on YouTube. Tonight it’s Grenoble v Nevers. And it’s free to view! www.youtube.com/live/eWK4JyX...
High spot of Thursday night - watching French Pro D2 rugby. Tonight it’s Agen v Grenoble. The enterprising lads at FR-UK Rugby have negotiated a deal to screen one match a week on YouTube. And it’s free!
September 11, 2025 at 7:44 PM
High spot of Thursday night - watching French Pro D2 rugby. Tonight it’s Agen v Grenoble. The enterprising lads at FR-UK Rugby have negotiated a deal to screen one match a week on YouTube. And it’s free!
A new record has been set for deep cave dives in Ireland and the UK. Read the story on Darkness Below. darknessbelow.co.uk/jim-dives-to...
Jim dives to new depth record in Ireland – Darkness Below
darknessbelow.co.uk
April 18, 2025 at 5:31 PM
A new record has been set for deep cave dives in Ireland and the UK. Read the story on Darkness Below. darknessbelow.co.uk/jim-dives-to...
I’d be interested in people’s views. If someone is constantly doing the hard sell in your LinkedIn direct messages, do you warn them or just ditch them?
February 17, 2025 at 2:01 PM
I’d be interested in people’s views. If someone is constantly doing the hard sell in your LinkedIn direct messages, do you warn them or just ditch them?
Great idea. I have a lot of happy memories of that building. www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/2025/news/ar...
Marlborourgh Gazette & Herald office becomes art gallery - Journalism News from HoldtheFrontPage
Property had fallen into state of disrepair
www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk
February 16, 2025 at 11:12 PM
Great idea. I have a lot of happy memories of that building. www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/2025/news/ar...
Rugby multitasking - watching Harlequins v Bristol in the PWR on the laptop and Ospreys v Leinster on my phone.
February 14, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Rugby multitasking - watching Harlequins v Bristol in the PWR on the laptop and Ospreys v Leinster on my phone.
Nope. The biggest problem is deeply ignorant bigots like this,
The new Fiji Rugby board director in charge of women's rugby says that the "biggest problem" facing rugby in Fiji is lesbians existing, and previously wrote to the coach to drop all gay players.
fijisun.com.fj/2025/02/04/n...
fijisun.com.fj/2025/02/04/n...
New Board Director Does Not Condone Lesbianism
Allegations of lesbianism was blamed for a rift in the Fiji’s women’s sevens team during last year’s Paris Olympic Games, which resulted in their poor performance....
fijisun.com.fj
February 4, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Nope. The biggest problem is deeply ignorant bigots like this,
Reposted by Shaz Wheeler
I made a starter pack for NUJ London Freelance branch members, committee, and union officials.
NUJ members on Bluesky - please join and share!
#StrongerTogether #JoinAUnion
go.bsky.app/JyaRxx
January 27, 2025 at 11:35 AM
I made a starter pack for NUJ London Freelance branch members, committee, and union officials.
NUJ members on Bluesky - please join and share!
#StrongerTogether #JoinAUnion
go.bsky.app/JyaRxx
Reposted by Shaz Wheeler
My current take on AI is that you need a human between the AI and the consumer, otherwise it feels uncanny. Use AI to plan a presentation but not give it. Use it in business but don't give customers a chatbot. Use it to analyse information but not relay it. Don't shove it in people's faces.
January 23, 2025 at 9:52 AM
My current take on AI is that you need a human between the AI and the consumer, otherwise it feels uncanny. Use AI to plan a presentation but not give it. Use it in business but don't give customers a chatbot. Use it to analyse information but not relay it. Don't shove it in people's faces.
Can anyone name an England match in living memory where Elliot Daly put in an influential performance? Nah, me neither. It’s a missed opportunity to try someone like Joe Carpenter.
January 14, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Can anyone name an England match in living memory where Elliot Daly put in an influential performance? Nah, me neither. It’s a missed opportunity to try someone like Joe Carpenter.
Whoever this is commenting on Premier Sports on the Gloucester v Scarlets match should know that Gloucester captain is Lewis Ludlow and not Lewis Ludlum. Matt Banahan, the former Bath and Gloucester player, is co-commentator. Can he please wave a note under the bloke’s nose to put him right!
January 10, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Whoever this is commenting on Premier Sports on the Gloucester v Scarlets match should know that Gloucester captain is Lewis Ludlow and not Lewis Ludlum. Matt Banahan, the former Bath and Gloucester player, is co-commentator. Can he please wave a note under the bloke’s nose to put him right!
Just settling down to listen to this. I’m listening out for my former colleague, the very splendid @christopherpittard.bsky.social .
It's Wilkie Collins' 201st birthday today. Have a listen to @drmatthewsweet.bsky.social's Radio 4 documentary about him. Warning! Contains my own voice. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
BBC Radio 4 - The Wilkie Collins Guide to Modern Life
Matthew Sweet on the life and work of the sensationally modern figure - Wilkie Collins.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 8, 2025 at 10:20 AM
Just settling down to listen to this. I’m listening out for my former colleague, the very splendid @christopherpittard.bsky.social .
Not surprised if the Mercer story is true. Lousy news about Fasogbon, who looks the real deal.
After his season-ending knee injury, Zach Mercer may have played his last game for Gloucester. Understand a move to Toulon still very much on the cards.
Afo Fasogbon set to be out for three months with his ankle injury, so no Six Nations. www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/...
Afo Fasogbon set to be out for three months with his ankle injury, so no Six Nations. www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/...
Zach Mercer unlikely to play for Gloucester again after Toulon move all but agreed
French club prepared to buy out the contract of No 8, who is sidelined for the rest of the season with a knee injury
www.telegraph.co.uk
December 31, 2024 at 10:00 AM
Not surprised if the Mercer story is true. Lousy news about Fasogbon, who looks the real deal.
Absolutely lousy night’s sleep so I’m in Costa early doors with coffee and a cinnamon bun. I’ve got a book on user-generated content and journalism to review. Happy new year, Bluesky friends.
December 31, 2024 at 9:58 AM
Absolutely lousy night’s sleep so I’m in Costa early doors with coffee and a cinnamon bun. I’ve got a book on user-generated content and journalism to review. Happy new year, Bluesky friends.
So a month after the red card for dangerous play, we finally hear that Saracens’ Hugh Tizard has been banned for 12 games (cut to six because he’s apparently a nice boy and also finally said sorry). The delay appears to be down to Saracens calling in an independent surgeon …
December 30, 2024 at 4:03 PM
So a month after the red card for dangerous play, we finally hear that Saracens’ Hugh Tizard has been banned for 12 games (cut to six because he’s apparently a nice boy and also finally said sorry). The delay appears to be down to Saracens calling in an independent surgeon …
Blimey, that was efficient. I applied for a new passport on Wednesday afternoon. It arrived this morning.
December 21, 2024 at 11:52 AM
Blimey, that was efficient. I applied for a new passport on Wednesday afternoon. It arrived this morning.
I’d dearly like to know what the verdict was on Hugh Tizard’s red card when Saracens lost to Newcastle on Nov 29. I can’t see a decision from an RFU disciplinary hearing. @charliemorgan.bsky.social and @crichardsontel.bsky.social , have you heard anything?
December 18, 2024 at 8:24 PM
I’d dearly like to know what the verdict was on Hugh Tizard’s red card when Saracens lost to Newcastle on Nov 29. I can’t see a decision from an RFU disciplinary hearing. @charliemorgan.bsky.social and @crichardsontel.bsky.social , have you heard anything?
Another exclusive from the Telegraph rugby lads on the RFU saga. Now the National One clubs have waded in and demanded an examination into the sport’s management. 11/14 teams signed the letter. Looks like B’ham Moseley, Darlington MP and Bishop’s Stortford didn’t. I wonder why not.
December 17, 2024 at 11:13 PM
Another exclusive from the Telegraph rugby lads on the RFU saga. Now the National One clubs have waded in and demanded an examination into the sport’s management. 11/14 teams signed the letter. Looks like B’ham Moseley, Darlington MP and Bishop’s Stortford didn’t. I wonder why not.
If you’ve got your feet up this weekend (I’m reclining regally with a mug of green tea and a piece of chocolate yule log to hand), please catch up with the new edition of Crime Review. We’ve got ten new reviews and an interview with author Nadine Matheson. crimereview.co.uk/page.php/edi...
December 10 2024
crimereview.co.uk
December 14, 2024 at 12:04 PM
If you’ve got your feet up this weekend (I’m reclining regally with a mug of green tea and a piece of chocolate yule log to hand), please catch up with the new edition of Crime Review. We’ve got ten new reviews and an interview with author Nadine Matheson. crimereview.co.uk/page.php/edi...
Not at all convinced by the RFU’s decision that the result in last Saturday’s Chinnor v Doncaster Championship match stands after the floodlights failed in the 68th minute. Score was 18-13, so Chinnor were hardly out of sight. I hope Doncaster appeal.
December 13, 2024 at 8:05 PM
Not at all convinced by the RFU’s decision that the result in last Saturday’s Chinnor v Doncaster Championship match stands after the floodlights failed in the 68th minute. Score was 18-13, so Chinnor were hardly out of sight. I hope Doncaster appeal.
Reposted by Shaz Wheeler
From @uwebristolofficial.bsky.social to reading the news on the BBC! Well done Courtney Sargent and Becky Lippiatt 👏https://courses.uwe.ac.uk/P50012/journalism
December 2, 2024 at 9:22 AM
From @uwebristolofficial.bsky.social to reading the news on the BBC! Well done Courtney Sargent and Becky Lippiatt 👏https://courses.uwe.ac.uk/P50012/journalism
Reposted by Shaz Wheeler
It's at this time of year, when the Christmas songs come on the radio, that I like to remember one of the Pogues finest works.
December 2, 2024 at 12:23 PM
It's at this time of year, when the Christmas songs come on the radio, that I like to remember one of the Pogues finest works.
I’d dearly like to know what the deal is with the RFU’s PR advisers, whether in-house or bought in. The low profile and occasional passive-aggressive quote is a lousy example of crisis comms. I wonder whether this is the PR team’s idea, or pressure above their heads not to engage with the media.
December 1, 2024 at 1:24 PM
I’d dearly like to know what the deal is with the RFU’s PR advisers, whether in-house or bought in. The low profile and occasional passive-aggressive quote is a lousy example of crisis comms. I wonder whether this is the PR team’s idea, or pressure above their heads not to engage with the media.