japitts' posts, page 9

Regional BBC newsgathering

Ok then, I'll bite

What days/hours are regional newsrooms staffed? And are there different levels of BBC regions? i.e. main centres such as Bristol and Birmingham, and then smaller "local" centres?

Regional BBC newsgathering

Out of idle curoiosity, what newsgathering strength does BBC News have in the regions?

I'm thinking more of "out of hours" - I'm guessing they've all got reasonable "strength in numbers" during the week etc, but I'm curious as to how much of a skeleton staff they run on overnight and at weekends... or does the BBC just then rely on the main regional centres (such as Bristol, say) being staffed but reporters then being "on call" otherwise?

Election 2005 -Pre-Election discussion here

I'm assuming that News 24 and BBC1 are simulcasting most (if not all) of the program tonight?

The graphics that have been posted here, certainly fit in nicely with N24's graphics (i.e. the tower), but where did these come from?

I've scoured the press packs on the website, but nowhere except the listings (which show N24 and One having the same schedule overnight) does it suggest there's a simulcast on TV.

Unions to ballot on BBC strike

The work-to-rule is an interesting development, given the election campaign now being in full swing and May 5th undoubtedly one of the biggest news events that happens.

It'll be a shame if news output is affected by this industrial action, particularly at a time when BBC News could be showcasing its strength in numbers. However - if it is affected, perhaps it'll give BBC management the kick up the rear that I am increasingly convinced they need. Good for the unions I say.

Ellen MacArthur's return

What a mess News 24's graphics are.

We have a simulcast with BBC1 so the tower has gone. Yet the Breaking News banner is up.

...and the tower is back. Hmmmm....

Ellen MacArthur's return

BBC1 & N24 now simulcasting, so N24 has dropped the tower and carrying the old-style logo in the top-left hand corner.

Five Live in Manchester

Perhaps partly on-topic here, but it's got me thinking...

I am totally in favour of the BBC becoming more regional, although against anything which detracts from TVC's position as probably the world's best known and equipped TV production centre.

However, one thing has got me rather confused, for want of a better word - Five LIve. This is a rolling news and sport network and seems to be torn in half by these proposals. BBC Sport is moving, so rightly the sport element of FiveLive goes with it. But BBC News is, rightly I feel, staying in London - yet we will, as things appear, be left with the rolling news network operating from several hundred miles away. This hardly seems an ideal situation.

And whilst I don't pretend to know much about how the transmission and playout systems work, surely there's an issue with the channel being produced in Manchester but being broadcast with BBC Radio from Broadcasting House in London?

Why does Sky News need that silly big News Wall?

I think this always shines through in the depth of reporting, and the number of "spare" journalists BBC News seem to have at their disposal - which is often evident in their foreign reporting IMO.

I seem to remember a comment a while ago, about the various news organisations presence in New York. Something about ITV or Sky getting their first journalist there, while BBC News had already had several.

Broadcasting House

Out of interest, is there a historic reason for this? Any plans to bring R1 into BH along with the rest of BBC Radio (although I guess FiveLive will still stay within the News Centre for sensible reasons)?

Odd that Newsbeat doesn't come from the News Centre either - I was under the impression that virtually all of the BBC's "network" news came from here.

New titles for BBC Breakfast

Exactly - they've proven during the Vote 2004 simulcasts that they can and will do exactly this...when it suits them.

New titles for BBC Breakfast

The big problem is, is that Breakfast *IS* a part of News 24 - for 3 hours every morning.

If News 24 insists on carrying Breakfast - which I am not fundamentally against - they really should go some way towards accepting Breakfast as providing a rolling news service. Albeit in a relaxed style, but even so. Adopting the News 24 graphics even if only for the N24 feed (and thus letting BBC1 carry on with the status quo) would, I'm sure, silence a lot of critics

Coverage of Russian Siege

It's a terrible tragedy with pictures that do resemble a warzone. There's a lot of high quality debate on here, which generally revolves around TV presentation by the news channels.

I suppose we can all lose sight of the fact that it's people's lives involved...it never seems real somehow until someone you know is involved. I guess that's human nature for you.