freelance Archive

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First channel story: Data #3 and NBN Co

By
Josh
– 11 November 2009Posted in: government, media, money, shameless self promotion

It seems there’s always a story if you scratch the surface. Yesterday systems integrator Data #3 had its Annual General Meeting and MD John Grant announced – among other client wins – that the company had won four contracts with NBN Co, the company set up by the Federal Government to manage the rollout of the National Broadband Network. Nothing exciting, just some office PCs, networks and software.

Client win stories are usually very, very dull. People in the industry care because they want to know what their competitors are up to, nobody else is bothered. But in this case, the good people at NBN Co were quite surprised to find that Data #3 had announced this win. And there are some interesting questions about it being a closed bid, when the government is committed to open tenders for all its IT procurement.

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It begins… Government on track to save $1bn on tech

By
Josh
– 9 November 2009Posted in: government, money, nerds, shameless self promotion, techno-wankery

OK, that was quick! I’ve posted my first freelance story for iTnews: Government on track for $1bn ICT savings: Tanner.

Soon after it was elected the Rudd Government asked UK public-sector efficiency expert Sir Peter Gershon to examine how the government and public service used information technology. This review, completed in August 2008, estimated the Government could save about $1 billion over four years just by rationalising its ‘business-as-usual’ or day-to-day IT spending. All this, apparently, without having to fire lots of people or reduce the number of IT services or the quality of delivery. (The Gershon review also cures warts and reunites long-lost lovers.)

This hasn’t gone without hiccups: Gershon estimated the Government would save $140 million in the first year, which turned out to be more like $109 million in reality. But with round one already in train, the government is pressing ahead with round two.

If it all works, in about four years’ time, the budget will be $1 billion leaner. Or $500 million at least, because half the savings will be put back into more IT stuff, which will generate more efficiency. Before you know it, the whole of government IT will be run on a couple of recycled desktops running Ubuntu!

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Another day, another freelancer

By
Josh
– 5 November 2009Posted in: media, money, nerds, shameless self promotion, techno-wankery, wordy things

Another day, another publication ‘restructures’ its team, another journo goes out into the world trying to earn a living on nothing more than his wits.

This website will serve as my online portfolio and first point of contact for information on my freelance work, how to contact me and what I can do for you.

I’ve been blogging for nearly a decade on various defunct and still-existing sites. This blog will tell you all about my professional freelance work and thoughts on the media, technology and business landscapes. There will probably be a fair amount of pimping and self-promotion; don’t say I didn’t warn you.

If you’re after more personal, political or plain silly thoughts, head over to my vealmince blog.

I’m sitting here at the dining table with the radio burbling away in the background, looking out at the garden and thinking, this isn’t such a bad way to earn a living. I wonder how long that will last…

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