R2
Indeed Sian mentioned it at the end of today's programme. It's nice to see the sports presenter presenting the main programme - the last time this was done was with Rob Bonnett about three years ago.
Stitch08 posted:
According to the RT Chris Hollins is going to present all next week. Personally I'd rather see Simon, but I think he'll be alright.
Indeed Sian mentioned it at the end of today's programme. It's nice to see the sports presenter presenting the main programme - the last time this was done was with Rob Bonnett about three years ago.
JW
Is Simon Mayo a "proper" journalist, with the ability to handle "Breaking News"? Genuine question.
SP
Well he was on air on 5 Live during the 9/11 attacks and by all accounts handled that breaking news very well.
GR
Where was it that the rumour started? Maybe whoever began it got Simon Mayo confused with Simon McCoy, who has presented recently.
It was on one of the Media Guardian blogs. I'd like to see how he handles TV, he comes across as being a very capable radio presenter and interviewer. His banter with Kermode on a friday is second to none!
Stitch08 posted:
gregmc posted:
I've asked before but any further news on Mayo poping up on the sofa for a spot of presenting? It was rumored, but never confirmed.
Where was it that the rumour started? Maybe whoever began it got Simon Mayo confused with Simon McCoy, who has presented recently.
It was on one of the Media Guardian blogs. I'd like to see how he handles TV, he comes across as being a very capable radio presenter and interviewer. His banter with Kermode on a friday is second to none!
BP
I always find this an extraordinary notion - this concept of a 'proper' journalist. As if journalism is some dark form of magic that can only be performed by special people. As if spending a year on some crappy postgrad course, learning how to use minidisc machines, means you are now a member of a special club.
Anyone with an ounce of common sense and a little bit of intelligence can do the job of journalism. It's just asking questions for a living. From what I've heard of Simon Mayo - he's an excellent interviewer who would do a great job.
Apologies if this has tuned into a rant. This wasn't aimed at you personally - since you were asking a question - not making a statement. But it was just something I wanted to say.
BBC WORLD posted:
Is Simon Mayo a "proper" journalist, with the ability to handle "Breaking News"? Genuine question.
I always find this an extraordinary notion - this concept of a 'proper' journalist. As if journalism is some dark form of magic that can only be performed by special people. As if spending a year on some crappy postgrad course, learning how to use minidisc machines, means you are now a member of a special club.
Anyone with an ounce of common sense and a little bit of intelligence can do the job of journalism. It's just asking questions for a living. From what I've heard of Simon Mayo - he's an excellent interviewer who would do a great job.
Apologies if this has tuned into a rant. This wasn't aimed at you personally - since you were asking a question - not making a statement. But it was just something I wanted to say.
JW
I always find this an extraordinary notion - this concept of a 'proper' journalist. As if journalism is some dark form of magic that can only be performed by special people. As if spending a year on some crappy postgrad course, learning how to use minidisc machines, means you are now a member of a special club.
Anyone with an ounce of common sense and a little bit of intelligence can do the job of journalism. It's just asking questions for a living. From what I've heard of Simon Mayo - he's an excellent interviewer who would do a great job.
Apologies if this has tuned into a rant. This wasn't aimed at you personally - since you were asking a question - not making a statement. But it was just something I wanted to say.
Bob, I am completely with you on this, and was also asking the question from the same angle. I recall only too well that Breakfast (and BBC News in general) "disposed" of another presenter very recently, on account of her not being a "proper journalist". The presenter I am referring to was involved in BBC TV news for a quarter of a century.
I, personally, know Simon Mayo as being a former presenter of Top of The Pops. I am not at all aware of his journalistic background, hence the question.
(Not that former TOTP presenters cannot be journalists or news anchors, as proven by Femi Oke, who now anchors on CNN International).
My question at the outset was a genuine one. Cheers.
Bob Paisley posted:
BBC WORLD posted:
Is Simon Mayo a "proper" journalist, with the ability to handle "Breaking News"? Genuine question.
I always find this an extraordinary notion - this concept of a 'proper' journalist. As if journalism is some dark form of magic that can only be performed by special people. As if spending a year on some crappy postgrad course, learning how to use minidisc machines, means you are now a member of a special club.
Anyone with an ounce of common sense and a little bit of intelligence can do the job of journalism. It's just asking questions for a living. From what I've heard of Simon Mayo - he's an excellent interviewer who would do a great job.
Apologies if this has tuned into a rant. This wasn't aimed at you personally - since you were asking a question - not making a statement. But it was just something I wanted to say.
Bob, I am completely with you on this, and was also asking the question from the same angle. I recall only too well that Breakfast (and BBC News in general) "disposed" of another presenter very recently, on account of her not being a "proper journalist". The presenter I am referring to was involved in BBC TV news for a quarter of a century.
I, personally, know Simon Mayo as being a former presenter of Top of The Pops. I am not at all aware of his journalistic background, hence the question.
(Not that former TOTP presenters cannot be journalists or news anchors, as proven by Femi Oke, who now anchors on CNN International).
My question at the outset was a genuine one. Cheers.
LW
I agree wholeheartedly with all of that!
Just because the likes of, say, Moira Stuart (sp?) didn't do "some crappy postgrad course" (
) when she first started out, so flipping what?
Surely all of the journalistic skills and knowledge that would be learned through actually doing the job would eventually equal or exceed that which a college/uni course would teach you? Therefore, in practice, there's no difference (except for having a poxy piece of paper that gives a name (e.g. "degree" or "A Level" etc) to your skills and knowledge. As if that's of any importance).
Bob Paisley posted:
I always find this an extraordinary notion - this concept of a 'proper' journalist. As if journalism is some dark form of magic that can only be performed by special people. As if spending a year on some crappy postgrad course, learning how to use minidisc machines, means you are now a member of a special club.
Anyone with an ounce of common sense and a little bit of intelligence can do the job of journalism. It's just asking questions for a living.
Anyone with an ounce of common sense and a little bit of intelligence can do the job of journalism. It's just asking questions for a living.
I agree wholeheartedly with all of that!
Just because the likes of, say, Moira Stuart (sp?) didn't do "some crappy postgrad course" (
) when she first started out, so flipping what?
Surely all of the journalistic skills and knowledge that would be learned through actually doing the job would eventually equal or exceed that which a college/uni course would teach you? Therefore, in practice, there's no difference (except for having a poxy piece of paper that gives a name (e.g. "degree" or "A Level" etc) to your skills and knowledge. As if that's of any importance).
LW
Pehaps this sudden obsession with only wanting "trained journalists" on the news is a bizarre side-effect of all the sodding Reality TV that now exists?
i.e. As a result of all the Big Brother etc stuff, there's so many nobodies loose in telly land now who are "just presenters", and who would never have the intellectual capacity to handle news appropriately.
Perhaps the BBC (and other broadcasters) are worried that they need to be seen to be only employing "proper jornalists" for this very reason - i.e. so that nobody could suggest that their criteria for newscasters was such that Jade Goody could end up presenting Newsnight!
So the likes of poor old Moira could be a casualty of broadcasters "running scared"? As sorry reflection of the wider state of TV these days?
i.e. As a result of all the Big Brother etc stuff, there's so many nobodies loose in telly land now who are "just presenters", and who would never have the intellectual capacity to handle news appropriately.
Perhaps the BBC (and other broadcasters) are worried that they need to be seen to be only employing "proper jornalists" for this very reason - i.e. so that nobody could suggest that their criteria for newscasters was such that Jade Goody could end up presenting Newsnight!
So the likes of poor old Moira could be a casualty of broadcasters "running scared"? As sorry reflection of the wider state of TV these days?