Understanding Economics News

Bonds? Quantitative easing? Austerity? I've always struggled with understanding economics news so am looking for coverage of the global economic crisis which will help me get my head around it. I've recently discovered the BBC's Global Economy webpage which explains some of the main issues and key phrases in a concise and comprehensible way.

Here's the BBC's Global Economy webpage: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special_reports/global_economy/

It's worth clicking on the short videos if like me you're a journalist who needs to have a reasonable understanding of what's going on and why.

I particularly like this video on the situation with the Euro: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-13991135 

Park Hill Flats

Sometimes while out reporting you meet the most remarkable people. Grenville Squires is not just notable because of his name, for 28 years he was the caretaker of Park Hill, Sheffield's (in)famous council estate that towers over the city. Anyone who's ever taken the train to Sheffield can't have missed the huge buildings of flats at the top of the hill. They were built in 1957 and are Europe's largest listed buildings.

I went to interview Grenville at his home about plans to build a hotel at Park Hill as part of its redevelopment. Incidentally he's in favour of the idea as long as it helped the estate survive into the future, but it was when I was about to walk out of his front door that my ears were really thrilled. He told me a fascinating tale from his time as caretaker there and moments later was repeating it for me to record on my phone. Grenville then went on to tell me another cracking story.

Please be aware that the stories are a bit morbidly disturbing so if you're of a sensitive disposition, you may wish not to click play...

Day One, BBC Radio Sheffield

I'm very excited to be starting my first day of a six month attachment at BBC Radio Sheffield where I'll spend most of my time reporting for the Toby Foster Breakfast Show. I'd love to hear your story ideas for South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire. If something unusual or exciting is happening to you or someone you know, or you know of an issue that people are getting behind, then do let me know. With a bit of luck, I'll get the story on the radio and maybe even online and TV too. I'm looking for stories in Sheffield, Chesterfield, Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and everywhere in-between. Here's an example of a story I suggested that was covered on BBC Radio Sheffield and the BBC South Yorkshire website.

Email me: mark.ansell@bbc.co.uk or tweet me: www.twitter.com/MarkAnsell