Just to be a pedant and provide a few corrections(!):
BBC World
Alastair Yates was born in the Midlands.
Manisha Tank is English but has Indian parents.
Matt Frei I think largely belongs in the correspondent pile, not newsreader (sorry to be picky).
There is also Martine Dennis who I believe is from SA, and of course Zeinab Badawi who is Sudanese, as well as George Alagiah who is Sri Lankan, Aaron Hesslehurst from Australia and finally Katty Kay, Lyndsey Brancher and from time to time Gavin Esler who are all from the UK.
CNNI
Monita Rajpal is Hong Kong born Indian.
Rosemary Church was in fact born in Belfast.
Isha Sesay and Shihab Rattansi were both born in the UK.
Anand Naidoo has since defected to AJE.
Paula Newton also belongs in the correspondent column and Richard Quest hasn't been behind a desk in many moons.
I have to say that Maryam Moshiri is great at presenting the news this afternoon. Her style is really enjoyable. She even closed a bulletin by saying "bye bye", something apparently taboo these days on BBCWorld.
Whilst comparing CNNI and BBCW together, and noting that these two channels are global/international news channels, it is interesting to note the real mix of nationalities amongst the news anchors on those channels. However, CNNI probably just edges ahead in having a greater mix of nationalities (
or ethnic origins
) than BBCW. I know it is not particularly relevant, but it just struck me on how imperative it is for global audiences not to appear to be addressed solely by "Brits" or "Yanks"! Do you think the channels have the balance correct? Is BBCW overpopulated with British presentation staff? I know this is perhaps a mildly sensitive subject, but I just wondered how other nationalities overseas (outwith UK and USA) viewed this:
I always thought BBC World should get atleast one US presenter now they broadcast to NY.
A pre recorded TOTH news cast. I always thought BBC Worlds back up plan was to similcast with News 24. I seem to remember they did that with Nicholas Owen some afternoon at 1500 uk time.
It maybe dependent on what News 24 is covering. I would have thought that this weekend that News 24 would have been focusing on the flooding which is fine for the domestic audience, but would not be appropriate for a world audience. A pre-recorded bulletin was probably the best choice.
Thanks. Has anyone seen the 1500BST top of the hour? I guess it was a simulcast with N24 (maybe preparing the World studio for the new edition of WNT later today). I tuned in at about 1515 and there was a surreal scene of Chris Eakin in a flooded English town who just did not know what to say and admitting he'd lost contact with the studio decided to cover the huge story of a lorry passing by a flooded street.
Then Jon Sopel with an anonymous background I had never seen.
And 3 DOGs at the same time (N24's one and the two World's ones).