- This year's plan to fill empty BBC production space at the Mailbox, Birmingham, is turning into a recruitment drive. London-based HR employees have almost all decided to take a deal and leave, rather than migrate.
Friday, October 31, 2014
Spread out
Half the BBC's staff are now based outside London - compared with 42% ten years ago. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland account for 18%; MediaCityUK, in Salford Quays, now accommodates 17%, and 15% work elswehere across England. BBC-owned and leased buildings are down fromn 300 to 154.
OK Corral
If the arcane world of Freedom of Information struggles leaves you cold, look away now.
In those heady days when BBC HR thought it was employed to "do something", wayback when HR boss Lucy Adams, channelling a young Doris Day, slapped her cowboy chaps and hollered "I'm gunna sort out them ornery poorly-performing teams", she shared the information that 30 departments had done badly in the 2012 Staff Survey.
On the basis that there must be a list on a piece of paper, a Freedom of Information inquiry followed. It was lodged by one Spencer Count, a nom-de-plume now acknowledged by its owner as, rather unsurprisingly, made up. Spencer has made 55 enquiries of the BBC. Now he's come up against a new oppo in this particular Wild West feud.
Douglas Marshall, a lawyer who previously worked for the Football Association, is the BBC's chosen hired gun, employed via Lawyers On Demand, set to deal with pesky Spencer. In Auntie's latest refusal to say who the 30 bad boys were, Douglas claims "Spencer" is, in fact, a BBC employee, and, worse "a motivated intruder" (a quasi-judicial term) whose familiarity with BBC systems will lead to identification of poorly-performing individuals once he has the team details - and that's an ICO no-no.
Will Spencer rise from this kick in the teeth ? Are there more punches to be thrown as the combatants wrassle in the corral ? Or is Spencer effectively on his horse and out of town...?
In those heady days when BBC HR thought it was employed to "do something", wayback when HR boss Lucy Adams, channelling a young Doris Day, slapped her cowboy chaps and hollered "I'm gunna sort out them ornery poorly-performing teams", she shared the information that 30 departments had done badly in the 2012 Staff Survey.
On the basis that there must be a list on a piece of paper, a Freedom of Information inquiry followed. It was lodged by one Spencer Count, a nom-de-plume now acknowledged by its owner as, rather unsurprisingly, made up. Spencer has made 55 enquiries of the BBC. Now he's come up against a new oppo in this particular Wild West feud.
Douglas Marshall, a lawyer who previously worked for the Football Association, is the BBC's chosen hired gun, employed via Lawyers On Demand, set to deal with pesky Spencer. In Auntie's latest refusal to say who the 30 bad boys were, Douglas claims "Spencer" is, in fact, a BBC employee, and, worse "a motivated intruder" (a quasi-judicial term) whose familiarity with BBC systems will lead to identification of poorly-performing individuals once he has the team details - and that's an ICO no-no.
Will Spencer rise from this kick in the teeth ? Are there more punches to be thrown as the combatants wrassle in the corral ? Or is Spencer effectively on his horse and out of town...?
Thursday, October 30, 2014
Lunch away from base
BBC Director of Television Danny Cohen had lunch with The Queen yesterday.
He was a guest at one of Her Majesty's regular meet thetoffs people luncheons, in the "Semi- State" surroundings of the 1844 Room, in the west wing of Buckingham Palace. (It takes its name from an 1844 visit by Tsar Nicholas 1).
Did Danny get a word or two in ? Other guests (usually fewer than ten) included cricket commentator Henry Blofeld, tv chef James Martin, Vice-Admiral David Steel, second Sea Lord, and vascular surgeon David Nott, Janet Hulme (rhubarb producer) Professor Dame Julia Slingo (Chief Scientist, Met Office) and Moira Wallace (Provost, Oriel College).
He was a guest at one of Her Majesty's regular meet the
Did Danny get a word or two in ? Other guests (usually fewer than ten) included cricket commentator Henry Blofeld, tv chef James Martin, Vice-Admiral David Steel, second Sea Lord, and vascular surgeon David Nott, Janet Hulme (rhubarb producer) Professor Dame Julia Slingo (Chief Scientist, Met Office) and Moira Wallace (Provost, Oriel College).
Capita payment
As we await the review of criminal penalties for non-payment of the licence fee, one citizen has succesfully extracted £149.03 from TV Licensing, after eleven years of letters. Two years ago, he adopted the idea of charging Capita for processing their enquiries as to why he didn't need a licence again and again, and, whilst he's probably still out of pocket, he has the satisfaction of a couple of framed cheques.
Vote often
Friends know I've become a bit of a pub bore about the threat/opportunity to our democratic future in online voting - not for Stevie, or Sunetra, or Eurovision, but about big, real decisions. That future moves a bit closer with plans to get at least half a million people signed up and "verified" to use Government online services by March next year. One set of identity checks should then get you through to other departments, as they offer online engagement - a bit like signing into hew apps with your Google or Facebook i.d.. More from Computer Weekly.
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Disjunction
Many things are excellent and wonderful in BBC News, and I am reluctant to micro-report the odd difficulty. However I cannot resist sharing news of problems with the online staff survey, launched this week.
Many respondents, cheered by the rallying cry "We really value your opinion", have found that the "computer says no". Specifically, the digital dialogue seems to end when answering the question "What one thing would make News Group a better place to work?" One of my longer-toothed correspondents attempted to enter the text "Better, more reliable systems" and was immediately dumped out of the survey; he's by no means alone.
Many respondents, cheered by the rallying cry "We really value your opinion", have found that the "computer says no". Specifically, the digital dialogue seems to end when answering the question "What one thing would make News Group a better place to work?" One of my longer-toothed correspondents attempted to enter the text "Better, more reliable systems" and was immediately dumped out of the survey; he's by no means alone.
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Pollster
James Harding, BBC Director of News and Current Affairs, is in contemplative mood. As he packs his Osprey Momentum 22 rucksack for a trip to California to find The Future of News, he idly muses "What one thing would make News Group a better place to work?”
"Top question, Jimmy", says an internal communications specialist about to apply for their own job, "Let's add it to the staff survey..."
In the spirit of Family Fortunes, here's my stab at the top answers...
1: Improved catering on night shifts (network)
2: Any catering at all (local radio)
3: More bike racks (network)
4: Bike racks (local radio)
5: Transparency about the relationship between an editor's salary and their audience figures
6: Please stop Newsgathering making me write "exclusive" in intros when no other news organisation is remotely interested in the story
7: Can I have a contract like John Simpson's ?
8: On winter nights, do correspondents really have to do live introductions to pieces when you can't see the buildings behind them ?
9: Can I have an office like yours ?
10: Can we have fewer surveys ?
"Top question, Jimmy", says an internal communications specialist about to apply for their own job, "Let's add it to the staff survey..."
In the spirit of Family Fortunes, here's my stab at the top answers...
1: Improved catering on night shifts (network)
2: Any catering at all (local radio)
3: More bike racks (network)
4: Bike racks (local radio)
5: Transparency about the relationship between an editor's salary and their audience figures
6: Please stop Newsgathering making me write "exclusive" in intros when no other news organisation is remotely interested in the story
7: Can I have a contract like John Simpson's ?
8: On winter nights, do correspondents really have to do live introductions to pieces when you can't see the buildings behind them ?
9: Can I have an office like yours ?
10: Can we have fewer surveys ?
Monday, October 27, 2014
Weaning
Good Morning Britain is six months old today. Here's last week's viewing figures
Mon - 650k (16.8%)
Tues - 600,000 (16%)
Wed - 588,000 (?)
Thurs - 523,000 (14%)
Fri - 520,000 (14.1%)
Mon - 650k (16.8%)
Tues - 600,000 (16%)
Wed - 588,000 (?)
Thurs - 523,000 (14%)
Fri - 520,000 (14.1%)
Uptick
As the agents say, "Commercial space is widely available across Glasgow".
So Savills are proceeding very gently with the sale of development land in the wide open spaces of Pacific Quay, now releasing an additional 4 hectares ( the site total is around 52) to the market.
The various plots have planning in principle for 30,000m2 of business space, 1,800m2 of restaurant/leisure, and 1,400m2 for retail.
Savills' David Cobban says "Activity is picking up at Pacific Quay and we are receiving an uptick in interest from developers and occupiers as the economy improves, which has spurred us to launch the latest phase."
So Savills are proceeding very gently with the sale of development land in the wide open spaces of Pacific Quay, now releasing an additional 4 hectares ( the site total is around 52) to the market.
The various plots have planning in principle for 30,000m2 of business space, 1,800m2 of restaurant/leisure, and 1,400m2 for retail.
Savills' David Cobban says "Activity is picking up at Pacific Quay and we are receiving an uptick in interest from developers and occupiers as the economy improves, which has spurred us to launch the latest phase."
Cool
So BBC News is totally looking for a new Head of Internal Communications.
Presumably the successful candidate will help in the composition of slightly more sensitive staff emails from the top. There's work to do on job adds, too. The main blurb uses "effective" four times, and the full spec nine times.
It also has some heritage bombast. "Under the leadership of Director of News, James Harding, the News Group makes up more than a third of the BBC with over 8,500 staff around the UK and the world serving a huge variety of audiences." Big numbers like this irritate newspapers around the country, as they battle the Beeb in new media. They also irritate tv staff, who just know they are more important. The maths may even be exaggerated. BBC public service headcount in the last annual report was put at 16,672, full time equivalent.
Presumably the successful candidate will help in the composition of slightly more sensitive staff emails from the top. There's work to do on job adds, too. The main blurb uses "effective" four times, and the full spec nine times.
It also has some heritage bombast. "Under the leadership of Director of News, James Harding, the News Group makes up more than a third of the BBC with over 8,500 staff around the UK and the world serving a huge variety of audiences." Big numbers like this irritate newspapers around the country, as they battle the Beeb in new media. They also irritate tv staff, who just know they are more important. The maths may even be exaggerated. BBC public service headcount in the last annual report was put at 16,672, full time equivalent.
Sunday, October 26, 2014
Shop news
A year ago (8th October) we first heard formal news of BBC plans for an online archive emporium, to be called BBC Store. But it was in March 2012 that then DG Mark Thompson went public with the first iteration of the same plan, then known as Project Barcelona.
Now rivals have taken the name, and Sky (and others) seem to have got to market first, with promotion underway.
Now rivals have taken the name, and Sky (and others) seem to have got to market first, with promotion underway.
Yanks
So who now is responsible for the reputation of the BBC in the USA ? The new partner in BBC America, AMC, is the baby of 88-year-old executive chairman Charles Dolan. In the world of fair selection, there are five other company directors with Dolan in their name, and one son-in-law.
Charles is an undoubted tv pioneer. He established Manhattan Cable Television in 1961, HBO in 1971, and set up Cablevision, AMC's predecessor when he sold HBO to Time-Life. He has a controlling interest in Madison Square Garden Inc, and personal wealth estimated at $3.8 billion.
AMC chief executive Josh Sapan, a 27-year-veteran of Dolan companies, boasts a collection of old domestic lightning rods. He has around 100 antique finials.
Charles is an undoubted tv pioneer. He established Manhattan Cable Television in 1961, HBO in 1971, and set up Cablevision, AMC's predecessor when he sold HBO to Time-Life. He has a controlling interest in Madison Square Garden Inc, and personal wealth estimated at $3.8 billion.
AMC chief executive Josh Sapan, a 27-year-veteran of Dolan companies, boasts a collection of old domestic lightning rods. He has around 100 antique finials.
Saturday, October 25, 2014
Move down inside
Residents of BBC Broadcasting House will be unnerved to learn that more occupants are piling in. Broadcast reports that some of the White City-based tv factual team are on their way. But there's no space for editing facilities, so their last bit of in-house post-production is going out to tender.
Already, some 80 hours of London factual content, including Horizon and The Sky At Night, are completed by Halo's Portland Post operations. They've been operating out of premises in Great Portland Street, now to be converted to more lucrative flats - so the Portland team is off to Berners Street.
The tender is looking for firms to cover 70 hours of programming a year.
Already, some 80 hours of London factual content, including Horizon and The Sky At Night, are completed by Halo's Portland Post operations. They've been operating out of premises in Great Portland Street, now to be converted to more lucrative flats - so the Portland team is off to Berners Street.
The tender is looking for firms to cover 70 hours of programming a year.
Friday, October 24, 2014
Meaningful metrics
Ah, the opacity of Anglo-American business language. BBC Worldwide boss Tim Davie has just sold 49.9% of cable channel BBC America (and presumably 49.9% of any future profits) to AMC, which runs a small cluster of channels of its own, but owes its current success to series like Mad Men, Breaking Bad, and The Walking Dead.
Daive says the new joint venture has “a very sensible, growing business plan,” that will work through “the electricity of premium content and great collaborations creatively.” And, on the choice of AMC as a partner: “There’s no doubt about it that scale is a meaningful metric. But we weren’t looking for scale at all costs.” AMC head Josh Sapan says “Because the editorial alignment and point of view is so similar in terms of smart, quality and premium, we think that we will find lots and lots and lots of places to join on things that we are not yet doing today," So that's all good, as we say in W1A.
The new joint venture will promote BBC World News in the States, although AMC takes no equity there. Tim Davie can reduce his directly employed headcount, and adds £125m to his 2014/5 balance sheet. BBC America ranked in 66th position in the most recent total day viewing figures for US cable channels. I still can't find ratings for BBC World News across the pond.
Daive says the new joint venture has “a very sensible, growing business plan,” that will work through “the electricity of premium content and great collaborations creatively.” And, on the choice of AMC as a partner: “There’s no doubt about it that scale is a meaningful metric. But we weren’t looking for scale at all costs.” AMC head Josh Sapan says “Because the editorial alignment and point of view is so similar in terms of smart, quality and premium, we think that we will find lots and lots and lots of places to join on things that we are not yet doing today," So that's all good, as we say in W1A.
The new joint venture will promote BBC World News in the States, although AMC takes no equity there. Tim Davie can reduce his directly employed headcount, and adds £125m to his 2014/5 balance sheet. BBC America ranked in 66th position in the most recent total day viewing figures for US cable channels. I still can't find ratings for BBC World News across the pond.
Thursday, October 23, 2014
Silky
It's not entirely clear why the DCMS lighted upon David Perry QC to conducted the review of tv licence enforcement. He's clearly a legal polymath, with expertise in all sorts of bad behaviour, and a record of advising governments on tricky issues - but there's little "meedja" stuff in his cv.
He's most recently been working in Hong Kong, as chief prosecutor in their biggest-ever corruption case. Indeed, he seems a go-to-guy for the Hong Kong Authorities - past cases include the re-trial of Nancy Kissel, the Milkshake Murderess, in 2010, and the prosecution of self-syled feng shui master Tony Chan Chun-chuen in 2011 for forging the will of former lover Nina Wang, dubbed Asia's richest woman.
He's worked as Standing Counsel to the DTI, then as Treasury Counsel, before taking silk in 2006, and now is joint head of chambers at 6 King’s Bench Walk, Temple.
He led the prosecution of Mulcaire and Goodman for hacking phones in the employ of the News of The World. Pre-trial, the worry was that members of the Royal Family might be called to court; that was avoided as the defendants pleaded guilty. In the Leveson Inquiry, polite enquiries were made to Perry about his understanding of the scale of the interceptions, and the possible involvement of others.
In 1999, Perry prosecuted Jonathan Aitken for perjury. In 2007, Perry's advice to was critical in the decision that there shouldn't be legal proceedings in the so-called "cash for honours" allegations against the Labour Party. He's recently been helping the Home Office with a review of extradition law.
He's most recently been working in Hong Kong, as chief prosecutor in their biggest-ever corruption case. Indeed, he seems a go-to-guy for the Hong Kong Authorities - past cases include the re-trial of Nancy Kissel, the Milkshake Murderess, in 2010, and the prosecution of self-syled feng shui master Tony Chan Chun-chuen in 2011 for forging the will of former lover Nina Wang, dubbed Asia's richest woman.
He's worked as Standing Counsel to the DTI, then as Treasury Counsel, before taking silk in 2006, and now is joint head of chambers at 6 King’s Bench Walk, Temple.
He led the prosecution of Mulcaire and Goodman for hacking phones in the employ of the News of The World. Pre-trial, the worry was that members of the Royal Family might be called to court; that was avoided as the defendants pleaded guilty. In the Leveson Inquiry, polite enquiries were made to Perry about his understanding of the scale of the interceptions, and the possible involvement of others.
In 1999, Perry prosecuted Jonathan Aitken for perjury. In 2007, Perry's advice to was critical in the decision that there shouldn't be legal proceedings in the so-called "cash for honours" allegations against the Labour Party. He's recently been helping the Home Office with a review of extradition law.
All ears
Odds and ends from the latest quarterly radio listening figures.
The referendum did little to boost Radio Scotland, at 870k weekly listeners over the three months. Radio Cymru, where new boss Bethan Powys has been shaking up the schedule, fell 38k year on year, to 105k. Things are more worrying for Steve Austins at Radio Wales, down 76k to 398k, closer to the lows of 2009. The BBC Asian Network was up to 629k, from 555k last year, with Nihal's morning phone-in up to record figures; he's interviewing David Cameron today, which should be fun.
Radio 5Live is down at 5.8m - and the trend since 2010 peaks above 7m is not encouraging. The new daytime schedule needs to work for controller Jonathan Wall. TalkSport is off the top, too.
In popular music, Chris Evans is slightly down at Radio 2 and Nick Grimshaw largely unchanged at Radio 1 - though the average age of his audience has ticked up marginally, to 33.7. Heart in London seems to have lost 294k listeners year on year, with Jamie Theakston and Emma Bunton's breakfast offering apparently less appealing than it was.
On Radio 4, woop-woops from The World At One, where the audience is up 183k, to 3.5m.
The referendum did little to boost Radio Scotland, at 870k weekly listeners over the three months. Radio Cymru, where new boss Bethan Powys has been shaking up the schedule, fell 38k year on year, to 105k. Things are more worrying for Steve Austins at Radio Wales, down 76k to 398k, closer to the lows of 2009. The BBC Asian Network was up to 629k, from 555k last year, with Nihal's morning phone-in up to record figures; he's interviewing David Cameron today, which should be fun.
Radio 5Live is down at 5.8m - and the trend since 2010 peaks above 7m is not encouraging. The new daytime schedule needs to work for controller Jonathan Wall. TalkSport is off the top, too.
In popular music, Chris Evans is slightly down at Radio 2 and Nick Grimshaw largely unchanged at Radio 1 - though the average age of his audience has ticked up marginally, to 33.7. Heart in London seems to have lost 294k listeners year on year, with Jamie Theakston and Emma Bunton's breakfast offering apparently less appealing than it was.
On Radio 4, woop-woops from The World At One, where the audience is up 183k, to 3.5m.
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
No, but, no, but yeah
Readers from the world of radio have been in touch to ask whether there's an element of mischief in this Guardian online photo selection, atop a piece by John Plunkett, the human incarnation of Media Monkey.
Caroline came to comedy commissioning in 1997 from a background in drama, and, it is safe to say, divided opinion amongst light entertainment programme makers of that century.
Caroline came to comedy commissioning in 1997 from a background in drama, and, it is safe to say, divided opinion amongst light entertainment programme makers of that century.
Personnel personnel
The BBC has 231 staff working in its "in-house" HR team, as of August this year. That compares with 251 in January 2010. In raw numbers that's a cut of just under 8% - the BBC-wide target in cash terms, set under DG Mark Thompson's Delivery Quality first plans, was to make savings of 20% by 2016/17, so there's a way to go for new boss Valerie Hughes D'Aeth.
In ratio terms, there's around 1 personnel member of staff for 72 employees, based on the full-time equivalent staff numbers for 2014 - and that's without adding the 300-odd people working in Belfast on a ten-year-outsourcing deal with Capita.
The average salary in the department works out at £51,142. Reed, a staff agency occasionally used by the BBC, calculates a UK-wide average of £37,215 for people working in personnel departments.
In ratio terms, there's around 1 personnel member of staff for 72 employees, based on the full-time equivalent staff numbers for 2014 - and that's without adding the 300-odd people working in Belfast on a ten-year-outsourcing deal with Capita.
The average salary in the department works out at £51,142. Reed, a staff agency occasionally used by the BBC, calculates a UK-wide average of £37,215 for people working in personnel departments.
More maths
Just found this transcript from an RTS event last week...
Q: Lorraine Heggessey: Do you support decriminalising licence-fee evasion?
A Tony Hall: It's really good that we're going to get data on how many cases [and] how long they take... The question is how can we ensure that we don't lose the money without people going to jail... That's part of the Charter [renewal] process – because it's roughly £35m for every 1% of people who evade the licence fee.
Q Lorraine Heggessey: Do you believe people should go to jail for not paying?
A Tony Hall: No, of course I don't. But... our evasion rate is 5.3% - 5.4%; for utilities it's 10%. We've got to work this through.
Q: Lorraine Heggessey: Do you support decriminalising licence-fee evasion?
A Tony Hall: It's really good that we're going to get data on how many cases [and] how long they take... The question is how can we ensure that we don't lose the money without people going to jail... That's part of the Charter [renewal] process – because it's roughly £35m for every 1% of people who evade the licence fee.
Q Lorraine Heggessey: Do you believe people should go to jail for not paying?
A Tony Hall: No, of course I don't. But... our evasion rate is 5.3% - 5.4%; for utilities it's 10%. We've got to work this through.
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
Avoidance
The promised review of tv licence fee enforcement will report by June 2015, according to terms of reference published by the the DCMS today.
This could be more worrying for the BBC than the Charter Review itself. Decriminalisation looks inevitable, and forecasts of what will happen to evasion under civil penalties are going to be hugely inexact. There's going to more evasion, of course, and the likely costs of recovering £145.50 in each individual case are never going to make economic sense. It's an easy way for Tories to deliver a smaller BBC. Maybe they won't be in power..
This could be more worrying for the BBC than the Charter Review itself. Decriminalisation looks inevitable, and forecasts of what will happen to evasion under civil penalties are going to be hugely inexact. There's going to more evasion, of course, and the likely costs of recovering £145.50 in each individual case are never going to make economic sense. It's an easy way for Tories to deliver a smaller BBC. Maybe they won't be in power..
War Horses
Last night's Panorama - the first under Ceri Thomas' substantive editorship - was a difficult watch. An indie production from Jamie Doran's Clover, it used an Afghan journalist to report from "Inside The Taliban". 2.1m (9.1%) watched, according to overnight ratings. That's against an average of 2.3m for Panorama across 2013.
Meanwhile, Newsnight kicked off the week with a worthy but dull report and discussion on the NHS funding shortfall. This follows last week's arcane but "important" discussion on secular stagnation. Newsnight - Anything Can Happen. But perhaps not an improvement in the ratings.
Meanwhile, Newsnight kicked off the week with a worthy but dull report and discussion on the NHS funding shortfall. This follows last week's arcane but "important" discussion on secular stagnation. Newsnight - Anything Can Happen. But perhaps not an improvement in the ratings.
Monday, October 20, 2014
Women of the world
Congratulations to Fran Unsworth (St Dominic's Brewood and Manchester) newly anointed as boss of the BBC World Service Group. In succeeding Peter Horrocks, she retains the role of deputy to James Harding, who has room to give her a £50k pa salary boost to match the Horrocks package.
Harding's new division of responsibilities now has a dominance of women (Fran, Mary Hockaday, Controller of World Service English, and Liliane Landor, running language services) in charge of news output outside the UK. We await with interest the appointment of a Controller 24/7 World, to run the tv channel BBC World and the news bit of bbc.com, reporting to Jon Zilkha. The quartet will have the most specific objective in News - driving the collective audience to 500 million.
Harding's new division of responsibilities now has a dominance of women (Fran, Mary Hockaday, Controller of World Service English, and Liliane Landor, running language services) in charge of news output outside the UK. We await with interest the appointment of a Controller 24/7 World, to run the tv channel BBC World and the news bit of bbc.com, reporting to Jon Zilkha. The quartet will have the most specific objective in News - driving the collective audience to 500 million.
Driving digital
The latest offer for online access to Sun+ is priced at £86.60 a year. That's three-fifths of a tv licence fee, and a discount of £9.28 from their standard £7.99 a month.
If you sign up now, you get a free Hudl 1 tablet from Tesco, which the Sun values at £119. Interestingly, Tesco are selling Hudl 1 online for £79. The new Hudl 2 ("bigger, better, faster") is £129.
If you sign up today, you get instant access to the online top story - "Romping outdoors and threesomes are revealed as our top fantasies. To launch The Sun’s Sex Week, YouGov polled 1,689 people to find out what goes on in — or outside — British bedrooms...."
If you sign up now, you get a free Hudl 1 tablet from Tesco, which the Sun values at £119. Interestingly, Tesco are selling Hudl 1 online for £79. The new Hudl 2 ("bigger, better, faster") is £129.
If you sign up today, you get instant access to the online top story - "Romping outdoors and threesomes are revealed as our top fantasies. To launch The Sun’s Sex Week, YouGov polled 1,689 people to find out what goes on in — or outside — British bedrooms...."
Sunday, October 19, 2014
Losing the reins
Last week offered an insight into a mood of panic in the UK's news establishment, much of it based on losing control of video content.
The old regime had already clocked a generation growing up sharing links to short videos - news, music, the bizarre, the funny, and cats - and had presumed that they would still be the principal providers. BBC, ITV and Sky thought the new competition would be newspaper websites, and did various deals to provide them with clips, hoping that their brands would be thus enhanced, and new consumers would find a way back to the original source.
I don't have access to detailed figures, but if you look at YouTube's page of "Popular In The UK Now", there's nothing direct from UK broadcasters or newspapers. There's two from Russell Brand (as I write) and two that feature UK football coverage, but edited and re-posted.
Advertisers have become hyper-excited about pre-roll ads on these short videos, assessing that these are the new favourite ways of idling time at work and on mobiles, and "Total Video Views" are the new Holy Grail of metrics. In the USA, the big players in these field are all new media names.
In UK newspapers wrestling with a video future, The Telegraph Group has effectively given their Yankee digital guru Jason Seiken notice, with a kick upstairs. Chris Evans (not that one) is essentially the new Editor of The Daily Telegraph, and has to work out a new and different digital future, that probably moves away from women with three breasts and car reviews. The Guardian is more successfully engaging with "millenials", especially in America, and has lead the way, with ITV, in "live pages", but there's a question about how long the investment can run without balanced books in sight.
At Sky News, boss John Ryley has announced a live, on-air, month of experimentation in the run-up to Christmas, with two new teams working on "Live News" and "Digital", in a sort of laboratory experiment to try to re-establish Sky News as the place to go for the under-40s. Many think this simply presages a shift of production effort from the channel to the website. Either way, it looks like an uncomfortable couple of weeks for Kay Burley and Jeremy Thompson.
And at the BBC, boss James Harding has put a little more flesh on his exercise looking at "The Future Of News", revealing it's not just him heading to Stanford, but a team. "We are not giving ourselves a great deal of time. Stanford University in California has kindly agreed to host us for two weeks, where we will hold a series of seminars, meet with some of the leading new media businesses, collate the interviews and information we have to date and set out a framework for the Future of News. We will look to draw the ideas together in a first draft by Christmas."
Meanwhile, flying the other way, Comscore are offering help in London.
,
The old regime had already clocked a generation growing up sharing links to short videos - news, music, the bizarre, the funny, and cats - and had presumed that they would still be the principal providers. BBC, ITV and Sky thought the new competition would be newspaper websites, and did various deals to provide them with clips, hoping that their brands would be thus enhanced, and new consumers would find a way back to the original source.
I don't have access to detailed figures, but if you look at YouTube's page of "Popular In The UK Now", there's nothing direct from UK broadcasters or newspapers. There's two from Russell Brand (as I write) and two that feature UK football coverage, but edited and re-posted.
Advertisers have become hyper-excited about pre-roll ads on these short videos, assessing that these are the new favourite ways of idling time at work and on mobiles, and "Total Video Views" are the new Holy Grail of metrics. In the USA, the big players in these field are all new media names.
In UK newspapers wrestling with a video future, The Telegraph Group has effectively given their Yankee digital guru Jason Seiken notice, with a kick upstairs. Chris Evans (not that one) is essentially the new Editor of The Daily Telegraph, and has to work out a new and different digital future, that probably moves away from women with three breasts and car reviews. The Guardian is more successfully engaging with "millenials", especially in America, and has lead the way, with ITV, in "live pages", but there's a question about how long the investment can run without balanced books in sight.
At Sky News, boss John Ryley has announced a live, on-air, month of experimentation in the run-up to Christmas, with two new teams working on "Live News" and "Digital", in a sort of laboratory experiment to try to re-establish Sky News as the place to go for the under-40s. Many think this simply presages a shift of production effort from the channel to the website. Either way, it looks like an uncomfortable couple of weeks for Kay Burley and Jeremy Thompson.
And at the BBC, boss James Harding has put a little more flesh on his exercise looking at "The Future Of News", revealing it's not just him heading to Stanford, but a team. "We are not giving ourselves a great deal of time. Stanford University in California has kindly agreed to host us for two weeks, where we will hold a series of seminars, meet with some of the leading new media businesses, collate the interviews and information we have to date and set out a framework for the Future of News. We will look to draw the ideas together in a first draft by Christmas."
Meanwhile, flying the other way, Comscore are offering help in London.
,
Saturday, October 18, 2014
News breaker
Ceri Thomas has been confirmed as the new editor of Panorama on BBC1. He's already had an impact as caretaker, with the remaining four staff reporters on notice of redundancy. The period before they physically exit has been extended in negotiations with the unions, so it'll be interesting to see if there's a John Sweeney finale.
Ceri was previously editor of Today on Radio 4, and then Head of News Programmes, but flew even closer to the management uplands during the period of the Pollard Inquiry, acting as a No 2 across the whole of news to Fran Unsworth, before James Harding arrived. He's clearly happier closer to output, and the press notice of his appointment uses the word "investigative" five times. The old regime believe the Panorama audience are in for cheap, run-round-the-houses shows in future - that, or tear-jerking "real-life" stories. Let's see...
Ceri was previously editor of Today on Radio 4, and then Head of News Programmes, but flew even closer to the management uplands during the period of the Pollard Inquiry, acting as a No 2 across the whole of news to Fran Unsworth, before James Harding arrived. He's clearly happier closer to output, and the press notice of his appointment uses the word "investigative" five times. The old regime believe the Panorama audience are in for cheap, run-round-the-houses shows in future - that, or tear-jerking "real-life" stories. Let's see...
Friday, October 17, 2014
Earwig
Another vacancy in the BBC World Service portfolio - Chris Westcott, often styled "Dr", has announced he's stepping down as Director of BBC Monitoring at the end of the financial year.
Chris, a former nuclear scientist, has been running the Caversham operation for over ten years, after a BBC career in science broadcasting and the early days of the web at World Service. Before that, he was a research scientist at the UK Atomic Energy Authority's Harwell laboratory between 1980 and 1989, specialising in materials research and the development of computer-based information systems.
Caversham has been through many changes under the Doctor; some uncomfortable, resulting in tribunals, and new technology has not always delivered what was promised. But, against many people's expectations, the listening post is still there in a licence-fee funded world.
Chris, a former nuclear scientist, has been running the Caversham operation for over ten years, after a BBC career in science broadcasting and the early days of the web at World Service. Before that, he was a research scientist at the UK Atomic Energy Authority's Harwell laboratory between 1980 and 1989, specialising in materials research and the development of computer-based information systems.
Caversham has been through many changes under the Doctor; some uncomfortable, resulting in tribunals, and new technology has not always delivered what was promised. But, against many people's expectations, the listening post is still there in a licence-fee funded world.
Eminences grises
Refugees from fluffier-by-the-day Newsnight will be interested to note the emergence of a new super-indie, working title (mine) Paxtwistle Productions.
Jeremy Paxman has made a short film for The Art Fund, introducing the Rembrandt exhibition at the National Gallery. Old Newsnight chum George Entwistle has been acting as an executive producer on this sort of video - back in April caught holding the mike for Sir Nicholas Serota in the making of a video on Matisse.
Jezzer has returned the favour by asking that George edits Channel 4's Election Night coverage.
We look forward to an interesting set - George has been studying design history part-time at Oxford University, taking part in a conference on Second World War influences back in September.
Jeremy Paxman has made a short film for The Art Fund, introducing the Rembrandt exhibition at the National Gallery. Old Newsnight chum George Entwistle has been acting as an executive producer on this sort of video - back in April caught holding the mike for Sir Nicholas Serota in the making of a video on Matisse.
Jezzer has returned the favour by asking that George edits Channel 4's Election Night coverage.
We look forward to an interesting set - George has been studying design history part-time at Oxford University, taking part in a conference on Second World War influences back in September.
Thursday, October 16, 2014
Transparency
From minutes of the BBC Trust meeting on 17th July this year, just published.
Item 102 involved Tim Davie, BBC Worldwide, David Moody, his Director of Strategy, and Rebecca Hoyle, Controller of Commercial Strategy, as well as Lord Hall, Anne Bulford, Danny Cohen and James Purnell. So it was probably about the BBC Store, selling you your archive online.
BBC Worldwide has just signed a deal with Apigee to provide the engine behind the interface.
Item 102 involved Tim Davie, BBC Worldwide, David Moody, his Director of Strategy, and Rebecca Hoyle, Controller of Commercial Strategy, as well as Lord Hall, Anne Bulford, Danny Cohen and James Purnell. So it was probably about the BBC Store, selling you your archive online.
BBC Worldwide has just signed a deal with Apigee to provide the engine behind the interface.
Way out
The BBC has signed 481 compromise agreements with departing staff members since 2005, peaking at 77 in 2009/10. The "compromise" is usually that the leaver gets an enhanced pay-off, but is asked to keep quiet about it.
They are now, in HR-speak, called "settlement agreements". The BBC, under Lord Hall, has put a cap on deals at £150k, and central approval is required when the deal is over £75k.
They are now, in HR-speak, called "settlement agreements". The BBC, under Lord Hall, has put a cap on deals at £150k, and central approval is required when the deal is over £75k.
Drumbeat
There's a certain rhythm to tweets from The Media Society. I wonder how ticket sales are going.
Black tie dinner event with Alan Yentob... Get your tickets now @ http://t.co/d6atyUiNCU
— The Media Society (@TheMediaSociety) October 16, 2014
9 December at Millennium Hotel with 2014 Media Society Award Winner, Alan Yentob http://t.co/52aRxPQ1vw
— The Media Society (@TheMediaSociety) October 14, 2014
Black tie dinner with Alan Yentob...http://t.co/FIyTunLsxB
— The Media Society (@TheMediaSociety) October 6, 2014
9th December, hold the date! Imagine having dinner with 2014 Media Society award winner http://t.co/fy0jM63V1Kand on, and on...
— The Media Society (@TheMediaSociety) October 4, 2014
New toy
Woot, woot, as I believe young folk say. The BBC has gone public with its online archive of Radio Times, under the name Genome (Beta).
Endless fun.
Here are some random names, and the number of entries they produce...
40,633 Interlude
10,559 Jimmy Young
9,522 Richard Baker
7,736 Shakespeare
7,072 Brian Matthews
6,778 Any form of Dimbleby
6,277 Sue Macgregor
6,246 John Humphrys
6,201 Peter Allen
4,103 Tony Blackburn
3,374 Dave Lee Travis
3,366 Jeremy Paxman
3,045 John Simpson
2,374 Huw Edwards
2,057 The Organist Entertains
1,957 Jimmy Savile
1,835 Gilbert Harding
1,673 Stuart Hall
1,496 Fiona Bruce
754 Uncle Mac
Endless fun.
Here are some random names, and the number of entries they produce...
40,633 Interlude
10,559 Jimmy Young
9,522 Richard Baker
7,736 Shakespeare
7,072 Brian Matthews
6,778 Any form of Dimbleby
6,277 Sue Macgregor
6,246 John Humphrys
6,201 Peter Allen
4,103 Tony Blackburn
3,374 Dave Lee Travis
3,366 Jeremy Paxman
3,045 John Simpson
2,374 Huw Edwards
2,057 The Organist Entertains
1,957 Jimmy Savile
1,835 Gilbert Harding
1,673 Stuart Hall
1,496 Fiona Bruce
754 Uncle Mac
What was the question again ?
The patchy, piecework inquiry into the future of the BBC by the Culture Select Committee stutters to an end next week, close to its first birthday.
There have been ten witness sessions - the last, next Tuesday, features new-kids-on-the-block Rona Fairhead and Sajid Javid. Rona is supported by old-lag-Trustee David Liddiment and saved-from-the DCMS Jon Zeff, now BBC Trust Director. Sajid, in line with most Tories, has moved the debate about Charter Renewal away from challenging core principles and re-shaping our broadcast landscape for a digital future, into a financial limbo-dancing session - how low can we make the licence fee without upsetting Middle Britain ?
The other witnesses have, in general, been noticeable for their grey hair. Danny Cohen of the BBC and Michelle Stanistreet of the NUJ look to have been the youngest, followed by James Purnell. I can spot few others under 50 - Cat Lewis of Nine Lives, policy wonks Magnus Brooke and David Wheeldon of ITV and Sky respectively, and Dan Brooke of C4.
Let's hope that Whittingdale's sherpas can concoct some interesting lines out of the written submissions - there's little in the oral evidence so far that looks like fresh thinking.
There have been ten witness sessions - the last, next Tuesday, features new-kids-on-the-block Rona Fairhead and Sajid Javid. Rona is supported by old-lag-Trustee David Liddiment and saved-from-the DCMS Jon Zeff, now BBC Trust Director. Sajid, in line with most Tories, has moved the debate about Charter Renewal away from challenging core principles and re-shaping our broadcast landscape for a digital future, into a financial limbo-dancing session - how low can we make the licence fee without upsetting Middle Britain ?
The other witnesses have, in general, been noticeable for their grey hair. Danny Cohen of the BBC and Michelle Stanistreet of the NUJ look to have been the youngest, followed by James Purnell. I can spot few others under 50 - Cat Lewis of Nine Lives, policy wonks Magnus Brooke and David Wheeldon of ITV and Sky respectively, and Dan Brooke of C4.
Let's hope that Whittingdale's sherpas can concoct some interesting lines out of the written submissions - there's little in the oral evidence so far that looks like fresh thinking.
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
Relocation consultant
"You will then be responsible for developing a transition plan for the potential separation of BBC Production."
Chilling words in the job description for an Operations Manager, BBC Production Proposals. The task, should you choose to accept it, is to work out the cost of all accommodation, services and support that tv production teams currently use - and see if you can do it cheaper removed from Auntie's warm embrace. Of course you can, even at a lowly Band 11. But you might have thought somebody would have worked out a plan sooner.
Chilling words in the job description for an Operations Manager, BBC Production Proposals. The task, should you choose to accept it, is to work out the cost of all accommodation, services and support that tv production teams currently use - and see if you can do it cheaper removed from Auntie's warm embrace. Of course you can, even at a lowly Band 11. But you might have thought somebody would have worked out a plan sooner.
Jackie Bird sings
She takes time to remind us she was a backing singer for Echo & The Bunnymen in the eighties and worked with Paul Weller.
She actually spent the longest time, under maiden name McPherson, as lead singer with Dundee band Street Level, whilst the day job was on girls magazine, (yes !) Jackie, with D C Thomson.
"At that time in Dundee, everyone knew I was in at least one band. Street Level had a certain amount of success, but at one point I was in about four bands. One night it was a synth-pop band that supported Echo & The Bunnymen, one night it was the New Romantic stuff, and the next night I was getting into my leathers for a rock band. There were nights when we would go to Aberdeen, do the gig, party afterwards, and go pretty much straight into work the next day".
Celerity
The speed-dating-style recruiting of senior management favoured by BBC Director of News James Harding moves relentlessly forward today, with first interviews for a new Director of World Service. So certain is Jim of finding a sensible short-list that the final interviews are scheduled for tomorrow.
For younger readers, this is almost like The X-Factor moving from the snaking queues of open auditions straight to the final, without the boot-camps, wildcards, judges' houses, live shows or public votes that pass for reasoned consideration.
For younger readers, this is almost like The X-Factor moving from the snaking queues of open auditions straight to the final, without the boot-camps, wildcards, judges' houses, live shows or public votes that pass for reasoned consideration.
- I wonder if James uses a human Timeform system to assess candidates. Clearly Renaissance digital journalism prefers the lithe and lissome to the louche and lardy, and a range of BBC hacks are keen to share their latest running times. The departing Director of World Service Peter Horrocks recorded 1.36.14 in the Oxford Half Marathon at the weekend, as other colleagues ran the Royal Parks Half Marathon. Peter bettered them all - indeed more than ten minutes faster than ITN refugee Jonathan Munro, currently erasing the distinction between "Home" and "World" newsgathering at the BBC. A story is a story is a story, seems to be the mantra of Munro, and all we need is storytellers.
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
Back on top
And, for the record, NBC's Nightly News is re-instated to pole position by Nielsen, after their computer glitch in compiling the ratings.
Sack news
Always thought the festival was a bit of a sausage fest but loads more women are speaking and attending this year. *applauds* #radfest2014
— Laura Tannenbaum (@IamLauraT) October 14, 2014
Still all smiles at the #radfest2014 cloakroom.
— Jacky Hall (@northwestjacky) October 14, 2014
Kirsty Young on her fave castaway Tom Jones: He radiates sexuality I can only imagine he is a killer in the sack #RadioFestival2014
— John Plunkett (@johnplunkett149) October 14, 2014
And with that, KY's assessment of all future male castaways' sexual prowess became required R4 trailer material. Sound Women, eh ?
Acquisition
Mildly entertained to find that Rona Fairhead, on her first day as BBC Chairman/woman, also acquired $2,245-worth of extra HSBC Holdings shares.
Something funny in the Salford water ?
Fi Glover: "any questions? Yes - you. Can you please say who you are and what you do?". "I'm Helen Boden, your boss" #radfest2014
— Tim Johns (@timoncheese) October 14, 2014
If #radfest2014 wasn't exciting enough, can it top Minister #EdVaizey's promise of a 'digital Dashboard Summit' #countmein
— Steve le Fevre (@steve_lefevre) October 14, 2014
Honest Ed Vaizey at #radfest2014. "Do you listen to Radio 3?" "No."
— Hannah Furness (@Hannah_Furness) October 14, 2014
AUDIO: @BBCR1 boss Ben Cooper doesn't know names of any @onedirection #1D songs http://t.co/aRE8KOHW6G
— RadioToday (@RadioToday) October 14, 2014
Time for a change
BBC staff will be delighted to learn that their HR service is being transformed. New HR Director Valerie Hughes D'Aeth (£295,000pa) is seeking a Programme Director (not that sort of programme, silly) on c£130k over a 12 to 18 month contract. Unlike personnel officers who survive the transformation, the successful candidate can choose to work in either London or Birmingham
You will be accountable for shaping, influencing and implementing the numerous people changes and projects across the BBC which together form HR transformation. This includes a new operating model, technology, process simplification, HR operating model, outsourcing contracts and line manager self-service.
You will articulate the vision for the programme and secure engagement from the Executive Team and key stakeholders for its achievement and will also be responsible for delivering the communication on the programme’s vision and strategy.
As well as Valerie and this new person, there are five people with HR in their title on the BBC disclosed salary list, taking £157,800pa, £137,800, £169,400, £189,600, and £146,200.
You will be accountable for shaping, influencing and implementing the numerous people changes and projects across the BBC which together form HR transformation. This includes a new operating model, technology, process simplification, HR operating model, outsourcing contracts and line manager self-service.
You will articulate the vision for the programme and secure engagement from the Executive Team and key stakeholders for its achievement and will also be responsible for delivering the communication on the programme’s vision and strategy.
As well as Valerie and this new person, there are five people with HR in their title on the BBC disclosed salary list, taking £157,800pa, £137,800, £169,400, £189,600, and £146,200.
Monday, October 13, 2014
Running mates
The Royal Parks Half Marathon 2014 results page is very slow, so here's a little help to stop computers tying up around Broadcasting House
Sophie Raworth 1.41.43
Emily Maitlis 1.44.01
Ben Brown 1.44.50
Jonathan Munro 1.48.22 (fresh from morale-boosting Africa tour)
Another Ben Brown 1.49.21
Simon Waldman 1.55.38
Sophie Raworth 1.41.43
Emily Maitlis 1.44.01
Ben Brown 1.44.50
Jonathan Munro 1.48.22 (fresh from morale-boosting Africa tour)
Another Ben Brown 1.49.21
Simon Waldman 1.55.38
Probing
John Humphrys is never entirely on message with the internal news mood music at Auntie. Relations between the Radio 4 Today team and Newsnight have historically been tense, but current editor Jamie Angus (former minder of Newsnight in the post-Rippon interregnum) goes running with Ian Katz, new Newsnight supremo, begetter of the political-interview-as intelligent-transaction-theory, and appreciative cross-tweets are the order of the day.
So, as John heads to the Radio Festival, he discusses interview techniques with The Independent, and the collateral damage potential is high. “Clearly Ian is worried that they haven’t been getting the big names, the senior politicians when they have needed them. But if the price is that you then go easy on them – and that was the price when David Frost was doing his programme – then I think it’s too high a price. ” Will someone smooth things over before we get to the Salford masterclass at tea-time ?
So, as John heads to the Radio Festival, he discusses interview techniques with The Independent, and the collateral damage potential is high. “Clearly Ian is worried that they haven’t been getting the big names, the senior politicians when they have needed them. But if the price is that you then go easy on them – and that was the price when David Frost was doing his programme – then I think it’s too high a price. ” Will someone smooth things over before we get to the Salford masterclass at tea-time ?
Sunday, October 12, 2014
Stellar
Delegates are assembling in Salford for the Radio Festival 2014 - and it's a festival with a fringe. Monday at 6pm, for example features this event, with the woman Media Monkey describes as "Radio Empress". Blurb unchanged...
Radio In the Dark lifts radio out of its traditional settings and celebrates it in new and exciting ways…
We turn the lights down to listen to creative, innovative radio from around the world. Helen Boaden, Director of BBC Radio, will be playing a selection of work from her stellar career, as well as pieces of radio from around the world that have moved and inspired her.
If this means from her stellar career at the microphone, we could have bits of Radio Aire bulletins, File on Four and Women's Hour without the lights on. Scary.
Radio In the Dark lifts radio out of its traditional settings and celebrates it in new and exciting ways…
We turn the lights down to listen to creative, innovative radio from around the world. Helen Boaden, Director of BBC Radio, will be playing a selection of work from her stellar career, as well as pieces of radio from around the world that have moved and inspired her.
If this means from her stellar career at the microphone, we could have bits of Radio Aire bulletins, File on Four and Women's Hour without the lights on. Scary.
Down on The Farm
From the Sunday Times, we learn that BBC Director of News James Harding is off to Stanford University for two weeks, in his quest to discover The Future of News.
At the journalism school, he might meet Hearst Professor of Communication, James T Hamilton, who "through research in the field of computational journalism, is exploring how the costs of story discovery can be lowered through better use of data and algorithms." Mmm - computer-driven, cheap Panoramas.
Or Professor Theodore L Glasser, whose contribution to "Normative Theories of The Media: Journalism in Democratic Societies", might help James get Alex Salmond and the boys off Nick Robinson's back.
Or he could pop into the John S Knight Journalism Fellowships department, where they "champion innovators, entrepreneurs, and leaders as they re-invent journalism."
"Innovation means applying new solutions to unmet needs: creativity plus implementation. It is not wild ideas that lead nowhere, and it is not limited to digital technology.
"Entrepreneurship means taking a risk to create something new — inside an existing organization or outside of one — by seeing and responding to an opportunity. It is not the same as starting a business.
"Leadership means inspiring and enlisting others to reach a shared goal. It is not the same as being the boss or a CEO. Journalism informs and engages the public with reliable news and information in myriad forms of media: stories, photos, videos, charts, analysis and commentary. Its tools and techniques change while its core principles of accuracy, verification, independence, fairness and relevance remain sacred.
All in two weeks.
At the journalism school, he might meet Hearst Professor of Communication, James T Hamilton, who "through research in the field of computational journalism, is exploring how the costs of story discovery can be lowered through better use of data and algorithms." Mmm - computer-driven, cheap Panoramas.
Or Professor Theodore L Glasser, whose contribution to "Normative Theories of The Media: Journalism in Democratic Societies", might help James get Alex Salmond and the boys off Nick Robinson's back.
Or he could pop into the John S Knight Journalism Fellowships department, where they "champion innovators, entrepreneurs, and leaders as they re-invent journalism."
"Innovation means applying new solutions to unmet needs: creativity plus implementation. It is not wild ideas that lead nowhere, and it is not limited to digital technology.
"Entrepreneurship means taking a risk to create something new — inside an existing organization or outside of one — by seeing and responding to an opportunity. It is not the same as starting a business.
"Leadership means inspiring and enlisting others to reach a shared goal. It is not the same as being the boss or a CEO. Journalism informs and engages the public with reliable news and information in myriad forms of media: stories, photos, videos, charts, analysis and commentary. Its tools and techniques change while its core principles of accuracy, verification, independence, fairness and relevance remain sacred.
All in two weeks.
- There should be no time for partying, but we note that on campus, the University requires the provision of EANABS at all social events. Equally Attractive Non-Alcoholic Beverages.
Saturday, October 11, 2014
Ooops
NBC reports that Nielsen, the American company that provides tv audience ratings, has found a glitch in its systems, and will be re-issuing figures going back to August 18 on Monday. NBC's interest may be that it's fallen behind ABC in news ratings.
Nielsen say the problem doesn't affect cable tv ratings - bad news for MSNBC which is going through a rough patch, now trailing behind CNN in prime-time.
Nielsen say the problem doesn't affect cable tv ratings - bad news for MSNBC which is going through a rough patch, now trailing behind CNN in prime-time.
Friday, October 10, 2014
Travelling Man
In the new series of Imagine....
Alan Yentob meets The Divine Miss M, Bette Midler, in New York City
Alan Yentob joins [Anselm] Kiefer at his studios in France and Germany as he prepares for a retrospective at the Royal Academy.
Alan Yentob talks to the writer [Colm Toibin] at his home in Ireland and at his other home in Spain
Alan Yentob meets The Divine Miss M, Bette Midler, in New York City
Alan Yentob joins [Anselm] Kiefer at his studios in France and Germany as he prepares for a retrospective at the Royal Academy.
Alan Yentob talks to the writer [Colm Toibin] at his home in Ireland and at his other home in Spain
Fiddler
The computer that made the revision to Rona Fairhead's Wikipedia entry ("Chairwoman", rather than her own preferred Chairman of the BBC Trust) has made changes to a wide range of pages over the years.
In recent months, it altered details about Jonathan Vernon-Smith, presenter on BBC Three Counties. to remove the details "Jonathan also likes toast. He will often have it - sometimes in the evening". A few weeks earler, it removed a reference to his Saturday show "JVS is joined by Annabel Amos and Tim Wheeler (and The Evil Les!) as they hunt across Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Buckingham and Northamptonshire on their treasure quest."
More mundanely, it's corrected the name of Peter Allen's co-presenter on 5Live Drive from Anna Walker to Anna Foster.
In recent months, it altered details about Jonathan Vernon-Smith, presenter on BBC Three Counties. to remove the details "Jonathan also likes toast. He will often have it - sometimes in the evening". A few weeks earler, it removed a reference to his Saturday show "JVS is joined by Annabel Amos and Tim Wheeler (and The Evil Les!) as they hunt across Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Buckingham and Northamptonshire on their treasure quest."
More mundanely, it's corrected the name of Peter Allen's co-presenter on 5Live Drive from Anna Walker to Anna Foster.
Changing the face of politics
My winner last night - Andrew Neil. A low-cost, plain-speaking alternative to David Dimbleby and Huw Edwards, on a borrowed One Show set, with cheap, cheerful and legible graphics. Everyone fairly questioned, and interesting conversations during the extended wait for recounts.
Still time to save money on Election 2015, Mr Harding.
Still time to save money on Election 2015, Mr Harding.
Thursday, October 9, 2014
Bringing networks together
Tony Blackburn, sitting in for Anne Diamond on BBC Radio Berkshire, interviews Director of Music Bob Shennan - or not...
Tone, Rone's on the phone...
There've probably been a few discreet exchanges before Privy Council approval of her appointment, but from today Rona Fairhead is Chairman of the BBC Trust.
She'll have been doing more homework - her appearance in front of the DCMS Select Committee last month showed she can pick up the important bits of a complex brief quickly - and perhaps she's identified some things she'll do differently to Lord Patten. I rather hope that means fewer broadcast interviews - Patten claims to have been on HardTalk more than anyone else in the programme's history, and is already edging back on Hong Kong. There'll be bids on her desk from every output, with Eddie Mair already contemplating jolly japes. Rona, let Lord Hall take the limelight - it's dangerous enough for him.
There's the inevitable BBC tours to do - but frankly, the in-tray in 180 Great Portland Street needs more of her attention. The only decision taken by the Trust in the Coyle Regency has been the ending of dedicated children's programming on Radio 4 Extra. It may have been done off-line (minutes pending), but the move, on the grounds that the average age of the audience (size not revealed) was 60 is interesting.
The much bigger pending issue is the planned closure of BBC3 as a broadcast channel, to save money, with the Executive arguing they can reach the "yoof" audience online. There've been sufficient noises from other Trustees to suspect the case hasn't been entirely made. And if you look at the hits of BBC1, already charged by the Trust with getting the average age of its audience down, you get baking and ballroom dancing, hospital dramas and hoary detective shows. The self-denying strictures on US imports don't help. The "all-encompassing music brand", lost from the network's weekly schedule since Top of the Pops moved to BBC2 in 2005, may have to do better on BBC1 to convince the Trust.
Meanwhile, Rona has declared she's keeping her shares in Pepsico and HSBC, though shedding Pearson. Maybe the Pension Fund should set up a Fairhead Tracker. Pepsico closed at $93.94 last night, ahead of announcements on Quarter 3 earnings - that's up 13% over the year. HSBC holdings trade at 634.90p in London at 0850am.
She'll have been doing more homework - her appearance in front of the DCMS Select Committee last month showed she can pick up the important bits of a complex brief quickly - and perhaps she's identified some things she'll do differently to Lord Patten. I rather hope that means fewer broadcast interviews - Patten claims to have been on HardTalk more than anyone else in the programme's history, and is already edging back on Hong Kong. There'll be bids on her desk from every output, with Eddie Mair already contemplating jolly japes. Rona, let Lord Hall take the limelight - it's dangerous enough for him.
There's the inevitable BBC tours to do - but frankly, the in-tray in 180 Great Portland Street needs more of her attention. The only decision taken by the Trust in the Coyle Regency has been the ending of dedicated children's programming on Radio 4 Extra. It may have been done off-line (minutes pending), but the move, on the grounds that the average age of the audience (size not revealed) was 60 is interesting.
The much bigger pending issue is the planned closure of BBC3 as a broadcast channel, to save money, with the Executive arguing they can reach the "yoof" audience online. There've been sufficient noises from other Trustees to suspect the case hasn't been entirely made. And if you look at the hits of BBC1, already charged by the Trust with getting the average age of its audience down, you get baking and ballroom dancing, hospital dramas and hoary detective shows. The self-denying strictures on US imports don't help. The "all-encompassing music brand", lost from the network's weekly schedule since Top of the Pops moved to BBC2 in 2005, may have to do better on BBC1 to convince the Trust.
Meanwhile, Rona has declared she's keeping her shares in Pepsico and HSBC, though shedding Pearson. Maybe the Pension Fund should set up a Fairhead Tracker. Pepsico closed at $93.94 last night, ahead of announcements on Quarter 3 earnings - that's up 13% over the year. HSBC holdings trade at 634.90p in London at 0850am.
- 1030am update: A computer inside the BBC has updated Rona's Wikipedia entry to read "Chairwoman".
Wednesday, October 8, 2014
Re-order
In the manly battleground that is US network evening news, ABC has overtaken NBC in total ratings for the first time in six years.
David Muir, who's replaced Dianne Sawyer at the helm of World News Tonight, returned 8.42m viewers in the week beginning 29 September. NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams got 8.25m, and CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley attracted 6.61m.
ABC News is run by Brit James Goldston, married to the BBC's Laura Trevelyan, now hosting BBC World News America. NBC News is run by Brit Deborah Turness, ex ITN.
In cable news, CNN post-Piers-Morgan seems to be edging ahead of MSNBC, at least in total day viewers.
David Muir, who's replaced Dianne Sawyer at the helm of World News Tonight, returned 8.42m viewers in the week beginning 29 September. NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams got 8.25m, and CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley attracted 6.61m.
ABC News is run by Brit James Goldston, married to the BBC's Laura Trevelyan, now hosting BBC World News America. NBC News is run by Brit Deborah Turness, ex ITN.
In cable news, CNN post-Piers-Morgan seems to be edging ahead of MSNBC, at least in total day viewers.
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
Murder
The new BBC Music website exhorts you to add favourite tracks to BBC Playlister, getting "more of the music you love". I'm not sure my first look was "personalised", but in the middle was Hot Boy, by Bobby Shmurda, R1Xtra's "most added to Playlister". Most of the lyrics in the clip provided were unintelligible or faded out.
The song's orginal title seems to be Hot N...a. Here's a lyrics transcription I found online. Bet you don't hear much of this one at 8pm tonight.
In Truey, I'm some hot n....a
Like I talk to Shyste when I shot n....s
Like you seen em twirl then he drop, n....a
And We Keep them 9 milli's on my block, n....a
And Monte Keep it on him, he done dropped n...s
And Trigger he be wilding, he some hot n....a
Tones known to get busy with them Glocks, n....a
Try to run down and you can catch a shot, n....a
Running through these checks till' I pass out
Your shawty gave me neck 'til I pass out I swear to God, all I do is cash out
And if you ain't a ho, get up out my trap house
I been selling crack since like the 5th grade
Really never made no difference what the s..t made
Jaja taught me flip them packs and how to maintain
Get that money back and spend it on the same thing
Shawty like the way that I ball out I be getting money till' I fall out
You talking cash dog, I goes all out
Shawty love the way that I floss out
Free Greezy though, let all of my dogs out
Mama said no pussy cats inside my dog house
That's what got my daddy locked up in the dog pound
Free Phantom though, let all of my dogs out
We gon' pull up in that hooptie like we cops on 'em
With the 16's, we gon' put some shots on em'
I send a lil' thot to send the drop on em'
She gon' call me up and I'mma sick the hots on 'em
Grimey savage, that's what we are
Grimey shooters dressed in G-Star
GS9, I go so Hard
But GS for my gun squad
And bitch if there's a problem we gon' gun brawl
Shots poppin 'out The AR
I'm with Trigger,
I'm with Rasha,
I'm with A-Raw
Broad daylight and we gon' let them things bark
Tell them n....s free Meeshie, ho Subwave, free Greezy, ho
And tell my n....s, Shmurda teaming, ho
Mitch caught a body 'bout a week ago
F...k with us and then we tweaking, ho
Run up on that n...a get to squeezing, ho
Everybody catching bullet holes
N....s got me on my bully yo
I'mma run up, put that gun on 'em
'mma run up, go dumb on 'em
N....s got me on that young s...t
Got me on that go dumb s...t
The song's orginal title seems to be Hot N...a. Here's a lyrics transcription I found online. Bet you don't hear much of this one at 8pm tonight.
Like I talk to Shyste when I shot n....s
Like you seen em twirl then he drop, n....a
And We Keep them 9 milli's on my block, n....a
And Monte Keep it on him, he done dropped n...s
And Trigger he be wilding, he some hot n....a
Tones known to get busy with them Glocks, n....a
Try to run down and you can catch a shot, n....a
Running through these checks till' I pass out
Your shawty gave me neck 'til I pass out I swear to God, all I do is cash out
And if you ain't a ho, get up out my trap house
I been selling crack since like the 5th grade
Really never made no difference what the s..t made
Jaja taught me flip them packs and how to maintain
Get that money back and spend it on the same thing
Shawty like the way that I ball out I be getting money till' I fall out
You talking cash dog, I goes all out
Shawty love the way that I floss out
Free Greezy though, let all of my dogs out
Mama said no pussy cats inside my dog house
That's what got my daddy locked up in the dog pound
Free Phantom though, let all of my dogs out
We gon' pull up in that hooptie like we cops on 'em
With the 16's, we gon' put some shots on em'
I send a lil' thot to send the drop on em'
She gon' call me up and I'mma sick the hots on 'em
Grimey savage, that's what we are
Grimey shooters dressed in G-Star
GS9, I go so Hard
But GS for my gun squad
And bitch if there's a problem we gon' gun brawl
Shots poppin 'out The AR
I'm with Trigger,
I'm with Rasha,
I'm with A-Raw
Broad daylight and we gon' let them things bark
Tell them n....s free Meeshie, ho Subwave, free Greezy, ho
And tell my n....s, Shmurda teaming, ho
Mitch caught a body 'bout a week ago
F...k with us and then we tweaking, ho
Run up on that n...a get to squeezing, ho
Everybody catching bullet holes
N....s got me on my bully yo
I'mma run up, put that gun on 'em
'mma run up, go dumb on 'em
N....s got me on that young s...t
Got me on that go dumb s...t
Rithm method
Like many of you, I'm quite literally frothing with anticipation at what on earth the BBC may be doing at 8pm tonight.
Ahead of this, a new look BBC Music site has been launched. Without wishing to be picky, there are a few teething problems with the algorithms. Beat me, Felix, eight to the bar. And I'll have another Lata, please.
Ahead of this, a new look BBC Music site has been launched. Without wishing to be picky, there are a few teething problems with the algorithms. Beat me, Felix, eight to the bar. And I'll have another Lata, please.
1974
Lots of 40th anniversaries this month - including Radio City, the commercial radio station for Merseyside.
The first programme controller was Gillian Reynolds, now doyenne of radio critics. The station started as I was on attachment to Radio Merseyside as a news trainee, recording interviews for Roger Wilkes' Breakfast show and Eddie Hemmings' Light and Local (and making a World at One lead, once, on the bread strike in Liverpool).
Gillian also co-presented the evening news show, City at Six. I'd be sent to council meetings on spec in the afternoon, and watch their reporter John Perkins beckon councillors out into corridors, when no obvious news story was in sight. It was an anxious half hour listening to City at Six, to see if the dogged Perkins had a genuine scoop, probably with an intro written by Nick Pollard (of Inquiry fame).
Here's the pre-6am opening jingle from the first morning of Radio City.
Some of the original package was reportedly written by Gerry Marsden. Madeleine Bell of Blue Mink was said to be the solo voice. But I wondered if this, the jingle that came just after 6am, and preceeded first breakfast host Arthur Murphy, might have been Gillian's heroine, Cilla Black ?
The first programme controller was Gillian Reynolds, now doyenne of radio critics. The station started as I was on attachment to Radio Merseyside as a news trainee, recording interviews for Roger Wilkes' Breakfast show and Eddie Hemmings' Light and Local (and making a World at One lead, once, on the bread strike in Liverpool).
Gillian also co-presented the evening news show, City at Six. I'd be sent to council meetings on spec in the afternoon, and watch their reporter John Perkins beckon councillors out into corridors, when no obvious news story was in sight. It was an anxious half hour listening to City at Six, to see if the dogged Perkins had a genuine scoop, probably with an intro written by Nick Pollard (of Inquiry fame).
Here's the pre-6am opening jingle from the first morning of Radio City.
Some of the original package was reportedly written by Gerry Marsden. Madeleine Bell of Blue Mink was said to be the solo voice. But I wondered if this, the jingle that came just after 6am, and preceeded first breakfast host Arthur Murphy, might have been Gillian's heroine, Cilla Black ?
Late flowering
The hard-nosed hacks of HR Magazine have what they claim is the first "any-questions-go" interview with former BBC personnel director Lucy Adams.
"I was stupid and naive" (I think referring to her treatment by MPs of the Public Accounts Committee) “I anticipated concern over a few big payouts, but felt utterly convinced they’d recognise that I’d saved £20 million avoiding tribunals”
“I thought that if you paid out £1 to save £10 in a tribunal, then that was money well spent. What I only later realised was that the lens people were looking through had changed. I didn’t need to spend £1; I only needed to spend 75p. I hadn’t realised the world had moved on.”
“I was relatively unsuccessful at the change agenda I was brought in for...but people have forgotten that I drove pensions reform, moved people to W1A in London, and also to the new MediaCity in Manchester,”
"I was stupid and naive" (I think referring to her treatment by MPs of the Public Accounts Committee) “I anticipated concern over a few big payouts, but felt utterly convinced they’d recognise that I’d saved £20 million avoiding tribunals”
“I thought that if you paid out £1 to save £10 in a tribunal, then that was money well spent. What I only later realised was that the lens people were looking through had changed. I didn’t need to spend £1; I only needed to spend 75p. I hadn’t realised the world had moved on.”
“I was relatively unsuccessful at the change agenda I was brought in for...but people have forgotten that I drove pensions reform, moved people to W1A in London, and also to the new MediaCity in Manchester,”
- BBC HR staff can pick up on Lucy's latest big thoughts with a short walk up Portland Place to a conference on Wednesday week. She's a guest speaker at the Horticultural Trades Association's Garden Futures event. A nice day out, as they contemplate their impending move to Birmingham, under process-driven new HR boss, Valerie Hughes D'Aeth.
Monday, October 6, 2014
Gene pool
The BBC's long-awaited Genome Project - an online, searchable archive of the Radio Times from 1923 to 2009 - is set to go public "within a month, we hope".
"We are in the final stages of testing" says Hilary Bishop, Editor of Archive Development, but "there are lots of spelling mistakes and punctuation errors and users will be invited to both edit the text to reflect what was published in Radio Times (this will be subject to validation), as well as tell us additional information about the programme (which wasn’t in Radio Times) or incidences of when the schedule changed."
The back copies were scanned by a French company, who then extracted the information with optical character readers. The project was originally scheduled for completion in 2011. A year ago, Eddie Mair had a play with a version of the online archive, made available inside the BBC.
"We are in the final stages of testing" says Hilary Bishop, Editor of Archive Development, but "there are lots of spelling mistakes and punctuation errors and users will be invited to both edit the text to reflect what was published in Radio Times (this will be subject to validation), as well as tell us additional information about the programme (which wasn’t in Radio Times) or incidences of when the schedule changed."
The back copies were scanned by a French company, who then extracted the information with optical character readers. The project was originally scheduled for completion in 2011. A year ago, Eddie Mair had a play with a version of the online archive, made available inside the BBC.
All change
Good luck today to Jonathan Wall, Radio 5 Live Controller, with one of the station's biggest schedule changes ever. Seven daytime hours have different presenters from today, with Adrian Chiles and Peter Allen sharing duties over three hours from 10am.
Those they have replaced have yet to settle down - Shelagh Fogarty has been on Newsday on BBC World Service, LBC, and, this last Saturday, hosting PM, a programme where she was a reporter during the 90s. There's as yet no sign of Victoria Derbyshire's new show in the BBC News Channel schedules - perhaps those in charge are too busy applying for their own jobs. Richard Bacon made much noise about a portfolio career including work in America - all we know for certain is a BBC series finding top amateur painters, co-hosted with Una Stubbs, due for transmission in 2015. Meanwhile he tweets restaurant tips.
Those they have replaced have yet to settle down - Shelagh Fogarty has been on Newsday on BBC World Service, LBC, and, this last Saturday, hosting PM, a programme where she was a reporter during the 90s. There's as yet no sign of Victoria Derbyshire's new show in the BBC News Channel schedules - perhaps those in charge are too busy applying for their own jobs. Richard Bacon made much noise about a portfolio career including work in America - all we know for certain is a BBC series finding top amateur painters, co-hosted with Una Stubbs, due for transmission in 2015. Meanwhile he tweets restaurant tips.
Sunday, October 5, 2014
Court Circular
It'll be entertaining to see if it's deemed newsworthy by the BBC, which, at 0900, hasn't touched it online, apart from pointing at the Mail story.
Next
It's a bad month to be a PA to senior management in BBC News. The rest of October will see almost continuous diary juggling, as Director of News James Harding seeks to interview and select for eight more posts in his new shiny digital praesidium.
Thank heavens that James can make his mind up about people so quickly. HR had to insist on interviews lasting at least thirty minutes.
Thank heavens that James can make his mind up about people so quickly. HR had to insist on interviews lasting at least thirty minutes.
Friday, October 3, 2014
Obvious, isn't it ?
When a job title gets long, you worry that if it's that hard to describe succinctly, it's probably impossible to do.
BBC internal candidates have seven days to apply to become Head of Strategic Change and Portfolio Management, News Group, reporting to the Chief Financial and Operating Officer, News Group. Maybe some of the key accountabilities will make the job clearer.
• Identify and define the change which is required at an early stage and before it becomes an obvious course of action. Present to News Group Board in a succinct way, including the associated risks and opportunities.
• Bring visibility and coherence to the roadmaps and developments across News Group, Technology and Future Media and help resolve any conflicts
• As needed, ensure News’ change agenda is clearly understood at a corporate level and is ‘front of mind’ when corporate decisions are being made which will impact on staff and audiences
Still confused ? Try the knowledge, skills and experience section...
• An editorial background or ability to talk the language of Editorial Leaders
There are all sorts of language being talked here, don't you think ?
BBC internal candidates have seven days to apply to become Head of Strategic Change and Portfolio Management, News Group, reporting to the Chief Financial and Operating Officer, News Group. Maybe some of the key accountabilities will make the job clearer.
• Identify and define the change which is required at an early stage and before it becomes an obvious course of action. Present to News Group Board in a succinct way, including the associated risks and opportunities.
• Bring visibility and coherence to the roadmaps and developments across News Group, Technology and Future Media and help resolve any conflicts
• As needed, ensure News’ change agenda is clearly understood at a corporate level and is ‘front of mind’ when corporate decisions are being made which will impact on staff and audiences
Still confused ? Try the knowledge, skills and experience section...
• An editorial background or ability to talk the language of Editorial Leaders
There are all sorts of language being talked here, don't you think ?
Director report
Staff No Fee presumably goes against James Harding's name as presenter of last night's edition of The Report on Radio 4. No idea who covers the expenses - probably at least one night in The Eternal City was required, and perhaps a business class fight, if he touched the ground with digital recorder akimbo (I'm sure the Press Office will be in touch).
The Director of News and Current Affairs also got the accolade of a plug interview on Today with James (Jim) Naughtie. His programme was produced by James Fletcher.
What next ? Up All Night ? Click ? Interviewing himself on Newswatch ?
The Director of News and Current Affairs also got the accolade of a plug interview on Today with James (Jim) Naughtie. His programme was produced by James Fletcher.
What next ? Up All Night ? Click ? Interviewing himself on Newswatch ?
Dinner time
I think tickets may still be available for Media Society's annual awards dinner on December 9th at the Millennium Hotel, given their latest posting...
Peter Bazalgette, Chairman of the Arts Council, has described Alan Yentob – this year’s Media Society Award winner – as the “BBC’s greatest servant”.
Speaking about the decision of the Society to make its annual award to Yentob, who joins the likes of Sir Harold Evans, David Dimbleby, Jon Snow, Melvyn Bragg and Sir David Frost, as a recipient, Bazalgette said: “”From general trainee in 1969 to creative leader and leading arts broadcaster…. Alan is the BBC’s greatest servant and thus, for almost 50 years, a great servant of the British public”
Ticket’s [sic] are priced at £125 for members of the Media Society and £150 for non-members.
Standard Tables for 10 £1500
Premium tables for 10 £2000
A Premium table has the following enhancements:
Table near front
Company branding at venue
Company logo on printed materials including menu
Advert in programme
Option to put gift on tables
Peter Bazalgette, Chairman of the Arts Council, has described Alan Yentob – this year’s Media Society Award winner – as the “BBC’s greatest servant”.
Speaking about the decision of the Society to make its annual award to Yentob, who joins the likes of Sir Harold Evans, David Dimbleby, Jon Snow, Melvyn Bragg and Sir David Frost, as a recipient, Bazalgette said: “”From general trainee in 1969 to creative leader and leading arts broadcaster…. Alan is the BBC’s greatest servant and thus, for almost 50 years, a great servant of the British public”
Ticket’s [sic] are priced at £125 for members of the Media Society and £150 for non-members.
Standard Tables for 10 £1500
Premium tables for 10 £2000
A Premium table has the following enhancements:
Table near front
Company branding at venue
Company logo on printed materials including menu
Advert in programme
Option to put gift on tables
Thursday, October 2, 2014
Mark Whittaker
At least a couple of generations of radio producers will be very sad to learn of the death of Mark Whittaker, a BBC reporter and presenter across a range of programmes over 31 years.
After graduating from Durham, he joined the Thomson regional trainee scheme, and moved through to reporting on the Lancashire Evening Telegraph in 1980. In 1983, he got behind the microphone with Radio Lancashire, and on to Radio WM in Birmingham.
There followed eight years reporting and presenting on Newsbeat, with some hosting of Costing The Earth on Radio 4. He was in the original line-up for Radio 5 Live, presenting a weekend show paired with Liz Kershaw. Then came six years with You and Yours, before a move to the World Service, on The World Today. Most recently he had been part of the World Business Report and Business Matters team until the sudden onset of cancer.
He had a huge brain, full of the sort of facts that could win you pub quizzes - and ready to argue cogently at the microphone, or round the pub table. He knew his real ale, Premier League, non-league and kids football, through Blackburn Rovers to Kidderminster Harriers and Pitshanger FC. In programme production, it was always good to see him come through the door - the shift would be fun. On the road, you got jokes - as well as genuine empathy for the people at the heart of difficult stories. In preparation, you got crafted scripts, both witty and to the point. Away from the mike, he was often puzzled and pained by the way the BBC worked at higher levels - but on-air, you got a thoroughly professional, thoughtful and clear broadcaster, asking the simple questions the audience expected. He'd adopted the Twitter name @baldynicechap - he was that, and much more.
After graduating from Durham, he joined the Thomson regional trainee scheme, and moved through to reporting on the Lancashire Evening Telegraph in 1980. In 1983, he got behind the microphone with Radio Lancashire, and on to Radio WM in Birmingham.
There followed eight years reporting and presenting on Newsbeat, with some hosting of Costing The Earth on Radio 4. He was in the original line-up for Radio 5 Live, presenting a weekend show paired with Liz Kershaw. Then came six years with You and Yours, before a move to the World Service, on The World Today. Most recently he had been part of the World Business Report and Business Matters team until the sudden onset of cancer.
He had a huge brain, full of the sort of facts that could win you pub quizzes - and ready to argue cogently at the microphone, or round the pub table. He knew his real ale, Premier League, non-league and kids football, through Blackburn Rovers to Kidderminster Harriers and Pitshanger FC. In programme production, it was always good to see him come through the door - the shift would be fun. On the road, you got jokes - as well as genuine empathy for the people at the heart of difficult stories. In preparation, you got crafted scripts, both witty and to the point. Away from the mike, he was often puzzled and pained by the way the BBC worked at higher levels - but on-air, you got a thoroughly professional, thoughtful and clear broadcaster, asking the simple questions the audience expected. He'd adopted the Twitter name @baldynicechap - he was that, and much more.
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
Extending choice
Stephen Fry is on Newsnight with Evan Davis tonight. He's also on Front Row on Radio 4 and Newshour on World Service. Gawd knows where today's interview with Huw Edwards is turning up.
After a light grilling from @HuwBBC... pic.twitter.com/X1gP2hwY4n
— Stephen Fry (@stephenfry) October 1, 2014
Last Thursday, he was "exclusively" on BBC Breakfast.
Cutting
BBC hacks may be cheered to know that the New York Times (CEO Mark Thompson) is cutting 100 newsroom jobs this year - around 7.5% of 1330 employees. Subscription apps NYTOpinion and NYTNow have not done the business.
BBC News is still trying to reach a target of 20% cuts, spread over four years.
BBC News is still trying to reach a target of 20% cuts, spread over four years.
Accentuate the positive
There's an moderately entertaining debate going on about recent research conducted for the shy, self-effacing Radio Centre, who would like Radio 1 and 2 to become so dull nobody listens - or to run the stations themselves.
The headline spin is that "Listeners think Radio 1 and Radio 2 should be more distinctive" and "Listeners do not associate Radio 1 and Radio 2 with their public service remits". To reach this view, they put a positive line on negatives - extrapolating a "should be" that's certainly not in their published Q & As.
On Radio 1, for example, given a choice of 10 statements on "what Radio 1 means to you", and allowing people to tick as many boxes as they like, 33% said it was "different to commercial radio". From this, apparently, comes the line that 77% thought it was the same. It's not a positive option. Nor does there appear to be a question about "commercial radio" being "different to Radio 1".
Similarly, out of 14 statements that you might "associate with Radio 1", 25% said "programming for younger teenagers". That morphs into a headline "75% or more of Radio 1 listeners suggest the station is not representing its target audience, or getting them to engage". Not what they were asked, in the detail that's published.
The research was done by BDRC Continental, and as it's on their letter head, one presumes they provided the accompanying copy.
The headline spin is that "Listeners think Radio 1 and Radio 2 should be more distinctive" and "Listeners do not associate Radio 1 and Radio 2 with their public service remits". To reach this view, they put a positive line on negatives - extrapolating a "should be" that's certainly not in their published Q & As.
On Radio 1, for example, given a choice of 10 statements on "what Radio 1 means to you", and allowing people to tick as many boxes as they like, 33% said it was "different to commercial radio". From this, apparently, comes the line that 77% thought it was the same. It's not a positive option. Nor does there appear to be a question about "commercial radio" being "different to Radio 1".
Similarly, out of 14 statements that you might "associate with Radio 1", 25% said "programming for younger teenagers". That morphs into a headline "75% or more of Radio 1 listeners suggest the station is not representing its target audience, or getting them to engage". Not what they were asked, in the detail that's published.
The research was done by BDRC Continental, and as it's on their letter head, one presumes they provided the accompanying copy.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
