5 News

Does anyone know the reason behind Five News cutting down bulletins and having a boring backdrop on their lunchtime and late evening updates - they never used to before!

An attempt to save some money would probably be a good guess.

Five News' already fairly meagre budget (if you don't count Natasha's salary) was cut back even more when the contract was renewed with Sky News. It's real cut-to-the-bone coverage now - almost no dedicated reporters (mostly just on-rota Sky people) and cheap as chips weekend bulletins.

Not true, Five News still has a team of dedicated staff reporters that include...

Andy Bell - Political Editor
Jonathan Samuels - Chief Correspondent
Jason Farrell - Crime Correspondent
Simon Vigar - Royal Correspondent
Jane Dougal - General Reporter
Catherine Jones - General Reporter
Ruth Liptrot - General Reporter
Matt Barbett - General Reporter / Presenter
Phil Lavelle - General Reporter / Presenter
Leyla Heyes - General Reporter

Is Jane Dougall dedicated to five still? Im sure she has done some sky only reports recently

She was on attachment but back with Five now I'm led to believe from my source.

Ah well, I stand corrected. Although I believe I'm right in saying that the (already fairly miserly) budget for Five News has been cut back quite a bit - they're apparently maintaining a larger stable of dedicated reporters than I believed (assuming you're information is correct). Mea culpa, mea culpa.

Indeed you are right about budget, hence the current state of the lunchtime and evening updates which are pre-recorded from the 'mezz' in the sky news studio and then edited before a live playout by technical staff. Again you're right in that five news did have more reporters before cut back including Alex Thomas - Sports, Victoria Gatenby - General Reporter and Asha Tana - General Reporter/Presenter not to mention the loss of the channels own dedicated weather presenter in Lara Lewington.

does anyone have any pictures of this boring backdrop?? cheers

That's no great loss really.

Good riddance imo.

Looks like Helen Fospero didnt spend long on maternity leave. She presented the 5pm bulletin on Friday
http://www.fivetvonline.tv/natashas_newsroom.php?id=749

Feels and looks as if she's been away 5 years . Helen must be very keen to get back to work at sky.

Wouldn't bother me if Helen could fill in on the 5pm show a bit instead of the usual presenter.