All posts by Matt Shearer

About Matt Shearer

Innovation and Products at Datalanguage.com. Founder at Business-docs.co.uk. Founder of BBC NEWS LABS (@BBC_News_Labs). Drums in The Krill and The Dees. View all posts by Matt Shearer →

Easter Trip to Paris with Wendy

April 7, 2015TravelEaster, Eurostar, France, Louvre, Paris, Salvador Dali, The Pompidou Centre, Wendy ShearerMatt Shearer

We just took a nice Easter Break in Paris, staying on La rue de La Michodière – une voie du 2 arrondissement de Paris – just opposite Theatre de la Michodiere.

Wales University #newsHACK Cardiff (#newsHACK VI)

March 26, 2015BBC Connected Studio, BBC News Labs, Collaboration Work, Rapid Prototyping#newsHACK, Alison Quinn, Basile Simon, Cardiff, Iain Tweedale, Innovation, Jeremy Tarling, Karolina Iwaszko, Universities, WalesMatt Shearer

Today I visited the #newsHACK VI event in Cardiff. The Wales Connected Studio team have setup this event, following the #newsHACK approach, to engage with Welsh Universities.

BBC News Labs in NHK Research Publication – Feb 2015

February 25, 2015BBC News Labs, Broadcasters, Collaboration WorkInnovation, Japan, NHK, Public Service Broadcasters, TakanobuMatt Shearer

Kindly, Takanobu from NHK sent the NHK Monthly Report on Broadcast Research to us at News Labs, and it features Storyline and #newsHACK write ups, in Japanese.

Nairobi #newsHACK: BBC Connected Studio World Service Africa

February 4, 2015Achievements, BBC Connected Studio, BBC News Labs, Collaboration Work, Speaking Appearences, Stage Appearences#newsHACK, Andy Poulton, BBG, Cynara Vetch, Dmitry Shishkin, iHub, Innovation, Josiah Mugambi, Kenya, Laura Harrison, Mark Flashman, Mary Lusiba, Miriam Quansah, Nairobi, Nairobi Garage, Peter Horrocks, Richard Caller, Sheng, University of NairobiMatt Shearer

This event, in Nairobi Garage, was a hack event held by BBC News Labs and Connected Studio to prototype & launch new pilot News services that will reach underserved audiences on the African continent.

Working at the BBC East Africa Bureaux – Nairobi, Kenya

February 2, 2015BBC Connected Studio, BBC News Labs, TravelAfrica, BBC East Africa Bureaux, Jonathan Chapman, Kenya, Laura Harrison, Mary Lusiba, Miriam Quansah, Nairobi, Richard CallerMatt Shearer

Last Friday, and today, we have been working from the BBC East Africa Bureaux in Nairobi. Lovely office and charming staff.

Remote working at Lake Nakuru – Great Rift Valley, Kenya

February 1, 2015BBC Connected Studio, BBC News Labs, TravelAfrica, Andy Poulton, Great Rift Valley, Kenya, Lake Nakuru, Laura Harrison, Lynsey Smith, Mark Flashman, National Park, Richard Caller, Safari, Sam KomboMatt Shearer

In the run-up to the Nairobi #newsHACK, we spent the day today working on strategy and preparation in the wonderful surrounds of Lake Nakuru National Park.

Remote working at Cafe Ubuntu – Maai Mahiu, Kenya

January 31, 2015BBC Connected Studio, BBC News Labs, Collaboration Work, TravelAfrica, Cafe Ubuntu, Great Cafes, Great Rift Valley, Kenya, Laura Harrison, Maai Mahiu, Mark Flashman, Richard Caller, Sam KomboMatt Shearer

Today we spent at Cafe Ubuntu in Maai Mahiu working on BBC News Labs strategy, and on preparation for the Nairobi Connected Studio #newsHACK event.

Nairobi Connected Studio #newsHACK – Tech Briefing

January 29, 2015BBC Connected Studio, BBC News Labs, Collaboration Work, Stage Appearences, Travel#newsHACK, Africa, Cynara Vetch, iHub, Josiah Mugambi, Kenya, Laura Harrison, Nairobi, Richard CallerMatt Shearer

We just ran the Tech Briefing for the “Connected Studio: World Service – Africa” event, at the iHub in Nairobi. This covered Juicer, Content API, FrontLine SMS, and WeChat.

Visit to SKY NEWS

January 15, 2015BBC News Labs, Broadcasters, Collaboration Work, News OrganisationsGeorge Richmond, James Murphy, Laden Oksuzer, London, SKY, SKY NEWS, TV Gallery, TV StudioMatt Shearer

At last we got around to visiting James Murphy, George, Laden et al down at the SKY complex in Osterly.

Christmas 2014 – Family Get-togethers

December 24, 2014Catch-up, Family RootsAmy Shearer, Andrew Glen, Christmas, Ed Shearer, Evelio, Fred Shearer, London, Lori Shearer, Rumbie Mushangi, Russel Shearer, Susan Glendening, Virginia Shearer, Wendy Shearer, WoodfordMatt Shearer

Great gathering this year – Amy, Evelio, Russel, Susan, Alexander are all over in London for Christmas,… plus Virginia & Glenny, Ed & Rumbie, Lori & Fred, and Wendy & I; lots of plans and lots of celebration.

Night at Spivs on Christmas Eve Eve

December 23, 2014Catch-upEd Shearer, Fred Shearer, Ian Guest, Jack Magnus, James Magnus, JimAndIan, London Pubs, Rumbie Mushangi, Russel Shearer, Susan Glendening, Travellers Friend, WoodfordMatt Shearer

A few of us met up at Spivs, including Jim & Ian.

#newsHACK III – Language Technologies Hack – Tower Bridge

December 17, 2014Achievements, BBC Connected Studio, BBC News Labs, Broadcasters, Collaboration Work, News Organisations, Rapid Prototyping, Stage Appearences#newsHACK, Catherine Boggan, Chris Ambrose, Deutsche Welle, Dmitry Shishkin, Hackathon, Innovation, James Montgomery, Journalism, Journalism as Data, Language Technologies, Laura Harrison, London, Mark Flashman, Rainmaking Loft, Robin Cramp, Susanne Weber, Tower BridgeMatt Shearer

#newsHACK III – Language Technology was a 2 day hack event in London focussed on “Multilingual Automated News Services of the Future”.

BBC News Labs – Christmas Season Asynchronous Workshop 2014

December 9, 2014BBC News LabsAnthony Onumonu, Asynchronous Workshop, Barbara Zambrini, Basile Simon, Gill Bennett, Harry Robbins, Hugo Simmonds, Jeremy Tarling, Karl Sutt, London, London Pubs, Mark Flashman, Melanie Moeller, Paul Wilton, Rob Cochran, Rob Liddle, Silver Oliver, The Queens HeadMatt Shearer

This year, we held our News Labs’ Christmas/Festive Asynchronous Workshop at The Queens Head on Acton Street in London. We also had a Jazz Band playing.

Rumbie & Ed’s Lobola and Celebrations

December 7, 2014Family RootsEd Shearer, Kumbi, Lobola, Mushangi, Rumbie Mushangi, ZimbabweMatt Shearer

We’ve just come back from a brilliant party at my sister-in-law-to-be’s family home in Nottingham. I had the pleasure of being the Mukwasha to my brother the Mukwasha for a Zimbabwean “Lobola” ceremony.

Neurotech Rig Demo at Imperial College for DE2014.org

December 3, 2014BBC News Labs, Collaboration Work, Demo AppearencesBasile Simon, BBC Rewind, Data Science, Data Science Institute (DSI), Dr Chao Wu, Imperial College London, Jeremy Tarling, Knightsbridge, Lauren Moorhouse, London, News Archive, Peter Rippon, Simiao Yu, Tim Cowlishaw, Yi-ke GuoMatt Shearer

Today we demonstrated the “OPTIMAL MEMORY RIG” at the “Digital Economy 2014” conference at Imperial College London. This “Rig” uses BBC Archive clips to trigger an emotional reaction in users, and to measure their “fixation” on topics.

Catch up with the Essex Lads, in Hoxton

November 28, 2014Catch-upAdam Drake, Andy Matthews, DreamBags & JaguarShoes, Essex, Hoxton, Ian Guest, James Magnus, London, London Pubs, Old Street, Red Dog Saloon, Steve Andrews, The RelianceMatt Shearer

Nice night out with the chaps from Loughton (Adam Drake), Buckhurst Hill (Steve Andrews), Theydon (Andy Matthews), and those who used to be in Woodford (Jim, Ian and I).

SKY NEWS Labs Visits BBC NEWS Labs – Part II

November 21, 2014At BBC, BBC News Labs, Broadcasters, Collaboration Work, News OrganisationsGeorge Richmond, Innovation, James Murphy, Laden Oksuzer, SKY, SKY NEWSMatt Shearer

Today James Murphy from SKY NEWS Labs visited us in the Central Lab again, and this time he brought along George and Laden along. The previous time James visited was almost exactly 1 year ago – 20th November 2013 – straight after we met at #newsHACK 2013. We shared our projects updates, talked about shared issues, … Continue reading SKY NEWS Labs Visits BBC NEWS Labs – Part II →

The Dees – New Album Strategy Evening – London

November 14, 2014Bands, Catch-upDan McCabe, David Walter, Dean Gardner, London, London Pubs, Niall Acott, Smithys, Tarkan Algin, The Dees, The Dees Album (2014-2015)Matt Shearer

We are officially part-way into our 11 tracks of a new album for The Dees. So it seemed right to meet up and discuss strategy.

BBC World Service YouTube Editors visit News Labs

November 14, 2014At BBC, BBC Connected Studio, BBC News Labs, Collaboration WorkBBC World Service, Carol Olona Ferrer, Esra Dogramaci, Innovation, Maria Spiridonova, Marko ZoricMatt Shearer

BBC News is a large department, and so I am frequently meeting new teams. Today I met a great team from BBC World Service – the YouTube channel editors.

Drum Session at NJA.me.uk with Niall Acott – Tracks 6-11

November 13, 2014Bands, Music, Recording StudioDrums, Kent, Niall Acott, NJA.me.uk - NJA Audio, The Dees, The Dees Album (2014-2015)Matt Shearer

Another cracking drum session at NJA with Niall Acott – great drum sounds immediately, and this time I had the guide stems all ready – so no hanging around!!