House's posts, page 7

BBC Network news - no longer relevant for the nations?

I think for me the question is if the law/rules/advice is changing in England, but not in Wales/Northern Ireland/Scotland, that is the important part of the story. Who’s getting it right and who’s getting it wrong, or are there legitimate differences in circumstances to dictate different rules? Just because the rules are changing in England only doesn’t mean that’s not relevant to viewers in Scotland, NI or Wales, and vice versa.

Likewise, an embarrassing Government defeat in the Commons is relevant to viewers outside England even if the issue only relates to England, because it builds a sense of the Government’s Parliamentary or popular strength and that has clear relevance to the nations.

In normal times, I think there is an argument that where the lead story on the national bulletins is genuinely irrelevant and of no interest to viewers outside of England, an arrangement should be in place so that the nations opt out of that story and replace it with their own lead story, before opting back in for story #2. But again, if news from the US or France or New Zealand is deemed to be of importance to UK viewers, even when it’s purely political in nature, it’s hard to fathom that English stories wouldn’t be of relevance to the nations (and vice versa).

BBC News: Presenters, correspondent & rotas

Hugh was Economics correspondent for many years, including later roles as (acting) Economics Editor, and Chief Economics Correspondent, before he became the inaugural Health editor.

Coronavirus | Television News Coverage

What troubles me far more is the Government has control of what becomes of the BBC. The Royal Charter cannot be determined by elected politicians and the BBC still be able to operate freely and independently without fear of reprimand or consequence everytime it upsets number 10 with its coverage. And that very much seems to be the world we’ve been living in for the past few years.

Coronavirus | Television News Coverage

Nothing Maitlis did or said was worse or less neutral than every time the BBC defaults to Brexit being as an inevitability — in fact it was considerably more neutral than that. Balance is not saying ‘some claim humans need to breathe oxygen to survive, but those claims are disputed by one guy who says he’s lived in the sea for the past 10 years’. Two sides of a story are not necessarily equal. Public surveys, the view of multiple conservative MPs, a large number of legal experts and a number of political commentators who otherwise are supportive of the government and Cummings all point to him having broken the rules. The mere fact that he and the Government both refute the accusation his conduct broke the rules (a legal and moral claim, not a factual one) doesn’t make it so. Nothing Maitlis said was partisan, nor ideological. It was, objectively, a perfectly valid reading of the situation.

BBC News (UK) presentation - Reith launch onwards

Difference between working lawfully (which is anyone whose job is still ongoing and they cannot do it reasonably from home) and key workers, but I imagine anyone who works for a channel or broadcaster regulated or required by Ofcom to provide news or other broadcasting would be counted in this current definition?

BBC News (UK) presentation - Reith launch onwards

Unless they’re teachers

BBC News (UK) presentation - Reith launch onwards

Also worth remembering Kirsty, along with many of her public service broadcaster colleagues, also counts as a key worker per the Government’s classification. Not only is it lawful for her (or indeed anyone else) to travel to work where that can’t reasonably be done from home (and presenting from Glasgow presumably requires additional crew to come in, so isn’t necessarily that advantageous in itself), but Kirsty would also be entitled to send any children to school, and use public transport in central London as a key worker.

BBC News: Presenters, correspondent & rotas

She left the BBC some time ago as a political correspondent, but continued to occasionally appear as a freelance presenter on the News Channel as well as pursue other opportunities.

Chuffed for her, because she was an underrated correspondent and is a great addition to their lineup.

Coronavirus | Television News Coverage

I was so sure they’d moved to studio C when I saw it. Impressive solution, although Studio E definitely benefits from having more depth in that background.

BBC News (UK) presentation - Reith launch onwards

If you think telephone calls give broadcasters reliable, quality-audio then you’ve clearly never listened to LBC or Five Live during a phone-in.

Also worth noting Emma Barnett has been broadcasting her Five Live show from home this week, and on Wednesday the (fibre?) line to her went down and there was initially dead air (save for an interviewee muttering ‘umm, hello?’) before they threw on trails while they got her back. There isn’t a perfect remote link in 2020.

BBC Breakfast - 16th July onwards

If you actually read the law, it doesn’t concern ‘essential travel’, and the distinction here would be quite relevant. You are not permitted to ‘leave the place you reside’ without ‘reasonable excuse’, which includes travelling to work to do a job you cannot reasonably do from home. As Health Secretary, there’s no doubt he’s more effective in an office with his team than working remotely, and the effectiveness of our public servants is rather important right now.

Appearing on live TV for scrutiny purposes is part of his job. It’s unlikely he left his home purely to do a broadcast interview, and there is zero chance he has actually gone against the legal requirements.

Interviewing him to a good technical quality and resilience is important, and sending BBC technicians to his home or office to ensure a remote link is sufficient (for a one-off interview) wouldn’t be any better than having him go into NBH.

BBC News (UK) presentation - Reith launch onwards

Unless the same gallery team are getting both programmes to air? In which case Studio E gives them a chance to rehearse before the Ten, and presumably they would rather their flagship shows remain in E than in C with a false background for the Ten?