(Should this one read like the outpourings of a miserable old git, I'm sure you'll tell me...)
If there's a repeated feature in the application of the Harding Hammer to BBC News, then, surprisingly for a journalist with an international background, it's a casual belittling of foreign expertise.
Some examples: ex-ITN man Jonathan Munro has decided that, generally, one person should be the strategic interface between correspondents and newsdesks in the on-the-day delivery of news output. This means, essentially, the end of a distinguished cadre of staff known as Foreign Duty Editors, or more recently, World Duty Editors. Sometimes curmudgeons, often, rightly, pernickety, these men and women were the buffer between madness on both sides of the news machine - and, at their best, shaped both domestic and international bulletins for the better. There 24-hours a day to chivvy, counsel and console the lonely correspondent in the field; to wedge less obvious, but still important, foreign reporting into bulletins largely ordered by Westminster-obsessed tyros; and, equally importantly, to stop overkill on stories that are not new, but get that bulletin bandwagon effect - "let's have a sit-rep; an explainer - and a think piece".
FDEs were often correspondents who'd come off the road, or people who hadn't quite made it in the field, or just reporters between postings. Some would while away quiet hours in other tasks - a little light translation from Russian, some moonlighting for friendly foreign broadcasters. But they all understood the anxieties of the correspondents miles from base, and treated them with the patience and care of therapists when "London made a bad call". One of the greatest practitioners was Rhod Sharp, who translated his calm and genuine off-air concern for reporters and their stories into a treasure of a show on 5Live call Up All Night (which is bravely staggering on with inexplicably fewer and fewer resources)
On a much bigger scale of scale of casual depradation is the closure of a department called World Service News - with staff reporting to other managers. Not many redundancies (at this stage) but current Editor, Andy Whitehead, has told his team he'll be going in the New Year, once the transition has been effected. I think this is a shame. The best journalists are obsessive about particular fields of interest. In World Service News, you find people with deep hinterlands in countries beyond the ken of even University Challenge question-setters. It can seem a bit like train-spotting to outsiders, but, for seventy years or more, this collective knowledge has been a huge resource to the BBC. As a group of people, they argue about world history, international politics, global trends, the absolute meaning of words, clarity of language - and, most importantly, the relative significance of world events, round the clock. The reputation of BBC News abroad, as a selector of running orders that make sense to listeners around the globe, is built on their expertise.
As with any bunch of obsessives, they can be difficult to manage. I had the privilege of minding the shop there for two hugely-enjoyable short spells, but you'd never put me down as an international news specialist. I don't think they should be run or selected and promoted, long-term, by a "generalist" editor/manager. And, in 8,000 jobs, there should be room for someone called Editor, World Service News.
Showing posts with label radio. Show all posts
Showing posts with label radio. Show all posts
Friday, July 18, 2014
Monday, July 7, 2014
For the record
Many thanks to those who've been in touch to point out that I was mentioned (given "props" as I believe we say in social media) in an Observer article by the estimable Victoria Derbyshire, about Radio 5Live past and present.
I'm reliably informed that the published version truncates the author's intention in crediting the many forces behind the launch of the station. Indeed, the subbed version creates an impression of a young radio tyro, of iridescent erudition and perspicacity, charting a course for the nascent network, probably over a few pints of cooking lager in some sports bar with Jenny-now-Dame-Jenny Abramsky.
This is not entirely accurate, and my bit part will, I'm sure, resume its proper place in a later correction. However, I will keep the cutting... .
I'm reliably informed that the published version truncates the author's intention in crediting the many forces behind the launch of the station. Indeed, the subbed version creates an impression of a young radio tyro, of iridescent erudition and perspicacity, charting a course for the nascent network, probably over a few pints of cooking lager in some sports bar with Jenny-now-Dame-Jenny Abramsky.
This is not entirely accurate, and my bit part will, I'm sure, resume its proper place in a later correction. However, I will keep the cutting... .
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
Delivering something
"Radio 5 live unveils exciting new line-up" is the headline from the BBC Media Centre. An alternative view might be "Radio 5 live unveils cheaper line-up".
Three two-hour daytime shows are made into two, three-hour shows - not an elegant sentence, but I sure you'll understand it means more work from fewer people. Victoria Derbyshire, Richard Bacon and Shelagh Fogarty are leaving, saving more than a few Pendolino pounds from the budget. Peter Allen and Adrian Chiles shuffle to mornings. Dan Walker and, attempting to keep the gender balance from falling apart, Sarah Brett, get the long afternoon shift. Tony Livesey takes Peter Allen's chair alongside Anna Foster on Drivetime. Overall, there'll be more presentee-ism in the Salford Quays studios.
Congratulations to John Murray, who takes over as Football Correspondent from Mike Ingham. Rather than "Correspondant", as Controller Jonathan Wall blogs... (now corrected).
Three two-hour daytime shows are made into two, three-hour shows - not an elegant sentence, but I sure you'll understand it means more work from fewer people. Victoria Derbyshire, Richard Bacon and Shelagh Fogarty are leaving, saving more than a few Pendolino pounds from the budget. Peter Allen and Adrian Chiles shuffle to mornings. Dan Walker and, attempting to keep the gender balance from falling apart, Sarah Brett, get the long afternoon shift. Tony Livesey takes Peter Allen's chair alongside Anna Foster on Drivetime. Overall, there'll be more presentee-ism in the Salford Quays studios.
Congratulations to John Murray, who takes over as Football Correspondent from Mike Ingham. Rather than "Correspondant", as Controller Jonathan Wall blogs... (now corrected).
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
Figures
The spin on yesterday's cuts in BBC Radio is that they come from a difficult but sensible and necessary re-organisation. Some programme-makers may even experience a little schadenfreude, as commissioners working for controllers take a hit for the first time in Delivering Quality First.
But the big numbers in the 65 jobs closing are programme-makers and their teams. 38 go in Radio Production, the engine room for much Radio 4 "built" output - and management are warning that if there are insufficient volunteers for a deal, selection for retention will be done by a paper process rather than interviews. 8 go in Radio 1, alongside the recent presenter changes. 7 go in the Radio and Music Multiplatform team, which sits oddly with the mood music about a digital future.
The creation of the "Serious" (speech and classical music) and "Fluffy" (music from Vera Lynn onwards) Hubs will cut 20 posts. Apparently all controllers retain their jobs, despite the contractions below them. This may not have been how Roger Wright, the departing of Controller of Radio 3 and the Proms, read the runes in making his decision to leave after this season's first night. Still no sign of job ads to replace him.
The future of Network Radio seems to be firmly in the hands of Bob "Gavin" Shennan and Gwyneth "Stacey" Williams, top dogs in Fluffy and Serious. And Stacey is partly beholden to Gavin, in his role as Director of Music. Confusing, huh ?
But the big numbers in the 65 jobs closing are programme-makers and their teams. 38 go in Radio Production, the engine room for much Radio 4 "built" output - and management are warning that if there are insufficient volunteers for a deal, selection for retention will be done by a paper process rather than interviews. 8 go in Radio 1, alongside the recent presenter changes. 7 go in the Radio and Music Multiplatform team, which sits oddly with the mood music about a digital future.
The creation of the "Serious" (speech and classical music) and "Fluffy" (music from Vera Lynn onwards) Hubs will cut 20 posts. Apparently all controllers retain their jobs, despite the contractions below them. This may not have been how Roger Wright, the departing of Controller of Radio 3 and the Proms, read the runes in making his decision to leave after this season's first night. Still no sign of job ads to replace him.
The future of Network Radio seems to be firmly in the hands of Bob "Gavin" Shennan and Gwyneth "Stacey" Williams, top dogs in Fluffy and Serious. And Stacey is partly beholden to Gavin, in his role as Director of Music. Confusing, huh ?
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
Morning all
Nine months on from Lord Hall's exhortation that more BBC local radio audiences should wake up to women, there is progress towards his 50% target, demonstrated by a scan of this morning's schedules.
Some stations are choosing co-presentation, which I've decided, arbitrarily, counts. So from my chart of 40 main stations back in August last year, we've moved from 6 shows in the clear, to 15 - or 37.5%. Conversely, to reach the full target by the end of the year, five breakfast shows out of twenty-five still need change, generating substantial male jitters across England - though I have to note that most men shifted out of breakfast have been re-absorbed elsewhere in the schedules. So overall, it's not necessarily a gender balance triumph.
The movers so far - Cornwall, Derby, Humberside, Leicester, Norfolk, Somerset, Suffolk and York. Essex has gone the wrong way with the appointment of James Whale. Devon's billing, which used to show a team, now focuses on a bloke. Click to go large.
Some stations are choosing co-presentation, which I've decided, arbitrarily, counts. So from my chart of 40 main stations back in August last year, we've moved from 6 shows in the clear, to 15 - or 37.5%. Conversely, to reach the full target by the end of the year, five breakfast shows out of twenty-five still need change, generating substantial male jitters across England - though I have to note that most men shifted out of breakfast have been re-absorbed elsewhere in the schedules. So overall, it's not necessarily a gender balance triumph.
The movers so far - Cornwall, Derby, Humberside, Leicester, Norfolk, Somerset, Suffolk and York. Essex has gone the wrong way with the appointment of James Whale. Devon's billing, which used to show a team, now focuses on a bloke. Click to go large.
Thursday, May 15, 2014
Never mind the gongs...
The Radio 2 behemoth, Station of the Year at the Radio Academy Awards Without A Masthead Sponsor, rolls on, up from 15.27m listeners last year to 15.57m. Put some Jamaica Inn mumbling on quick, Bob - this has to stop somewhere.
It HAS been overtaken by the increased Bauer Radio portfolio of stations, now up to 16.1m through acquisitions, and the ever-growing Global Radio group is up to 21.4m. They, of course, would argue that their true competition is the total BBC Radio figure - 33.1m.
In other Stations of The Year news, Radio Ulster is up slightly, from 510k to 530k (How does it qualify for the 1m+ category ? Ed), and Station of the Year Below 1m, BBC Tees is down slightly, from 144k to 134k.
Bethan Powys' new regime at Radio Cymru has put their tiny figures up 20%. Radio Scotland's decline continues, down 7.5% year on year.
Sad to see the Asian Network dip back below 500k, at 478k. LBC puts on 11%, with its improved national availability.
BBC Local Radio drifts down - and something funny is happening across Middle England. Radio Gloucestershire down 29%, Radio Bristol down 29%, Radio Northants down 24% and Radio Norfolk down 21%. Against that trend, Coventry & Warwickshire is up 16%, and Radio Lincolnshire up 14%.
Other wiser bloggers on radio audiences offer other insights: This from Matt Deegan on Radio 1's Nick Grimshaw's revolving door audience, chasing under-25s and making over-25s unwelcome.
... even with Nick’s good work, R1′s average age nudges back up (when measured 15+) to 34. As a comparison – Capital London (34), Kiss (30), The Hits (28), 1Xtra (26), Capital Xtra (29) and Kiss Fresh (26).
It HAS been overtaken by the increased Bauer Radio portfolio of stations, now up to 16.1m through acquisitions, and the ever-growing Global Radio group is up to 21.4m. They, of course, would argue that their true competition is the total BBC Radio figure - 33.1m.
In other Stations of The Year news, Radio Ulster is up slightly, from 510k to 530k (How does it qualify for the 1m+ category ? Ed), and Station of the Year Below 1m, BBC Tees is down slightly, from 144k to 134k.
Bethan Powys' new regime at Radio Cymru has put their tiny figures up 20%. Radio Scotland's decline continues, down 7.5% year on year.
Sad to see the Asian Network dip back below 500k, at 478k. LBC puts on 11%, with its improved national availability.
BBC Local Radio drifts down - and something funny is happening across Middle England. Radio Gloucestershire down 29%, Radio Bristol down 29%, Radio Northants down 24% and Radio Norfolk down 21%. Against that trend, Coventry & Warwickshire is up 16%, and Radio Lincolnshire up 14%.
Other wiser bloggers on radio audiences offer other insights: This from Matt Deegan on Radio 1's Nick Grimshaw's revolving door audience, chasing under-25s and making over-25s unwelcome.
... even with Nick’s good work, R1′s average age nudges back up (when measured 15+) to 34. As a comparison – Capital London (34), Kiss (30), The Hits (28), 1Xtra (26), Capital Xtra (29) and Kiss Fresh (26).
Just about ONE THIRD of all radio listeners in the UK listen to Radio 2 (32.4%)
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Commentariat
Radio 5 Live didn't have full commentary rights for what might prove to be the pivotal match of the 2013/14 Premier League season - Liverpool v Chelsea. But they monstered the game with John Murray and John Hartson at Anfield, Kevin Kilbane and Mark Lawrenson watching in the studio, and host Ian Payne (still sportingly employed by the BBC, ITV and LBC) gasping at important moments "off-tube".
One wouldn't be surprised if TalkSport, who had the rights, might be listening back to the 5Live coverage during this week...
One wouldn't be surprised if TalkSport, who had the rights, might be listening back to the 5Live coverage during this week...
Sunday, April 27, 2014
Sliced
It's arrival was influential - Radio 4 brought the Today programme forward to 0600 in 1998, with the network now starting broadcasting at 5.20am. It required a presenter to come in the night before, to "knock off" a few pre-records, because getting "live contributions" at 0500 was hard - many generously-salaried correspondents then railed against 6.30am appearances on Today, and still do.
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| Mike Young and Andy Barwell host the final Morning Reports Photo: Dan Maudsley |
Thursday, April 3, 2014
Friday, March 28, 2014
20
Here's a little narrow take on the first day of Five Live - a success because of many more people than can be mentioned here.
The suits were trickling in from 0430. I was trying to bash out a newspaper review, which required complicated application of highlighter pens, otherwise it would crash and burn. It often did, but it was fun. There was a quiet message - Jane Garvey's cab had failed to turn up, so it might be a bit touch and go. We concealed this from the suits. We kept them out of the studio corridors, one floor down from the production desks, and only BBC snapper Geoff Overs and a few trusties were peering through the windows at the very start,
with Jane Garvey, Adrian Chiles doing "the business" and Marcus Buckland on sport. Morning Reports was put together by Phil Longman's news team. Philip Eden did weather, and Jo Anne Sale travel.
Overnight, Mark Sandell had assembled the first Breakfast programme - our lead was US tornadoes. The indefatigable Simon Calder was lost in East Anglia on a live OB that never worked.
Jane is one of the funniest and sharpest people you'll meet. She'd managed to convey a bit of that to the Radio Times.
We had less success in getting a cheerful picture of Peter Allen - brought to Five Live at the suggestion of Mike Lewis, Peter put a spring in all our strides from his first pilot.
This picture, from Peter doing Breakfast with Rachel Burden only this week, is much more typical, and remains a tribute to his dentist, 20 years on.
The best bit of the day for me was the Evening Standard's take on the morning output - it sounded as if it had always been there.
Peter and Jane are back together on Drive today at 4pm. There's some sort of nostalgia fest at 12.
I missed both a London and Manchester party this week (London for a woeful Arsenal v Swansea). You can tell, however, from various Facebook accounts, that early Five Live was something we all thought made sense (that doesn't half help), as well as a place of genuine laughter, laced with inevitable mickey-taking, creating friendships that have very happily endured.
The suits were trickling in from 0430. I was trying to bash out a newspaper review, which required complicated application of highlighter pens, otherwise it would crash and burn. It often did, but it was fun. There was a quiet message - Jane Garvey's cab had failed to turn up, so it might be a bit touch and go. We concealed this from the suits. We kept them out of the studio corridors, one floor down from the production desks, and only BBC snapper Geoff Overs and a few trusties were peering through the windows at the very start,
Overnight, Mark Sandell had assembled the first Breakfast programme - our lead was US tornadoes. The indefatigable Simon Calder was lost in East Anglia on a live OB that never worked.
The best bit of the day for me was the Evening Standard's take on the morning output - it sounded as if it had always been there.
Peter and Jane are back together on Drive today at 4pm. There's some sort of nostalgia fest at 12.
I missed both a London and Manchester party this week (London for a woeful Arsenal v Swansea). You can tell, however, from various Facebook accounts, that early Five Live was something we all thought made sense (that doesn't half help), as well as a place of genuine laughter, laced with inevitable mickey-taking, creating friendships that have very happily endured.
- Hat-tips to @Radiojottings and @JemStone for unearthing some of these photos.
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Sound woman
Congratulations to Louisa Compton, the first female Editor of Newsbeat in its 41-year-history.
Louisa helped BBC Three Counties to a Sony Award as station of the year in 2005, as well as picking up an "interactive" gold for her breakfast programme. Thence to Five Live, becoming Editor Daytime in 2009, with responsibility for Victoria Derbyshire, Sheila Fogarty and Richard Bacon on weekdays, as well as Saturday Edition. Energy, ideas and persistance.
Louisa helped BBC Three Counties to a Sony Award as station of the year in 2005, as well as picking up an "interactive" gold for her breakfast programme. Thence to Five Live, becoming Editor Daytime in 2009, with responsibility for Victoria Derbyshire, Sheila Fogarty and Richard Bacon on weekdays, as well as Saturday Edition. Energy, ideas and persistance.
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Golden oldies
In this week of Five Live 20th birthday celebrations, here's the original "up to the hour" jingle from 1994, part of a huge package created by Allan Coates (of late-ish era The Hollies, from 1981 to 2004) and Kim Goody (former cast member of ITV Saturday morning show No 73, alongside Sandi Toksvig).
Mike Lewis, Head of Sport, lighted upon Allan and Kim working as The Voice and Music Company, I remember the day the first tapes arrived, with various editors and Controller Jenny Abramsky assembling in Studio 1A, and ruminating on where to add the ident. Jenny, trained as a Studio Manager, felt a music edit was required, and razor blades flashed. I suspect she still might think her version was the one we used.
If you played the up to the hour jingle at 59.06 on the clock, it ended exactly at the top of the hour. We never used pips, but some programmes prided themselves on hitting the clock exactly. Whereas the drive time show, launched as John Inverdale Nationwide, was a programme you really couldn't set your watch to...
Allan and Kim went on to do launch stings for News 24, packages for Sky, At The Races and many more. They're still in business, now as Soho Square Studios.
In rooting around the web for stuff from the launch, I found this picture of a car sticker. Simon Calder has written about the difficulty various add agencies had in finding an opening theme; the first wave of posters featured "Follow Mike", with the conceit that "Mike", a microphone, would take you to the heart of news and sport, on the end of a wiggly wire. It didn't last long...
Mike Lewis, Head of Sport, lighted upon Allan and Kim working as The Voice and Music Company, I remember the day the first tapes arrived, with various editors and Controller Jenny Abramsky assembling in Studio 1A, and ruminating on where to add the ident. Jenny, trained as a Studio Manager, felt a music edit was required, and razor blades flashed. I suspect she still might think her version was the one we used.
If you played the up to the hour jingle at 59.06 on the clock, it ended exactly at the top of the hour. We never used pips, but some programmes prided themselves on hitting the clock exactly. Whereas the drive time show, launched as John Inverdale Nationwide, was a programme you really couldn't set your watch to...
Allan and Kim went on to do launch stings for News 24, packages for Sky, At The Races and many more. They're still in business, now as Soho Square Studios.
In rooting around the web for stuff from the launch, I found this picture of a car sticker. Simon Calder has written about the difficulty various add agencies had in finding an opening theme; the first wave of posters featured "Follow Mike", with the conceit that "Mike", a microphone, would take you to the heart of news and sport, on the end of a wiggly wire. It didn't last long...
Monday, March 24, 2014
The Wright man
It's uncomfortable to lose your key classical music executive the day before you announce more commitments to "The Arts"; unfortunate timing for the news of Roger Wright's decision to move on from Radio 3 and The Proms.
He's undoubtedly been a Good Thing for both jobs, despite the noises off from Friends of Radio 3. He took over Radio 3 in November 1998. His first quarterly audience figures showed a reach of 2.2m and a 1.4% share of the available audience; Classic FM's figures at the same time were 6.0m and a share of 4.3%. In the most recent quarter, Radio 3 returned as close as dammit to 2.0m and a share of 1.1%; Classic FM was down to 5.6m and 3.5% share.
At the Proms, which he ran from the 2008 season, he's produced 453 concerts so far, and will have another 75 or so under his belt by the time his Last Night comes around in September. Average attendance for the main evening concerts in the last three series have run at 94%, 93% and 93%.
Over his tenure, the BBC has maintained the same number of orchestras; how long will that hold ?
Roger's home is north of Bedford (in a house that saw Glenn Miller's last ever private performance in this country), and he's famously used London hotels during the eight-week Prom seasons; from mid-September, the work journey is up from 60 miles to 100, to reach Aldeburgh, where he will be the new Chief Executive of Aldeburgh Music.
He's undoubtedly been a Good Thing for both jobs, despite the noises off from Friends of Radio 3. He took over Radio 3 in November 1998. His first quarterly audience figures showed a reach of 2.2m and a 1.4% share of the available audience; Classic FM's figures at the same time were 6.0m and a share of 4.3%. In the most recent quarter, Radio 3 returned as close as dammit to 2.0m and a share of 1.1%; Classic FM was down to 5.6m and 3.5% share.
At the Proms, which he ran from the 2008 season, he's produced 453 concerts so far, and will have another 75 or so under his belt by the time his Last Night comes around in September. Average attendance for the main evening concerts in the last three series have run at 94%, 93% and 93%.
Over his tenure, the BBC has maintained the same number of orchestras; how long will that hold ?
Roger's home is north of Bedford (in a house that saw Glenn Miller's last ever private performance in this country), and he's famously used London hotels during the eight-week Prom seasons; from mid-September, the work journey is up from 60 miles to 100, to reach Aldeburgh, where he will be the new Chief Executive of Aldeburgh Music.
Sleep-walking
A generally good and positive interview with current (Radio) Five Live Controller, Jonathan Wall is featured in today's Guardian (from the pen of regular-Telegraph writer, Neil Midgley) as we head to the network's 20th Birthday.
However, I hope this remark, on possible cuts, is shroud-waving, and not serious: "We might have to play tapes overnight between 1am and 5am, instead of live news." By tapes, I think he means previously digitally-recorded items, i.e. repeats.
One of the greatest examples of creativity in the BBC over the past 20 years is how the Up All Night team have maintained engaging, distinctive and informative live broadcasting for four hours a night, year round, on an ever-diminishing budget. If we're talking about national treasures, presenter Rhod Sharp is one, and Dotun Adebayo might, one day, become one. It's good stuff, and when something happens - Diana's death, a tsunami and more - it leads the way in overnight news coverage, against older, more established outlets. It sustains local radio and Radio Scotland and Ulster overnight. Take it away, and you are no longer a 24 hour news and sport network. Lay off now.
However, I hope this remark, on possible cuts, is shroud-waving, and not serious: "We might have to play tapes overnight between 1am and 5am, instead of live news." By tapes, I think he means previously digitally-recorded items, i.e. repeats.
One of the greatest examples of creativity in the BBC over the past 20 years is how the Up All Night team have maintained engaging, distinctive and informative live broadcasting for four hours a night, year round, on an ever-diminishing budget. If we're talking about national treasures, presenter Rhod Sharp is one, and Dotun Adebayo might, one day, become one. It's good stuff, and when something happens - Diana's death, a tsunami and more - it leads the way in overnight news coverage, against older, more established outlets. It sustains local radio and Radio Scotland and Ulster overnight. Take it away, and you are no longer a 24 hour news and sport network. Lay off now.
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Totemic
Whilst the wider world ruminates on the cultural significance of moving BBC3 online, do not underestimate the impact within upper floors of Broadcasting House of the news that Front Row, on Radio 4, and uber-critic and presenter Mark Lawson are parting company, after sixteen years.
Mark's presenting duties on the BBC go further back, to the Yentob-commissioned Late Show on BBC, which morphed in Late Review, before being semi-absorbed in Newsnight.
Front Row, only-begotten child of Kaleidoscope, is generally (apart from Russell Crowe days) a most civilised show - and one can't imagine Mark would give it up voluntarily, though today's announcements are at pains to stress "agreement".
Back in January, The Sunday Times reported that a petition signed by 15 members of the Radio Arts Unit had been presented to Graham Ellis, Controller of Production and Deputy Director of Radio. The Guardian's take this evening is that Lawson, who also writes for the Guardian, is understood to have denied any suggestion of bullying, though acknowledges there were editorial arguments.
Mark will now be able to make more use of his Northampton Town season ticket, and spend more time tracking the fortunes of his beloved Leeds United FC.
Mark's presenting duties on the BBC go further back, to the Yentob-commissioned Late Show on BBC, which morphed in Late Review, before being semi-absorbed in Newsnight.
Front Row, only-begotten child of Kaleidoscope, is generally (apart from Russell Crowe days) a most civilised show - and one can't imagine Mark would give it up voluntarily, though today's announcements are at pains to stress "agreement".
Back in January, The Sunday Times reported that a petition signed by 15 members of the Radio Arts Unit had been presented to Graham Ellis, Controller of Production and Deputy Director of Radio. The Guardian's take this evening is that Lawson, who also writes for the Guardian, is understood to have denied any suggestion of bullying, though acknowledges there were editorial arguments.
Mark will now be able to make more use of his Northampton Town season ticket, and spend more time tracking the fortunes of his beloved Leeds United FC.
Sunday, February 23, 2014
Tardy
Last night's pick of the evening on Radio 4, as a far as the Radio Times was concerned, was an hour-long feature entitled "The Death of Spiv", presented by poet Paul Henry. Constructed in part from BBC Archives, it featured an interview with someone introduced as "the late George Cole". George, whilst not in the best of health, is 88. The programme is now an ex-programme, as far as the iPlayer is concerned.
Thursday, February 6, 2014
Heated debate
Those who may have followed my musings on attempts to introduce common tools in BBC production might like to balance these responses I've had from inside the radio "business".
First...
Pro-Tools/SADiE
VCS Dira!
Yeah, it'll do the job, but the result won't be pretty or indeed easy
Second
...everything you said was spot on..
First...
Pro-Tools/SADiE
VCS Dira!
Yeah, it'll do the job, but the result won't be pretty or indeed easy
Second
...everything you said was spot on..
Bubbles
With 1.4m more total listeners than a year ago, most radio stations are enjoying the warm bath of rising figures and room-temperature cava this morning. 52% of the audience are listening "digitally" - DAB, through digital tv, or online. The number of people with access to DAB sets is up 10% year on year, at 24m.
The Radio 2 behemoth ploughs on - up to 15.5m weekly tuning in for five minutes or more. Radio 4 stands at a record 11.2m, with the spine of news shows hitting highs - Today 7.1m, World At One 3.7m and PM 4.1m. Radio Five Live gets 6.3m, up from 6.1m last year - but TalkSport has also seen an increase, from 3.0m to 3.2m. Radio 3, at just under 2.0m, is down 3.3% year on year - and will probably be overtaken by the still rising 6Music this year. At Radio 1, Ben Cooper must be hoping Nick Grimshaw, at breakfast, has turned the corner - he's still down 400k year on year, but attracted 700k more listeners over the quarter. The average age of a Radio 1 listener (15+) has stuck at 34, but Grimshaw has managed to bring his down to 33 !
The Asian Network will be pleased with a record 668k. Radio Scotland will be anxious, as referendum reporting begins to dominate the output, that they've lost 126k listeners, to stand at 868k. There are small increases for Radio Wales and Radio Cymru. BBC local radio in England as a group is up 2.25% year on year. Coventry and Warwickshire has added 43,000 listeners in a year, to 116,000. Radio Gloucestershire has lost 27,000 to stand at 85,000.
In the battle for London, it's the BBC that has the lion's share - which doesn't always happen - with Radio 4 and Radio 2 dominating. Watch for BoJo spending more time with Chris Evans.
The Radio 2 behemoth ploughs on - up to 15.5m weekly tuning in for five minutes or more. Radio 4 stands at a record 11.2m, with the spine of news shows hitting highs - Today 7.1m, World At One 3.7m and PM 4.1m. Radio Five Live gets 6.3m, up from 6.1m last year - but TalkSport has also seen an increase, from 3.0m to 3.2m. Radio 3, at just under 2.0m, is down 3.3% year on year - and will probably be overtaken by the still rising 6Music this year. At Radio 1, Ben Cooper must be hoping Nick Grimshaw, at breakfast, has turned the corner - he's still down 400k year on year, but attracted 700k more listeners over the quarter. The average age of a Radio 1 listener (15+) has stuck at 34, but Grimshaw has managed to bring his down to 33 !
The Asian Network will be pleased with a record 668k. Radio Scotland will be anxious, as referendum reporting begins to dominate the output, that they've lost 126k listeners, to stand at 868k. There are small increases for Radio Wales and Radio Cymru. BBC local radio in England as a group is up 2.25% year on year. Coventry and Warwickshire has added 43,000 listeners in a year, to 116,000. Radio Gloucestershire has lost 27,000 to stand at 85,000.
In the battle for London, it's the BBC that has the lion's share - which doesn't always happen - with Radio 4 and Radio 2 dominating. Watch for BoJo spending more time with Chris Evans.
- For some independent thinking on this set of figures, try Paul Easton, Adam Bowie, Matt Deegan and James Cridland.
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
Hame fain wad I be
Congratulations to Channel 4's Sarah Smith, who is joining BBC Scotland to front a weeknight tv show, Scotland 2014, in the run-up to the referendum, as well as appearing on Radio Scotland.
Some of her background knowledge will be unbeatable. Sarah was eight in 1976 when her dad, John Smith, as Leader of the Commons, piloted the first Devolution Bill onto the statute books, as part of the Callaghan government. However, the subsequent referendum, in 1979, failed to win enough votes to start a Scottish Assembly, and within weeks of the referendum disappointment Labour lost the general election.
Devolution was back on the agenda when John became Leader of the Opposition in 1992 - and Sarah was 24 - as her dad recommitted Labour to the project. The current Scottish set-up was delivered by John's great friend Donald Dewar, after Smith's untimely death in 1994.
Some of her background knowledge will be unbeatable. Sarah was eight in 1976 when her dad, John Smith, as Leader of the Commons, piloted the first Devolution Bill onto the statute books, as part of the Callaghan government. However, the subsequent referendum, in 1979, failed to win enough votes to start a Scottish Assembly, and within weeks of the referendum disappointment Labour lost the general election.
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| Sarah - right |
Friday, January 31, 2014
House moves
Here's BBC Director of Radio, Helen Boaden talking to Lisa Kerr, in a Radio Academy podcast, about what it was like to be part of a news story when you're Director of BBC News - as Helen was during Savile/Newsnight/Pollard. (The internal edits are not mine). The full item also talks about women in radio, leadership, and why 5Live is staying in Salford.
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