BBC News: Presenters & Rotas

Yes, it might have seemed a bit abrupt to some, but having seen Brad Blakeman in action on numerous occasions on AJE and elsewhere, it's better that he's dealt with very firmly, so she did well.

Has she presented any of the politics programmes then? Or has she mostly done OB and studio lives and packages? What I'm getting at is how used to autocue is she? If she's more used to talking off the top of her head, as opposed to reading off autocue, she'll probably settle into it a bit more and tone down the overemphasis.

Overall, a very promising start. I'll tune in again tomorrow.

If you don't mind me asking, though, why would you rather have her as Political Editor and Nick Robinson on Newsnight?

ETA: Is this temporary holiday cover? Or is this going to be a regular thing for her?

I agree it would keep the programme fresh to have a broader mix of presenters, although that could be a bit tricky, given how the presentational style of the programme is so strongly associated with the regular presenters and their attitudes.

I don't think everyone suits it though. I remember ages ago Mark Urban had a go at presenting. I don't know whether he was just covering for someone else at short notice or whether he was acting up with a view to a more permanent presenter role, but I'm afraid I didn't like him in the presenter role. His voice grates on my ears too much, it has a kind of nasal and whiny quality that I don't find particularly pleasant to listen to. I was ever so glad that he didn't take up a regular presenting slot as I wouldn't have been able to watch.

Not being familiar with the rest of her work, and just going off this first appearance, my initial thoughts are that she seems a good fit so far, she seems assertive enough an interviewer so far to keep the heavyweights in check, and that's one of the key qualities a Newsnight presenter needs.

Well said Mancunian - and yes I take onboard your point re regular presenters too.

Let's see how tomorrow goes...

She's had a stint presenting and reporting for the Daily Politics on BBC Two, and regularly presents OBs for the BBC News Channel, but these days strays quite far from an autocue.



Laura is very good as a political correspondent and is well respected in the halls of Westminster, while Nick Robinson worked very well when he presented Newsnight (was it earlier this year or last year?). There's been talk for a while now of who will (one day) replace Nick should he move to a Newsnight/ Today - type programme, and I certainly think Laura would be a wise choice. Makes more sense than recruiting from outside the Beeb, for sure.

Ah, I see. So it's not so much that you're perhaps preferring Nick Robinson to Laura Kuenssberg in this particular role, it's more that you're appreciating that he's going to be moving on at some point, and she'd be ideal to replace him when that happens?

You're thinking of this less as a simple jigsaw puzzle and who slots into Newsnight, and more like a game of chess thinking several moves ahead in terms of what happens to the roles either of them might vacate and who would fill them? I understand where you're coming from. Good points.

Yes, that's one way of describing it. A cascade move, e.g. Laura Keunssberg to Political Editor, Nick Robinson to Newsnight, Jeremy Paxman to Question Time/Elections



Well given that one of the other names that was flying around earlier this year (no idea if there was actually any substance to the rumour) was Tom Bradby, the BBC could do much worse than give the editorship role to Laura Keunssberg!

Anyway, for the presentation anoraks; judging by the Radio Times website, the two programmes presented by Laura Keunssberg are all we are going to get in terms of "different" presenters on Newsnight this summer; back to Kirsty, Emily and Gavin next week - I seem to recall last year Martha Kearney and Jon Sopel did some presenting over the summer.

EDIT:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnFdTPN5DnI

The "interesting" parts from Newsnight last night - hopefully we'll get a proper ending tomorrow.

Isn't James Landale being forgotten here in this if/maybe discussion. Surely he would be a contender for the Political Editor post should it ever become over

I thought Laura did really well, and considering that she hasn't done that many "scripted" shows, she came across as quite natural. She of course came into her own when interviewing and it was clear that she knows her stuff - perhaps trying to be a little bit "hard hitting" for the sake of it but certainly nothing terribly wrong with that.

Fiona Armstrong's 9-11am is continuing into the next shift. Tim Wilcox has left and Fi has been joined by Sue Thearle. I believe this is her first stint with a fellow female. Someone not turned up to work?

On the other hand, I really didn't think much of Laura Kuenssberg last night. She was overly serious, angry at times, shouty and rude to the interviewees, by demanding they shut up.

She obviously wanted to be Paxman with a skirt on, but failed miserably. Emily Maitlis not only gets the job done, but appears fair and rather friendly with guests on the show, even when asking the pressing questions. Kuenssberg was just bitter and very unfriendly, particularly with Ed Balls. Is she a Daily Mail reader?

James is certainly a curious one - I have no idea what the point of making him Deputy Political Editor was if he isn't considered for a future promotion. James would certainly be more than qualified for the job, I just wonder if he has that 'spark' that political editors need? Good ones, at least.


Having just started Newsnight on iPlayer, I wouldn't say Laura was shouting at the start at all - in fact if you close your eyes she's quite calm. It's her over-emphasised expressions, nodding and swaying which was most noticeable - something I'm sure she'll get over once on the autocue for a bit.


Edit:



Have to disagree, I thought she was rather good.





With so much talent already in house - even just down to some of their correspondents - I struggle to see how hiring the likes of Tom Bradby would make any logical sense. Landale and Kuenssbergare both more than qualified for the position, are well known to BBC viewers and don't bring out the sort of carp Mr Bradby and his team do. If they were going to go for someone from ITV Chris Ship would be the only logical choice, but probably lacks the name or hard-hitting persona they'd look for.

Ros Atkins anchoring BBC World News at the moment, for the first time, I think.