Neil Merrick
@neilmerrick.bsky.social
Freelance journalist. Writes about housing, education, local government & media. Interests music & sport.
Are journalists using rhetorical questions too much as headlines?
October 22, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Are journalists using rhetorical questions too much as headlines?
Another highlight from day 1 of @hiddennotes.bsky.social festival - mesmeric mix of Indian classical singing & electronica from Arushi Jain.
September 21, 2025 at 6:14 AM
Another highlight from day 1 of @hiddennotes.bsky.social festival - mesmeric mix of Indian classical singing & electronica from Arushi Jain.
Great to be back @hiddennotes.bsky.social festival in Stroud. Incredible range of music & music lovers packed into a beautiful church. First day highlights inc @annaphoebe.bsky.social previewing new LP Divergence.
September 21, 2025 at 6:09 AM
Great to be back @hiddennotes.bsky.social festival in Stroud. Incredible range of music & music lovers packed into a beautiful church. First day highlights inc @annaphoebe.bsky.social previewing new LP Divergence.
Reposted by Neil Merrick
This, from The Londoner yesterday, also features people on the march who claim not to be racists. Though the things they say prove otherwise
September 16, 2025 at 6:05 AM
This, from The Londoner yesterday, also features people on the march who claim not to be racists. Though the things they say prove otherwise
Daisy Rickman's set was definitely one of Friday's highlights @endoftheroadfestival.com. #EOTR25
August 30, 2025 at 9:39 AM
Daisy Rickman's set was definitely one of Friday's highlights @endoftheroadfestival.com. #EOTR25
Reposted by Neil Merrick
I'm currently at a housing conference & it's a slightly out of body experience politically, given the vibe here is thrilled with getting £39bn + basically all they asked for in spending review. Not that govt isn't in deep trouble elsewhere but it's a striking eg of how easily the popular stuff...
June 25, 2025 at 4:59 PM
I'm currently at a housing conference & it's a slightly out of body experience politically, given the vibe here is thrilled with getting £39bn + basically all they asked for in spending review. Not that govt isn't in deep trouble elsewhere but it's a striking eg of how easily the popular stuff...
Can't recommend this book by @lanre-bakare.bsky.social highly enough. Brilliantly mixes politics & culture to explain so much about multicultural Britain at a time when multiculturalism is sadly under such threat.
Excited to share the cover for my debut non-fiction book WE WERE THERE, which is out 17 April 2025 via The Bodley Head + is a cultural history of Black Britain in the Thatcher era.
Please pre-order it via the link if you feel inclined!
www.penguin.co.uk/books/453942...
Please pre-order it via the link if you feel inclined!
www.penguin.co.uk/books/453942...
June 11, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Can't recommend this book by @lanre-bakare.bsky.social highly enough. Brilliantly mixes politics & culture to explain so much about multicultural Britain at a time when multiculturalism is sadly under such threat.
Could councils play a bigger role in housing asylum seekers? My briefing for @lgiu-local-gov.bsky.social (£).
lgiu.org/briefing/acc...
lgiu.org/briefing/acc...
Accommodation for asylum seekers - what are the options for local authorities? - LGiU
Introduction The Home Office is responsible for housing and supporting people who seek asylum in the UK and would, generally, otherwise be destitute. Asylum seekers are offered ‘initial’ accommodation...
lgiu.org
June 3, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Could councils play a bigger role in housing asylum seekers? My briefing for @lgiu-local-gov.bsky.social (£).
lgiu.org/briefing/acc...
lgiu.org/briefing/acc...
Reposted by Neil Merrick
Essential reading, especially if you’re going to Glastonbury! @nujofficial.bsky.social @ruthaddicott.bsky.social Also featuring @stephaniecpower.bsky.social on podcasts; @lindaharrisonpr.bsky.social on networking; @neilmerrick.bsky.social on AI; @rorywrites.bsky.social on student awards
June 2, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Essential reading, especially if you’re going to Glastonbury! @nujofficial.bsky.social @ruthaddicott.bsky.social Also featuring @stephaniecpower.bsky.social on podcasts; @lindaharrisonpr.bsky.social on networking; @neilmerrick.bsky.social on AI; @rorywrites.bsky.social on student awards
Reposted by Neil Merrick
bylinetimes.com Just got my copy and this editorial is exactly why it is such an important publication
May 23, 2025 at 2:50 PM
bylinetimes.com Just got my copy and this editorial is exactly why it is such an important publication
Reposted by Neil Merrick
Mid- & East Devon has some of the worst broadband connectivity in the UK - many areas here are in the bottom 10%. Yet companies like Airband have been allowed to withdraw from contracts without anything to replace them. Building Digital UK must do better for residents and businesses in rural areas.
May 29, 2025 at 8:54 AM
Mid- & East Devon has some of the worst broadband connectivity in the UK - many areas here are in the bottom 10%. Yet companies like Airband have been allowed to withdraw from contracts without anything to replace them. Building Digital UK must do better for residents and businesses in rural areas.
Reposted by Neil Merrick
New Radio Show:
It's a joy to return to BBC 6 Music
Sundays 6-8pm
from June 8th
The Show will be a borderless space for music across all spectrums.
Open conversations with Artists we love.
New experiments in storytelling & sound.
Come with us..
Photography:
@photobrettwalker.bsky.social
It's a joy to return to BBC 6 Music
Sundays 6-8pm
from June 8th
The Show will be a borderless space for music across all spectrums.
Open conversations with Artists we love.
New experiments in storytelling & sound.
Come with us..
Photography:
@photobrettwalker.bsky.social
May 1, 2025 at 4:38 PM
New Radio Show:
It's a joy to return to BBC 6 Music
Sundays 6-8pm
from June 8th
The Show will be a borderless space for music across all spectrums.
Open conversations with Artists we love.
New experiments in storytelling & sound.
Come with us..
Photography:
@photobrettwalker.bsky.social
It's a joy to return to BBC 6 Music
Sundays 6-8pm
from June 8th
The Show will be a borderless space for music across all spectrums.
Open conversations with Artists we love.
New experiments in storytelling & sound.
Come with us..
Photography:
@photobrettwalker.bsky.social
Reposted by Neil Merrick
Spring statement: What it means for social housing and residents. In this review, @neilmerrick.bsky.social combs through the finer details of the chancellor's annoucement
hqnetwork.co.uk/news/spring-... #ukhousing
hqnetwork.co.uk/news/spring-... #ukhousing
Spring statement: What it means for social housing and residents - HQN
By the time the chancellor delivered her spring statement on Wednesday afternoon, the housing sector had known for 24 hours that it would be spared any
hqnetwork.co.uk
March 27, 2025 at 10:35 AM
Spring statement: What it means for social housing and residents. In this review, @neilmerrick.bsky.social combs through the finer details of the chancellor's annoucement
hqnetwork.co.uk/news/spring-... #ukhousing
hqnetwork.co.uk/news/spring-... #ukhousing
Still pinching myself that Marika Hackman is playing local parish church in Devon this Saturday. Amazing chance to see her live in a wonderful setting.
February 27, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Still pinching myself that Marika Hackman is playing local parish church in Devon this Saturday. Amazing chance to see her live in a wonderful setting.
Reposted by Neil Merrick
Reposted by Neil Merrick
What's the outlook for living standards in 2025?
Disposable incomes are set to fall across low-, middle- and high-income families alike. But improvements in public services will help to boost broad living standards for some.
Disposable incomes are set to fall across low-, middle- and high-income families alike. But improvements in public services will help to boost broad living standards for some.
February 25, 2025 at 5:25 PM
What's the outlook for living standards in 2025?
Disposable incomes are set to fall across low-, middle- and high-income families alike. But improvements in public services will help to boost broad living standards for some.
Disposable incomes are set to fall across low-, middle- and high-income families alike. But improvements in public services will help to boost broad living standards for some.
Reposted by Neil Merrick
Mary Anne Hobbs is leaving the building, for now...
I'll be back on BBC6Music in late Spring with a totally new Show.
My Mid-Morning Show
ends February 21st 2025.
I came to change Daytime radio and i believe the job is complete.
Thank you so much for listening...
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
I'll be back on BBC6Music in late Spring with a totally new Show.
My Mid-Morning Show
ends February 21st 2025.
I came to change Daytime radio and i believe the job is complete.
Thank you so much for listening...
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
February 20, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Mary Anne Hobbs is leaving the building, for now...
I'll be back on BBC6Music in late Spring with a totally new Show.
My Mid-Morning Show
ends February 21st 2025.
I came to change Daytime radio and i believe the job is complete.
Thank you so much for listening...
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
I'll be back on BBC6Music in late Spring with a totally new Show.
My Mid-Morning Show
ends February 21st 2025.
I came to change Daytime radio and i believe the job is complete.
Thank you so much for listening...
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
Cricket's Forgotten Team: www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0028cjq via @bbciplayer
Cricket's Forgotten Team
When the Taliban regained power in Afghanistan, the women's cricket team fled the country. Jo Currie tells the story of their battle to play competitive cricket and represent their country.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 11, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Cricket's Forgotten Team: www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0028cjq via @bbciplayer
Reposted by Neil Merrick
Read the latest issue of HQM now! In this issue Neil Merrick reports on how a housing association’s tenants are helping to spread the word about energy efficiency, while enjoying lower bills hqm.hqnetwork.co.uk/housing-in-p... #ukhousing
January 27, 2025 at 9:10 AM
Read the latest issue of HQM now! In this issue Neil Merrick reports on how a housing association’s tenants are helping to spread the word about energy efficiency, while enjoying lower bills hqm.hqnetwork.co.uk/housing-in-p... #ukhousing
Reposted by Neil Merrick
The January issue of HQM is out! With Shelter CEO Polly Neate; features on FoI research into tenancy fraud, the first year of TSMs & the future of social housing rents policy; & we ask sector leaders & influencers to give us their housing predictions for the year ahead hqm.hqnetwork.co.uk #ukhousing
January 24, 2025 at 1:30 PM
The January issue of HQM is out! With Shelter CEO Polly Neate; features on FoI research into tenancy fraud, the first year of TSMs & the future of social housing rents policy; & we ask sector leaders & influencers to give us their housing predictions for the year ahead hqm.hqnetwork.co.uk #ukhousing
No, Sky. Non-EU visitors will pay more, not just those from the UK.
UK visitors will have to pay more to see the Mona Lisa in the Louvre in Paris than EU tourists as part of major renovation, Emmanuel Macron says
UK visitors will have to pay more to see the Mona Lisa in the Louvre in Paris than EU tourists as part of major renovation, Emmanuel Macron says
Visitors from the UK will have to pay more to visit the Louvre in Paris than EU citizens as part of plans for a major renovation of the world's most popular museum.
news.sky.com
January 28, 2025 at 8:27 PM
No, Sky. Non-EU visitors will pay more, not just those from the UK.
Reposted by Neil Merrick
What are Kemi Badenoch's thoughts on the intergration of these criminals in mainstream British society?
January 27, 2025 at 2:34 PM
What are Kemi Badenoch's thoughts on the intergration of these criminals in mainstream British society?
Reposted by Neil Merrick
News:
My agenda has been to change Daytime radio at BBC 6 Music.
Creative life is progression.
Once the work is complete, stand at the edge of everything you know and ask a different question.
My Daytime show ends in February, I'll return to 6 Music in Spring with something new.
Come with me..
My agenda has been to change Daytime radio at BBC 6 Music.
Creative life is progression.
Once the work is complete, stand at the edge of everything you know and ask a different question.
My Daytime show ends in February, I'll return to 6 Music in Spring with something new.
Come with me..
January 9, 2025 at 10:22 AM
News:
My agenda has been to change Daytime radio at BBC 6 Music.
Creative life is progression.
Once the work is complete, stand at the edge of everything you know and ask a different question.
My Daytime show ends in February, I'll return to 6 Music in Spring with something new.
Come with me..
My agenda has been to change Daytime radio at BBC 6 Music.
Creative life is progression.
Once the work is complete, stand at the edge of everything you know and ask a different question.
My Daytime show ends in February, I'll return to 6 Music in Spring with something new.
Come with me..
Reposted by Neil Merrick
Last year we were interviewed by @neilmerrick.bsky.social for a report on the Values in the Media for the latest edition of the @nujofficial.bsky.social's The Journalist: content.yudu.com/web/3pylg/0A... Let us know what you think!
The Journalist Dec-Jan 2025
content.yudu.com
January 6, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Last year we were interviewed by @neilmerrick.bsky.social for a report on the Values in the Media for the latest edition of the @nujofficial.bsky.social's The Journalist: content.yudu.com/web/3pylg/0A... Let us know what you think!
Reposted by Neil Merrick
Johnnie Walker remembered by former NUJ colleagues for his “principled” outlook and “commitment to the union”, particularly during a showdown with management over a strike
www.nuj.org.uk/resource/joh...
www.nuj.org.uk/resource/joh...
Johnnie Walker remembered for his “loyal and effective” support for the NUJ
Broadcaster held firm during strike
www.nuj.org.uk
January 2, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Johnnie Walker remembered by former NUJ colleagues for his “principled” outlook and “commitment to the union”, particularly during a showdown with management over a strike
www.nuj.org.uk/resource/joh...
www.nuj.org.uk/resource/joh...