A lively and responsive audience at the 2004 ‘Question Time’ luncheon, organised by Placemakers in association with IBP, probed the likelihood of London’s Crossrail project finally getting the go ahead.
At the session, held at the Marriott Hotel at Canary Wharf last month, the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tony McNulty, said the Government faced ‘an enormous legislative slog’ to get the legislation it needed. They hoped to get the second reading of the Bill through by next February or March and then go into committee.He suggested that the project had moved to the point when it was not so much a question of whether but when and how, but there were still huge issues that had to be addressed regarding the financial and environmental questions surrounding Crossrail.
The concensus seemed to be that without Crossrail London could eventually grind to a halt and the future of Thames Gateway, which formed the basis for the discussion, be put at risk. ‘Question Time’ was chaired by Giles Barrie, Editor of Property Week and IBPVice Chairman, who demonstrated a genuine flair for controlling the questioning and directing the answers.
He was assisted by a top rate team of speakers comprising, as well as Mr.McNulty, Steven Norris, recent candidate against the incumbent Ken Livingstone in the race to be Mayor of London and again forcing him into a run-off.The other keynote speakers were Jackie Sadek, Chief Executive of Kent Thameside; Tim Seddon, Development Director, Land Securities and Eric Sorensen, Chief Executive of the Thames Gateway London Partnership.
IBP secured a major coup for the 2004 Richard Catt Environmental Debate when the internationally renowned architect and urban designer, Sir Terry Farrell, gave the keynote speech at the University of Westminster in September.
Sir Terry, who studied architecture at Newcastle University and then won a Harkness Fellowship to study masters courses in architecture and city planning at the University of Pennsylvania In Philadelphia,USA,discussed a range of projects which have shaped his practice and then concentrated on his current redesign and rebuilding of the Home Office in London.
He described how the three high rise buildings (which had formerly comprised the old Department of the Environment) had been demolished. These towers had long been regarded as a blot on the London landscape which sat behind the Houses of Parliament.Sir Terry explained how they were able to demonstrate that it was possible, instead of having three tower blocks, to design three low rise ‘groundscrapers’ with a street linking it all up. In this way the project became more of a community but without utilizing any mo reground area than that originally occupied by the tower blocks.
It had become, in effect, an example of urban renewal which now included housing and public space at the front. Various artists had become involved, including Liam Gillick, who had been short listed for the Turner Prize. Under Gillick’s guidance a whole range of artist shad been working on the project together with architects and urban designers working on housing, offices and art works.He explained how, in place of the old impermeable towers, there were now streets, pedestrian routes and a much better internal environment with more space beween the buildings.Sir Terry said that working with Liam Gillick was fascinating and as the project evolved they experimented with ways in which glass could be incorporated in the design.
The result is one of the largest artworks in Britain in different coloured glass. Earlier Gerald Bowey, Chief Executive of IBP Services, had introduced the debate by thanking the University of Westminster for hosting the event. He paid tribute to the Vice Chancellor, Dr. Geoffrey Coplanar, and Chris Marsh, a member of the Faculty at the University, formerly a close colleague of Richard Catt, who chaired the debate.He also thanked the evening’s sponsor, International Art Consultants/Art for Offices, for joining with IBP and for choosing the Catt debate for the presentation of their annual Art & Work Award.
Andrew Hutchinson, Director of International Art Consultants/Art for Offices, said the 20th anniversary of the awards would be held next year but to celebrate their own 25th anniversary this year they had decided to sponsor the first Art & Work Award for Outstanding Lifetime Achievement by an artist.He continued: “Over the past 25 years we have worked with many artists on a huge range of projects both within the UK and all over the world.
The winner of of the award tonight is one of the most creative and professional artists we have had the privilege of working with -William Pye.”“I could speak for hours on the scope and quality of Bill’s work and those of you who are familiar with it will know how stunning the combinations of water and sculpture he creates are and how perfectly they work in the many different locations for which they have been commissioned.”
IBP Services Chief Executive, Gerald Bowey, emphasised the added value provided by IBP to its members in his report, on behalf of the Executive Committee, to the Annual General Meeting held at The Building Centre last month.
He said: “No organisation can expect to survive and prosper without paying due care and attention to what its members want and need to enhance their own job performances, whether they are journalists or PR practitioners. I believe that, year on year, IBP continues to provide added value to its members.”
The Building Centre Group again hosted the annual IBP AGM, in the conference suite at Store Street, adding more than a touch of style by organising a wine tasting immediately following the AGM.
Andrew Scoones, director of The Building Centre Trust took time out from organising the transformation of the window area at Store Street, where he has created the New London Architecture experience – if you don’t do anything else this year go have a look – to host the tasting.
As usual Andrew brought his considerable knowledge of Italian wines to bear on the proceedings, providing a range of white and red wines for IBP members to savour, debate and categorize. The journalists yet again romp home with the right answers, with freelance Andy Taylor and Ruth Slavid, editor, AJ Focus taking home the prizes – their choice of the excellent wines tasted is edited by the Internal communications office and produced by an external agency. Tarmac World readership surveys showed that 88 per cent of the recipients read all or most of the magazine. “The judges liked its energy, its variety and its active regional correspondents and they felt it was an easy read,” concluded Murray.
The IBP annual Summer Dinner was, for the second year running, held at a prestige London venue – Somerset House – and proved to be another outstanding success.
Rod Sweet, Construction Manager
The ”In House Magazine of the Year” award went to ”Tarmac World” which is circulated to 12,000 employees and pensioners of Tarmac. It is edited by the Internal communications office and produced by an external agency.
Tarmac World readership surveys showed that 88 per cent of the recipients read all or most of the magazine. “The judges liked its energy, its variety and its active regional correspondents and they felt it was an easy read,” concluded Murray.
The annual Journalists versus PRs cricket match, sponsored by Clancy Consultants Ltd., did not begin with a flourish. But by the end of the afternoon at Thames Ditton Cricket Club’s ground in Surrey it had turned into what more than one of the participants called ‘a classic’.
There were good, solid starts to each innings. Grieff and Cassie, opening for the PRs against some distinctly sharp medium fast bowling by Gaved and Lynch, seemed well in control and as the innings progressed useful contributions from Dixon, skipper Andy Walker and Chris Helsen pushed the total well into what looked like being the comfort zone.
And then came Helsen senior! I never saw David Helsen in his ‘pomp’ but these days his batting is uncompromisingly simple. He plants his front foot down the wicket and whacks whatever is bowled to him. So it was this time. He blasted his way to 29 and indeed carried his bat so that the PRs set a challenging total of 153.
The buzz went round the fielding PRs. “That should be enough.” So it should have been. After his usual poised start, Chris Hart fell victim to an unnecessary run out but then Dawson, Windle, Rogers and Lynch chipped away at their target – and suddenly it was in reach.
Walker, Dixon, Cassie and Chris Helsen had produced excellent bowling performances but they couldn’t quite get the final break through and the Journos finished at a dash.
It was all genuinely exciting stuff and the feel good factor that comes with a game of cricket keenly fought out between two well-matched sides was clearly evident in the bar afterwards.
Andrew Moffatt of Clancy Consultants Ltd. did the presentational honours and David Helsen, fresh from his batting triumph of the afternoon, was once again the genial host, dispensing drinks with the same skill with which he had wielded the willow. It had been a great match and was declared by a very large majority as ‘the best so far’.
The continued high standards of construction and property journalism demonstrated by entrants to the IBP 2005 National Journalism Awards Competition have made the 2005 competition a particularly rewarding one, according to the expert judges.
Time and again the judges reported that they had experienced the greatest difficulty in separating out the entries to select individual winners, so good were the standards of journalism demonstrated in the articles submitted.
Gerald Bowey, Chief Executive Officer of IBP, commented: “Some 354 articles were submitted and they more than maintained the high standards achieved in recent years.
Left to right: Rex Pengilly, Gerald Bowey, Peter Roper (seated), John Yadoo, Christopher Warman, Robin Adams (seated), Simon Fullalove, David Lawson, Richard Northedge, Paul Hyett, Lee Mallett, Richard Saxon (seated), John Waples, Adrienne Margolis, Andrew Scoones, Clive Branson (seated), Michael Day, Victoria Thornton (seated), John Grigsby, John Slaughter, Richard Aylwin, Chris Marsh (seated), and Alan Hughes. Not in the photograph: Dr Frank Duffy, Peter Murray, Peter Day and Mindy Wilson.
“What has happened this year is that more entries were made in the news reporter and feature writer categories while entries to the Commercial Property Writer have trebled over the past two years.
“The Chairs of Judges clearly felt that journalists should be encouraged to also enter articles in generic categories such as construction and housing and we have identified a definite need to consider their output of articles carefully with a view to entering as many categories as possible.”
Among the qualities that most impressed the judges from the considerable range of subjects and issues presented to them were insight and balance, political astuteness, good imagination and the innovative use of newly available sources such as the Freedom of Information Act.
They were clearly delighted at the number of good old fashioned scoops among the articles entered and were greatly impressed at the strong visuals and powerful headlines which supported many of the entries.
In the key category of Young Journalist of the Year the judges delivered a clear, although good natured warning to existing practitioners, however successful and experienced, that a growing group of talented, highly motivated and energetic youngsters were already snapping at their heels.
It was especially gratifying to see the judges’ comment on the IBP Journalist of the Year that the entries presented construction and property journalism at its very best.
It is clear from the 2005 competition that these prestigious awards are increasingly sought after and provide a ‘must have’entry on the CVs of the most ambitious and successful journalists in the industry.
Add to this the highly successful launch of the inaugural IBP Regional Journalism Awards scheme in Manchester last month and it is clear that IBP’s mission to acknowledge and reward high standards of journalism in construction and property is going from strength to strength.
Clive M. Branson, Editor of Commercial Property Register, who was presented with the IBP Special Lifetime Achievement Award
Clive M. Branson, Editor of Commercial Property Register was presented with the IBP Special Lifetime Achievement Award at the awards dinner by Giles Barrie, Editor of Property Week and deputy chairman of IBP.
The Award, is in recognition of Clive’s long and distinguished services to journalism, encompassing special reports at the Financial Times, the City Desk at the Daily Sketch and Daily Mail; freelance work on the Sunday Times, Sunday Standard, Financial Weekly and the Investors Review.
At the Builder Group Clive was Editorial Director and Editor of Chartered Surveyor Weekly (now Property Week) and subsequently launched both World Property and EuroProperty and was Property Editor of the European before taking up his latest editorship at Commercial Property Register.
Clive was made a Vice President of IBP last year after serving fifteen years as a deputy chairman. Clive has work tirelessly as a judge of the National Journalism Awards for many of those years and has encouraged and supported the aims of IBPto recognise and reward good journalism.
<b>The judges’ verdict</b><br>Judging for the IBP National Journalism Awards took place at The Building Centre, 26 Store Street, London WC1, on Monday, October 17. The judges’panels for each category comprised experts in the fields of journalism and the construction, design and property professions. Their verdicts are as follows:
ARCHITECTURALJOURNALIST
Winner: Martin Spring, Building.
Judges comment: ‘He demonstrated a combination of apertinent choice of topics, a highly professional, clear and readable style and a neat turn of phrase. This makes this hardy perennial such a valuable and reliable contributor to architectural journalism.’
ARCHITECTURALCRITIC
Winner: Hugh Pearman, Sunday Times.
Judges comment: ‘Whether pin-pointing poor circulation in a Renzo Piano building or commenting on Rem Koolhaas’s obsession with form, he writes in a style that is as intelligent as it is intelligible to the wider readership.’
CONSTRUCTION JOURNALIST
Winner: Mark Leftly, Building.
Judges comment: ‘His work has a broad and interesting canvas with UK European and international issues of interest to the reader. He writes in a refreshing, easy to assimilate style drawing a good balance between both sides of any argument.’
NEWS REPORTER
Winner: Phil Clark, writing for Building (now Editor QS Week)
Judges comment: ‘We were particularly impressed by the use of the Freedom of Information Act on which Phil jumped in and showed the way. He has an ability to create a fascinating insight into relationships between client and builder.’
FEATURE WRITER
Winner: George Hay, Building.
Judges comment: ‘He walks an astute path through the politics of the construction industry. This gives him an edge over other entrants. His article on Israel tackled a difficult subject and was particularly well-presented to the reader.’
BUSINESS / FINANCIAL JOURNALIST
Winner: Jenny Davey, The Times.
Judges comment: ‘She has delivered a series of scoops for The Times written in a clear style and without the intrusion of comment. Her story about the sale of Wentworth was as exclusive as the golf club itself.’
COMMERCIAL PROPERTY WRITER
Winner: Claer Barrett, Property Week.
Judges comment: ‘Her article on Southern Cross, a serviced-office company that collapsed, was a welcome and rare piece of investigative journalism and was proof that such stories can be pursued despite legal and financial constraints. It was clearly written and well supported by evidence.’
HOUSING JOURNALIST
Winner: Jo Smit, Building.
Judges comment: ‘We were impressed by the variety of topics and her willingness to address the big issues. She demonstrated consistent quality in terms of style and impact, particularly in the ‘Precious Heat’ piece.’
RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY WRITER
Winner: Piers Wehner, Estates Gazette.
Judges comment: ‘His diversity of topics, depth of research backed by good headlines and his ability to attract and maintain interest were commendable.’
YOUNG JOURNALIST
Winner: Rob Sharp, Architects’Journal.
Judges comment: ‘He demonstrated the energy, drive and determination that young journalists must have to succeed. We were impressed at how he successfully used and interpreted the access to people that he gained.’
MAGAZINE (WEEKLY)
Winner: Construction News.
Judges comment: ‘We especially rated its concise news stories backed by solid analysis. It is highly readable withgood content and has a history of breaking great news stories.’
MAGAZINE (NON-WEEKLY)
Winner: Icon magazine
Judges comment: ‘This a beautifully designed and well written magazine which knows its market very well.’
IBP JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR
Winner: Claer Barrett, Property Week.
Judges comment: ‘Her exposé of the collapse of Southern Cross was a template for good investigative journalism. It is encouraging to see that highly controversial articles like this still have a place in construction trade journalism. Claer was rightly congratulated by the High Court for her work.’
IBP is actively working on plans for a new Induction Training Course which would be designed to offer new entrants into construction, design and property journalism and PR a valuable basic grounding in the operation and practices of this complex industry.
The course will be created as a high quality, value for money product which would fill a perceived gap in basic training provision in the industry.Course content will comprise a detailed overview of the industry, its operations, its key role in the UK economy and its crucial contribution to the quality of life in the workplace and in the home. The second component would be an analysis of communications both within the industry and to the ‘outside’audiences.
“The underlying purpose of this course is to provide an opportunity, not available elsewhere, for new entrants, whether from university or from other industrial sectors, to receive concentrated grounding in how the industry operates and communicates so that they are well prepared to make their own contribution either as journalists or PR practitioners.“Specialised training provision of this nature will be a new departure for IBP and provides clear evidence of its intention continually to develop its services to all members and benefit the wider industry”, said Gerald Bowey, Chief Executive of IBP Services.
A major new initiative to promote the interests of freelance journalists serving the construction industry is being launched by IBP following the recommendations of a Working Group chaired by Vice President, Clive Branson, Editor, Commercial Property Register.
The aim of the register is to establish an on-line listing of freelances, active in the architectural, building and property sectors, in which they will be able to record their areas of expertise, preferred methods of working and day/project rates and charging methods.
A freely available central reference source the register will be developed as part of the IBP website and this will be actively promoted by IBP to Editors and PR Practitioners to help them to identify and clarify their freelance requirements. IBP Services Chief Executive, Gerald Bowey, said: “This is a long overdue initiative that will help to boost both the interests of freelance journalists, writers and photographers, who make such a valuable contribution towards promoting the interests of the construction industry, and regular commissioners of freelance work. This exciting new IBP development will provide an easily accessed register of expertise – for all to use.”
Leonie Austin, the new Director of Public Affairs at the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors spelled out three main priorities in her new role when she addressed the IBP AGM.
She intended to help the organisation to build on its relationship with government , punch up its dealings with the media and address its dialogue with its own extensive membership. Leonie Austin, who has joined RICS after a three-year spell as Director of Communications at the Cabinet Office and, before that, as Chief Press Officer at the Department of Trade and Industry, brings a wealth of top-level experience to bear on all aspects of her new work.
She will be able to influence RICS policy on government legislation, relations with the business community and the general public in essential areas like consumer protection. In particular she wants to raise the profile of the organisation both through the media and through promoting the profession to the general public which uses its services and as a career prospect, through education and training, to produce the surveyors of the future.
Certainly the effectiveness of her presentation to the AGM, her first public statement since taking up her new role, indicates a good move by the RICS. With 110,000 members based in over 120 countries around the world covering everything from major construction projects to surveying the seabed for minerals, from managing agricultural land to auctioning antiques or protecting the environment, Leonie Austin has a daunting brief and she is clearly determined to bring the whole weight of her experience to bear as quickly as possible.
