A long-standing query that I've had on my mind, hoping someone could help!
When the Nine O'Clock News was presented from the newsroom set, during the late 80's / early 90's, was it the same set used for the weekday daytime summaries? Did the set move location at all during it's use?
Did they not change the position of the set early on to show a less busy area of the newsroom after complaints that there was too much going on in the background, which people were finding distracting? I’m sure there was a cleaner once, wandering around right behind the set with a large bin bag, just over Michael Buerk’s shoulder.
Of course nowadays we’re all used to newsroom backdrops, but when this was introduced at the time, it was a bit of a shock having things going on behind the newsreader, when previously most news was delivered with a plain background (the bad early 70s CSO newsroom backdrop excepted.)
It's interesting to see that arguably Labour got it right on the top story in the first clip above. They predicted that multi-channel TV would lower standards and I would certainly agree with them! Granted, there are still some gems to be found - but very much in-between the dross.
Did they not change the position of the set early on to show a less busy area of the newsroom after complaints that there was too much going on in the background, which people were finding distracting? I’m sure there was a cleaner once, wandering around right behind the set with a large bin bag, just over Michael Buerk’s shoulder.
Of course nowadays we’re all used to newsroom backdrops, but when this was introduced at the time, it was a bit of a shock having things going on behind the newsreader, when previously most news was delivered with a plain background (the bad early 70s CSO newsroom backdrop excepted.)
For the Nine it was the opposite. Anyone not in the gallery or an edit suite was apparently asked to work from an in-vison area so it didn't look like an empty newsroom. (Remember the Nine was the last bulletin of the day, with no News 24)
Did they not change the position of the set early on to show a less busy area of the newsroom after complaints that there was too much going on in the background, which people were finding distracting? I’m sure there was a cleaner once, wandering around right behind the set with a large bin bag, just over Michael Buerk’s shoulder.
Of course nowadays we’re all used to newsroom backdrops, but when this was introduced at the time, it was a bit of a shock having things going on behind the newsreader, when previously most news was delivered with a plain background (the bad early 70s CSO newsroom backdrop excepted.)
For the Nine it was the opposite. Anyone not in the gallery or an edit suite was apparently asked to work from an in-vison area so it didn't look like an empty newsroom. (Remember the Nine was the last bulletin of the day, with no News 24)
That begs the question why did they choose the Nine to feature the newsroom backdrop if they knew the place would be practically deserted? Surely it would have made more sense to have the One or Six with a live newsroom backdrop and keep the Nine with a plain background. I've never thought about it before but it seems an odd decision.
Did they not change the position of the set early on to show a less busy area of the newsroom after complaints that there was too much going on in the background, which people were finding distracting? I’m sure there was a cleaner once, wandering around right behind the set with a large bin bag, just over Michael Buerk’s shoulder.
Of course nowadays we’re all used to newsroom backdrops, but when this was introduced at the time, it was a bit of a shock having things going on behind the newsreader, when previously most news was delivered with a plain background (the bad early 70s CSO newsroom backdrop excepted.)
For the Nine it was the opposite. Anyone not in the gallery or an edit suite was apparently asked to work from an in-vison area so it didn't look like an empty newsroom. (Remember the Nine was the last bulletin of the day, with no News 24)
That begs the question why did they choose the Nine to feature the newsroom backdrop if they knew the place would be practically deserted? Surely it would have made more sense to have the One or Six with a live newsroom backdrop and keep the Nine with a plain background. I've never thought about it before but it seems an odd decision.
You won't have been the first person to ask that question...
It's interesting to see that arguably Labour got it right on the top story in the first clip above. They predicted that multi-channel TV would lower standards and I would certainly agree with them! Granted, there are still some gems to be found - but very much in-between the dross.
To be fair there was a lot of cross when we had just 3-4 channels. I assume this was referring to legislation which paved the way for Sky.
Did they not change the position of the set early on to show a less busy area of the newsroom after complaints that there was too much going on in the background, which people were finding distracting? I’m sure there was a cleaner once, wandering around right behind the set with a large bin bag, just over Michael Buerk’s shoulder.
Of course nowadays we’re all used to newsroom backdrops, but when this was introduced at the time, it was a bit of a shock having things going on behind the newsreader, when previously most news was delivered with a plain background (the bad early 70s CSO newsroom backdrop excepted.)
For the Nine it was the opposite. Anyone not in the gallery or an edit suite was apparently asked to work from an in-vison area so it didn't look like an empty newsroom. (Remember the Nine was the last bulletin of the day, with no News 24)
That begs the question why did they choose the Nine to feature the newsroom backdrop if they knew the place would be practically deserted? Surely it would have made more sense to have the One or Six with a live newsroom backdrop and keep the Nine with a plain background. I've never thought about it before but it seems an odd decision.
I guess practically speaking it was the least disruptive bulletin to put in the newsroom and they could prep for it when the newsroom was quietening down.
I guess practically speaking it was the least disruptive bulletin to put in the newsroom and they could prep for it when the newsroom was quietening down.
The Nine wasn't technically 'in the newsroom' - it had a newsroom backdrop as a wall (of N3 I think) was removed and glazed to give a newsroom view. The Nine presenter wasn't really in the newsroom, and there was not much sound leakage (and disruption) either way because of the glazing AIUI. (I may be wrong - but that is my memory of how the set-up was explained to me)
I guess practically speaking it was the least disruptive bulletin to put in the newsroom and they could prep for it when the newsroom was quietening down.
The Nine wasn't technically 'in the newsroom' - it had a newsroom backdrop as a wall (of N3 I think) was removed and glazed to give a newsroom view. The Nine presenter wasn't really in the newsroom, and there was not much sound leakage (and disruption) either way because of the glazing AIUI. (I may be wrong - but that is my memory of how the set-up was explained to me)
I recall the bulletin set from the 80s, for a while they had a CSO backdrop using a recording of the newsroom, and on one occasion Micheal Buerk walked behind himself