The Newsroom

25 years of rolling news

CNN celebrates on June 1st (May 2005)

This site closed in March 2021 and is now a read-only archive
WI
william Founding member
Breakfast News posted:
Moz posted:
Quote:
Jane Hill BBC News 24
9/11, 2001

"When the first plane hit the World Trade Centre, everyone in the newsroom was asking, 'How in God's name did they let a plane get into the airspace so near to the twin towers?' Our business presenter was on air at the time, and, bless him, he started talking about the business angle, because he knew a lot about what went on inside the twin towers.

Then we all saw that little dot in the sky. I said, 'Is that a news helicopter that has gone a bit close to get the pictures?' And then of course we all realised. I ran into makeup. I was absolutely stunned. When I got on air a few minutes later, I remember Brian Hanrahan, our diplomatic editor, being plonked in the chair next to me. There isn't a more experienced man in the BBC. And Brian looked at the pictures and said: 'My God, it's like The War of the Worlds.'"

Good piece from Jane there.

Why was the business news on when the planes hit? Wasn't it at about 2.30pm our time? And who took over from them - Jane & who else?


Was it not John Nicholson, who I think got an award for his coverage.


Yes, John Nicholson with Jane and John Terrett doing the business news - think it was around about 1348-1349 UK time they had the first pictures.
IS
Inspector Sands
Moz posted:
Inspector Sands posted:
The first one was at about 1:45 our time.

So did News 24 used to have a business programme at 1:45pm back then? It certainly sounds like as Jane says she had to go to make-up quickly and get on air.


Not a business programme as such, the business presenter was in the studio talking to the presenters just in the same was that Julia Caesar does now
BC
Blake Connolly Founding member
I remember on BBC World, Sport Today was on, they interupted to show the pictures, then went back to the sport for a while!
MO
Moz
Inspector Sands posted:
Moz posted:
Inspector Sands posted:
The first one was at about 1:45 our time.

So did News 24 used to have a business programme at 1:45pm back then? It certainly sounds like as Jane says she had to go to make-up quickly and get on air.


Not a business programme as such, the business presenter was in the studio talking to the presenters just in the same was that Julia Caesar does now

Don't think so. If that was the case why did the John Terret (if that was who it was) cover the story. Jane says she was in make-up. Sounds like a separate programme or at least segment to me.

Anyone know if there is any video or at least caps from News 24 when this was breaking?
IO
Ian of old
There's a clip doing the rounds of when BBC One cut to News 24. When that happened, it was John and Val Sanderson on duty. Not sure how long after Jane hopped in.
ED
edward
tvmercia's website has clips of bbc one going into news 24. on other places there is BBC World's coverage.
PM
PacMan
What has News 24 got to do with CNN's 25th year of broadcasting ???
Maybe I have read the title of this thread incorrectly ?
And another question... Was it not Sky News which broke this story about 9/11 first?? they received an award for their usual excellent coverage if I am not mistaken.
IS
Inspector Sands
Moz posted:

Don't think so. If that was the case why did the John Terret (if that was who it was) cover the story. Jane says she was in make-up. Sounds like a separate programme or at least segment to me.


John Terret covered it because he was on air at the time doing the business news - quite handy as at that time it had a primarily business angle.

Why Jane was in make-up I don't know, my knowledge of newsreaders rotas is non-exsistant.... perhaps she was due to start at 2pm anyway?
Also remember that peoples memories change over time and get even more confused when written up and cut down by a journalist 4 years later. Just look at the irregularities in Piers Morgans book. - places he couldn't have ben at the time he said he was etc
BN
Breakfast News
Just a reminder for anyone who is interested at 2pm, there is a CNN 25 anniversary programme, on CNN International.
MA
Matrix
Inspector Sands posted:
Moz posted:

Don't think so. If that was the case why did the John Terret (if that was who it was) cover the story. Jane says she was in make-up. Sounds like a separate programme or at least segment to me.


John Terret covered it because he was on air at the time doing the business news - quite handy as at that time it had a primarily business angle.

Why Jane was in make-up I don't know, my knowledge of newsreaders rotas is non-exsistant.... perhaps she was due to start at 2pm anyway?
Also remember that peoples memories change over time and get even more confused when written up and cut down by a journalist 4 years later. Just look at the irregularities in Piers Morgans book. - places he couldn't have ben at the time he said he was etc


If I remember rightly, The first plane hit around 1.30ish our time and News 24 starting showing pictures, beleiving it to be an accident.
Jane was due for the 2 o'clock slot with Matthew and the story broke, so the buisness presenter tried filling in on what was happening. Then coming upto 2 the true magnitude of the story hit home and Jane and Matthew took over with the live coverage.
I remember standing in the office watching the little screen of N24 and then all of them starting showing the same pictures, and gradually more and more people gathered around. Its cetainly a moment I'll never forget.
BH
BillyH Founding member
Something I've been wondering for a while...if the first plane crashed at 13.30, how come BBC One and ITV1 didn't report the news until about 14.10?
MA
Matrix
BillyH posted:
Something I've been wondering for a while...if the first plane crashed at 13.30, how come BBC One and ITV1 didn't report the news until about 14.10?


Because it wasn't until the second plane hit the towers the true magnitude of the situation became apparent. It was original beleived to be a terrible accident, but when the second plan hit around 2 people starting to realise - indeed many did then herald this as a major story hence BBC One's /ITV 1's interuption at around 2.10.

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