Does BBC News have it's priorities right?

Second story on tonight's BBC 10 O'Clock News: Genocide in Sudan
Third story: coordinated bombings on Christian churches in Iraq

So what could possibly be more newsworthy than those? Yes, that's right, some bloke in football went to bed with the same woman as some other bloke in football.

I know football is popular with Brits, but I really think the BBC have got their priorities wrong here. Maybe it's just my general distaste for football, but I think that death, torture and terrorism are objectively more important stories than the sordid private lives of two men, one of whom I'd never heard of.

One night a few years ago, the top story on the evening news was the result of "the big match". The second story was the racially motivated murder of a father who'd just taken daughter into hospital, after she herself had suffered a vicious racial attack.

Shouldn't the BBC, of all broadcasters, be focussing on the stories we need to see, not the kind of popular voyeurism the tabloids feed on? I expect sport to come at the end of the news with Rob Bonnet, so I know I'm not going to miss anything of actual importance if I turn over.



Noodle

I agree, but BBC News don not really give much coverage to these sort of stories as ITV News do. And BBC News do really have better coverage of international stories.

Is this the first time Sally Nugent has presented the sport on BBC1?

It's an interesting point, and normally I'd agree with you. However this story has gone beyond the sordid sex scandal it was and moved into the realms of destabalising the football association for four fifths of the country. It's a big story for the tabloids and the broadsheets. While it's of little relevance to those outwith England (the Scottish versions of the English tabloids have been struggling to come up with alternative front pages the whole week), you could argue it's of major importance down there.

In an ideal world, the other two stories would be above this one. However, you could argue that the BBC above all should be dealing with stories in order of importance, rather than popularity. A tough one really. On this occasion I'd give the benefit of the doubt to the Beeb.

People don't half get their knickers in a twist around here about the order in which news stories appear don't they ?

It's not the case that the situation in Sudan is less important than the internal wrangling of the FA, BUT the situation that has occured this evening is a new development and as such is very newsworthy.

A story doesn't have to involve millions starving or murder to be the top priority, it doesn't work like that. The news is evolving all the time, and with that come constantly changing priorities.

I don't actually believe the internal sexual politics of the English Football Association and it's staff is newsworthy at all, with the possible exception of coverage in the football press.

I have to say that from a PERSONAL point of view, all three are pretty boring stories.

A load of football people (allegedly) bonking each other --- situation normal, go back to sleep.

Genocide and famine in some miscellaneous African country --- situation normal, happens every couple of years and the Beeb try to make news out of it and take all the credit when some fool lobs half-a-crown in the collection bucket.

Bombings in Iraq --- situation normal, wasn't it Rev Dublya of the Church of the Seventh Day Morons who started bombings in Iraq, so why should we be the slightest bit interested now?

SNAFU.

Bless you.

Is it me or is this forum really quite negative at the moment? That's how it strikes after a few days away.

Pardon?

Could well be, Sir.

Largely due to the influx of persons who have not had the benefit of your educational skills, methinks.

One thing that isn't acceptable however is script such as the one just read out on BBC News 24.

"The man who runs football in this country has resigned."

I believe there are at least 10 million viewers for whom that statement is completely inaccurate.

I would have thought that 50 thousand of your fellow human beings being brutally killed would be something that concerns everyone on the planet. Unless you are totally self centered.

Just be glad it isn't you