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www.abplgroup.com
Dee Katwa
Asian Voice - Saturday 28th April 2012
Midland Voice Contact: Dhiren on 07970 911 386 or dhiren.katwa@abplgroup.com
Plea for support to help launch new local TV channel City TV, a proposed new local TV station in Birmingham, is seeking support for its bid from all citizens. One criterion to win the bid is to engage with diverse communities, which the team behind City TV is desperately now doing. But is it doing so to genuinely connect with multicultural Birmingham, or is it just to tick the box? This was a common question posed to the panel by some of the 30plus attendees at a briefing about City TV held at a Muslim Centre in S p a r k b r o o k , Birmingham, last Monday. The panel comprised of City TV chief executive Debra Davis, local authority Equalities tsar Councillor Alan Rudge and his assistant, Mashuq Ally. Funnily enough, only weeks earlier, Asian Voice had asked the same question to Ms Davis following the announcement of City TV’s interim board which does not, yet, at all reflect the diversity of Birmingham. In fact, it includes Diane Benussi, managing partner of Benussi Law and Alex Bishop, partner with Shoosmiths, ex-chairs of Birmingham Forward and Future, respectively, sister organisations which are continuing to
thrive through self-convenient ‘committed to diversity’ activities. Also on the board is City TV’s founder and vice-chairman Alan Grindley, Ms Davis’ partner, and former BT executive Derek Inman. Addressing the panel, Monica Coke, a grassroots ethnic business guru, said whilst she could see the “added value” of City TV, it was the first time she was hearing about it. She voiced her concern over the lack of consultation to date with community groups, especially given the deadline for applications is July. A decision on the winner is likely to be announced in September. Community engagement “that’s the least of my worries,” Ms Davis told attendees. “Because that’s easy to do.” Well, of course it would be as all she seems to be doing is consulting with those on the diversity database of her
Mosque plans set for EU courts Muslims battling to build a new mosque and community centre in Dudley have vowed to fight on despite a High Court rejection. Dr Khurshid Ahmed, pictured, chairman of Dudley Muslim Association said he is prepared to take the case to the European courts. “We feel seriously let down and we have to carry on the fight,” said Mr Ahmed.
Rising film-maker gets top author approval A film-maker from Birmingham has signed a contract with Stephen King, the worldrenowned author, to write a screenplay and then direct his own version of the 1977 short story The Man Who Loved Flowers. Ranjeet Singh Marwa, 23, from Handsworth, who is studying film and animation at Birmingham City University, plans to raise around £1,000 to fund the project himself after being given the go-ahead by Mr King’s publicist. Ranjeet, pictured, a former Lordswood Boys’ School pupil, is also planning a fulllength adaption later this year of one of his own short films, Samurai Diablo – a homage to Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill, filmed in Edgbaston in August.
former employer, the city council, which, some say, needs updating. Ms Davis offered to meet with faith and community leaders. “I’m willing to do that – though I don’t drive,” she said. The business plan for City TV is in place, according to Ms Davis. “We have a six-year project based around sponsorship, advertising revenue etc. It will cost £3 million minimum in the first year.” She said: “All I want is Birmingham, that is what I am focused on. Most of the other competitors want other cities as well.” She said City TV would aim to employ between 25 and 30 people initially. “I think we could increase that to 60 in a three-year period.” It has already been approached, apparently, by Star Plus, the Asian TV channel, offering its support. Birmingham has two official bids. The other, a rival to City TV, is YourTV, backed by Midland-based broadcasting stalwarts Gary Newbon and Mike Owen. The city is among 20 sites earmarked for local TV with the concept heavily endorsed by the government and Culture
Secretary Jeremy Hunt. The first batch of new stations are planned to be up and running by 2013. Nationwide, plans for local TV will see the BBC provide capital investment on transmission infrastructure, plus a commitment of £5 million a year for three years to buy programmes. The potential of City TV “extraordinary”. is Absolutely agree. But to succeed, the Board and growing team at City TV should and must recruit selfless, articulate and honest ambassadors, also those who genuinely understand their respective communities and also reflect all strands of diversity. It should also give newcomers and suitably skilled younger citizens, rather than the same old faces, a chance. Ethnic communities have been fooled time and time again with such proposals, which has eroded, naturally, their trust and confidence. As a proud native Brummie, I’d like to see City TV win this bid – provided it can demonstrate genuine community engagement now, and sustain this post-triumph (fingers crossed!).
Weightlifting star selected A sports enthusiast from the Midlands has been invited to take charge of the field of play for weightlifting events at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Birmingham-born 49year-old Sam Hayer, pictured, who runs a gym at Oldbury Academy, represented Great Britain in weightlifting at the Commonwealth Games in 1986 and 1990 and has gone on to coach national youth teams.
CBeebies Live! Parents from all races and backgrounds joined in with their juniors to applaud, cheer, wave and sing along with the children’s TV stars who appeared on stage at the LG Arena in Birmingham last Friday as part of CBeebies Live! The ‘Reach to the Stars’ show featured popular nursery rhymes and encouraged audience participation. Among the icons were Mister Tumble, pictured, Mister Maker and Robbie Rotten.
Plot to stay in UK An Afghan immigrant in his 20s was found posing as a schoolboy in Birmingham as part of a plot to stay in Britain. He enrolled at a Birmingham school in 2010 and even went to live with foster parents in Solihull as a child refugee. The man was rumbled when teachers became suspicious at the alleged teenager’s amazing progress in learning English. He is now under investigation by officials and may face deportation.
News in Brief Dole queue shortens Unemployment in the West Midlands fell by 3,000 in the three months to February. The region’s dole queue now stands at 9%, with a total of 239,000 people out of work.
Are you a big-spender? Remarkable Television wants to speak to people who spend too much on food, fashion or their homes. The Channel Four show helps people taking part find ways to make their money go further. Interested? Then call 0333 577 7773 or email Superscrimpers@endemoluk.com
Veil pulled off Muslim woman Detectives are hunting a man who grabbed a 26-yearold Muslim woman by the head and pulled off her face veil. The incident happened at Solihull’s Touchwood Shopping Centre on Saturday, March 3 at 2pm. Chief Inspector Kevin Doyle said: “We are treating this incident as a hate crime and we believe the woman was deliberately targeted because of her faith, symbolised by her attire.”
Missing Frieda found A teenager who went missing during a job hunt in Birmingham has been found safe and well in London. Frieda Begum, 19, from Stechford, had vanished last Thursday. Police were unable to give more details.
New council house’ approval Ambitious plans to build 3,500 new council homes in Birmingham over the next decade have been unveiled. The £206 million project was approved by the council’s cabinet last week. Of the 3,500 properties, 1,759 will be for rent and 1,715 put up for sale. Currently, there are 26,000 households on the council’s waiting list.
UK newspapers’ worst circulation British newspapers are among the worst circulation performers in Europe according to industry analyst Jim Chisholm. They have plunged by 20% in five years, compared with a European average of 12%. UK nationals declined by 16% against a European norm of 13%, while regionals declined by 29% against 12% generally.
Brum riots, trial begins Eight men who used three cars, each as an “instrument of death” in a “concerted plan” to kill three men during the Birmingham riots last August have appeared at Birmingham Crown Court. Timothy Spencer QC, prosecuting, said 21year-old Haroon Jahan died with brothers Shahzad Ali, 30, and Abdul Musavir, 31, pictured left to right, respectively, after being hit by a Mazda which was driven at up to 45mph. “It was deliberate, co-ordinated behaviour,” Mr Spencer told the jury, who were shown CCTV footage of the fatal impact. All the men deny three charges of murder. (Proceeding)
Fake gold seminar A seminar to discuss the importance of hallmarking, particularly on 22-karat Asian gold, will take place at the Jewellery Quarter in Birmingham on Monday (Apr 30). The event has been organised after two probes by Birmingham Trading Standards found families living in Asian areas of the city were particularly vulnerable to dodgy shops selling unhallmarked jewellery. To reserve your place contact Holly Burnett on 0121 237 1144.
Nanjibhai celebrates Centenary Three cheers to Nanjibhai Vasanji Pabari of Birmingham who has turned 100. Mr Pabari was joined by family, friends, neighbours, past and present, at an extraordinary celebration held at St John’s Hotel in Solihull last Sunday.