Editing the content that arrives at our news desk is the biggest part of what we do here at H&C News. We need to take decisions on what is and what is not news for us and our readership, and that process evolves over time.
How the decision making process works is derived from Atticus Finch, we try and step into the shoes of a reader and walk around in them for a while.
The process is easiest when the headline screams this is worth reading and one such headline was published yesterday when we received a piece of news from Cambridge University.
The University of Cambridge (legally The Chancellor, Masters, and Scholars of the University of Cambridge) is a collegiate public research university in Cambridge, United Kingdom. Founded in 1209 and granted a royal charter by King Henry III in 1231. It is a learning body revered around the world and as such it garners attention.
Part of our editorial decision making process is empirical, what have readers chosen to spend their time reading previously indicating the subject is popular or sufficiently esoteric yet considered to command future attention?
Beef and lamb have been a staple component of most menus across hospitality and catering for as long as people have been in the business of serving food commercially. The removal of both of these items from 14 foodservice outlets across the University of Cambridge and over 1,500 hospitality events each year every year since October 2016 is significant in many ways.
The most significant part of the report is that across Cambridge University’s foodservice business profits are up.
Whilst many still refute that money makes the world go round most people running a business will doubtless pay great attention to the news. The fact that the removal of beef and lamb from menus where thousands of people eat every day for the past three years has delivered increased profits will resonate greatly with businesspeople.
The original piece of news from Cambridge University we published yesterday can be seen here.
Yesterday’s Google Analytics showed readership all over the world from Auckland to Texas consuming the news from Cambridge University. Our readership ordinarily is 95% UK, maybe change is afoot, and beef and lamb can be taken off many more menus?