One-sided conversations

 The cathartic Twitter conversation about communications between BBC News producers and editors and their correspondents in the field continues.

Nick Robinson: My all time favourite came in my earpiece as the titles rolled for the BBC News at Six which was to begin with me breaking a story live at the top of the bulletin : “You are sure about this, aren’t you?”

Caroline Wyatt: This from the Six in Afg after we interviewed a man tortured by the Taliban, just after he was released and was riding back home on a donkey. The editor in London: ‘OK. We’ll take the piece. But go light on the donkey, heavy on the torture’..  

Angus Roxburgh: Me, panting: “I’m just back from frontline, was the only western corr there, can do a 2-way for you.” Today editor: “I’ll just put you on hold... (7 mins later) oh hi Angus, sorry no time, we’ve just done an expert from Chatham House on what might be happening at the frontline.”

Tim Page, when at Radio Shropshire:

“Hello.. Shropshire newsroom”

“Hi.. London here.. how are we pronouncing ‘Wem’?”

Nick Bryant: 

"You can’t say “resplendent in his budgie smugglers” on the Ten."

"But I said it on Today."

"Oh, ok then."

Jenny Hill:

"We’re very tight for time tonight so I can only give you fifteen seconds for your live top. You’ll need to include a warning about flash photography in the piece"

David Shukman:

“Fair point, but the feeling at the meeting was that......”