It’s been a fast-paced few weeks here at Plaza Towers with all hands to the decks producing the July issues of Charity Finance, governance and Professional Fundraising while at the same time somehow pulling the threads together for a brilliant tenth Charity Awards presentation dinner, of which more below.

This was perfect timing (not) for our  first real internet news explosion giving  us a stunning insight into the real power  of instant news and the momentum of a rolling news story that just keeps gathering pace in real time online. For those of us, who are more accustomed to the quiet life and the relative anonymity of what is essentially niche publishing for a professional audience,  it has been a wake-up call to the power  of the internet and the pace with which things can develop in that environment.

The story I’m referring to began as  a blog by John Tate on the Charity Finance website in which he suggested that the heads of the sector’s umbrella bodies should follow Barnardo’s chief executive, Martin Narey’s example and publish their expenses to reassure the public that there was no  abuse along the lines of MPs etc.

We didn’t expect this to be particularly contentious but traffic suddenly took off  and a vigorous debate ensued sucking in opinion of all colour and dragging some well known figures, for once reluctantly, into the spotlight.

It has been amusing and satisfying  to see news rivals scrabbling to catch up  and to see our stories filling their pages, but that’s just professional oneupmanship and  of passing interest. What has really struck us is the sheer speed with which the story took off and the considerable resource it instantly required to stay up with it and to begin to  do justice to it. Yes, we already had a hectic month but we are media professionals and this is, after all, our business. Imagine how you would cope if you had your hands full with your peak workload and a story requiring your immediate and intense concentration suddenly broke and ran on for several  weeks at that level.

If you haven’t already done so, I suggest you add to your list of risks for which you are prepared, a plan for this eventuality. Acquire at least a passing familiarity with the variety and mechanics of online platforms and find  a supportive resource that you can plug into at a moment’s notice if you can’t afford to develop this in-house. There is a big bad instantly-connected world out there and  you need a bulletproof vest for the day  it turns its guns on you. Be warned!

Ten years of Charity Awards

The one occasion in the year that never  fails to delight and impress is the Charity Awards presentation dinner and 2009’s event was no exception. It was a particularly proud moment to reach our tenth year, which is a relatively junior anniversary but puts  us into double figures and long trousers  and gave us an excuse for that extra  glass of prosecco on the night.

This year’s winners are an amazing and brilliant crop and you can read all about  them in the accompanying special report  and online at www.charityawards.co.uk.  They are wonderful representatives of the sector we work in and should be much more widely feted to the general public for their thrilling and uplifting stories of achievement and their powerful reminder that the world is actually full of people who attempt to improve things for others and do not put themselves forever first in life’s battle for resources, unlike those in some other walks of life.

Perhaps if BBC executives weren’t quite  so busy completing their own rather sizeable expenses claims, they might notice the wonderful human interest stories under their noses in charities throughout the country and recognise a ratings winner when they see it.