Your Noon Briefing: Filmmaking talent, Scottish media podcast, etc

BEGINS an announcement from the Scottish Government: “The Scottish Government has supported more than 300 emerging filmmakers to develop their screen skills through an eight-year funding package to the Edinburgh International Film Festival totalling £950,000, Culture Secretary, Fiona Hyslop, said today.

“Speaking ahead of a film industry reception she and the First Minister will host tonight at Edinburgh Castle, Ms Hyslop said that through the Edinburgh Festivals Expo Fund, the Scottish Government has transformed the Film Festival’s ability to nurture, develop and promote Scottish filmmaking talent.”

Read more, here.

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ENTRIES are being invited for a competition celebrating the work of magazine editors.

The British Society of Magazine Editors has set a deadline of the 24th of next month, for nominations.

Read more, here.

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AMONG 19 new recruits accepted into The Church of Scotland ministry, one is 29 year-old David Nicolson, from Stornoway, who joins the Church following a career making television programmes for BBC ALBA.

Says The Church of Scotland: “He’s confident working in the media has been a good training ground for full time-ministry.”

And Nicolson is quoted, as saying: “Now I have discerned my call to serve God, I cannot imagine a more exciting prospect. Getting to satisfy that itch, that inner voice that asks: ‘What was I put on earth to do?’ is thrilling. My hope is to get alongside fellow leaders in the Church and work as a team – utilising everyone’s strengths, gifts and callings within the Church to maximum potential.”

Read more, here.

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A COMMUNICATIONS officer is being sought by the NSPCC, based in Glasgow, on a fixed-term contract.

But hurry! The deadline for applications is Monday.

For more details, see the job advert, here, on the allmediascotland.com media jobs board.

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THE first episode in a planned series of podcasts has been launched with the aim of exploring “the key issues that Scotland will have to confront if wants a media worthy of a modern democracy”.

Christopher Silver is aiming to produce a book on the back of the series.

The first podcast is featured on the website, NewsShaft, here.

Tune in, here.

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THE Scots crime writer, Val McDermid, is among a group of playwrights, novelists and broadcasters identified by The Independent newspaper as having ‘started out in local newspapers’.

In McDermid’s case, the Plymouth and South Devon Times, 1975-76.

Read more, here.

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BEGINS The Guardian: “The Sun is shaking up its political team, bringing in Guido Fawkes’ Harry Cole as Westminster correspondent and promoting Sun political correspondent, Craig Woodhouse. to chief political correspondent.

“Woodhouse is replacing [Scot] Kevin Schofield, who is leaving to become editor of PoliticsHome after five years at the paper.”

Kevin yesterday tweeted his congratulations to his successor.

Read more, here.

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THE SCOTSMAN has launched a new, quarterly magazine today.

Vision Scotland, says the newspaper, “aims to celebrate the diversity and vitality of Scotland’s business sector.”

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SEEN anything you think readers of www.allmediascotland.com should be made aware of? Then just send the weblink to here and we’ll do the rest. All suggestions gratefully received. We’re back at noon tomorrow.