Strange interview with Jeremy Bowen on News Channel near the TOTH - Jon Sopel was asking him questions and Bowen, after the second question seemed distracted and started talking about hearing a NATO Poland flying low above him. He was distracted for the rest of the interview, pausing and losing his train of thought. They went to another interview in Benghazi, before cutting that off to go back to Bowen who said he'd heard something go bang just ten seconds after they left the interview with him, and a plume of smoke in the sky. Bowen said it sounded like an Anti-Aircraft Missile, but Sopel said it sounded like something else. Bowen then simply responded, "it was a loud bang and ... I'm not a military man." (that may not be verbatim).
It was around 14:10 I think, ... Very strange. Can anyone get video?
(As also mentioned by me on the World thread, but I re-posted here, as it may have a bigger chance of a response here.)
"There seems to be some misalignment of countdowns during the simulcast at weekends, and I have noted the same thing happening on a few occasions now. The World countdown crashes into the headlines at around +5s. So, either the countdown is running late by 5seconds, or the bulletin is started early? I can only imagine it's the former.
Just happened again now with Deborah MacKenzie's 0500am London bulletin.
The BBC is considering proposals including a "slimmed-down" BBC News channel concentrating on "developing news and headlines" and increasing commercial income from its journalism as part of director general Mark Thompson's drive to cut costs by 20%.
How many times are we going to have to go through these stories during the review that's ongoing. I know they're looking at everything - from the content on the news channel to the number of regional bulletins to the networking of local radio stations. Everything is being considered, anything mentioned could happen, most won't.
I don't really understand how it would save money though - unless I'm missing something. Quality breaking news coverage usually requires two presenters, quality breaking news coverage requires you to be ready to go live 24/7, quality breaking news coverage requires investment in being able to cover stories quickly. How would any of that reduce the cost of the Channel?
Would stripping out sport, business and the stand alone programmes really save that much? I'm not convinced it would.
Only thing I can think of is doing what has been said for a while - BBC News covering less stories but 'doing them better', but how does that fit with using regional teams more to cover stories as, necessarily, doing that means you cover more stories.
The article doesn't really make sense: ""offering a slimmed-down channel focusing on developing news and headlines".
Isn't that what the channel does now? Breaks news, watches it develop and gives the headlines?
As mentioned above, it also has regular sports, weather and business bulletins. I suppose we could also include the 'discussion' based segments - especially in something like the Five O'Clock News.
[Edit] Not to mention the likes of Film 24, newspaper reviews and the countless programmes like Newswatch and Click, many of which I'm sure actually save money and are used by various BBC departments.
And mostly, the BBC have made the studio and graphics better as time wore on. They brightened their backdrop from the original dull grey and red, and although we haven't seen nearly enough standing up*, they've not messed their studio space up, like some do after they've had it for a while (Sky News could be a guilty party here).
I think N6 is used very well for the not very good space that it is. They use plenty of graphics to support stories, there's enough room for guests even on the shorter Barco wall to the right side of the studio, and they use the larger wall for sports and business to provide a different recognisable look for each. Having a real newsroom may be nicer but N6 does the job decently and is a lot more flexible.
Although the current look is still fresh and effective, as anoraks I'm sure most are looking forward to the new look and the new studio in Broadcasting House next year.
Apologies for double posting - but unusually they are currently doing a 'Good Friday' edition of Film 24 on the NC with Sue Thearle and a mystery film critic (missed his name.)