IS
I don't think that many newsrooms are that organised, it tends to be a job that's done every so often - someone is assigned to update and check through the obits. Revoicing doesn't take that long to do (as long as there's someone in the newsroom who can voice packages) and very often the package will need updating on the day anyway.
OBL is a good example. His death/capture was a very likely occurrence so everyone would have had a load of content including a package ready to go. However it probably wouldn't have been updated for a few years (there's been no new footage of him for at least 5 years) but the nature of the capture/death obviously wasn't known when it was made. For such a big story I suspect that the one on file would have been voiced by a senior correspondent, someone like Jeremy Bowen or Frank Gardener but then would have been re-voiced this morning with newer details.
It's not just deaths of course, newsrooms also have packages ready for major court cases. These can be more tricky though, I remember a case where we made 'guilty' and 'not guilty' reports.... but there was more than one defendant and it came back as a split verdict. Not only did none of the packages work - even the interviews were irrelevant - but the reporter was on holiday and had included pieces to camera. Not a lot you can do except start from scratch
Also, today's events served to verify that outlets have Obits for almost everyone, including terrorists. OBL's was played today several times, voiced by Rachel Harvey. Assuming Rachel had decided to leave the BBC before the demise of OBL, would they have to do the obit again, and is there a system that captures such a circumstance to ensure that revoices are done if someone leaves?
I don't think that many newsrooms are that organised, it tends to be a job that's done every so often - someone is assigned to update and check through the obits. Revoicing doesn't take that long to do (as long as there's someone in the newsroom who can voice packages) and very often the package will need updating on the day anyway.
OBL is a good example. His death/capture was a very likely occurrence so everyone would have had a load of content including a package ready to go. However it probably wouldn't have been updated for a few years (there's been no new footage of him for at least 5 years) but the nature of the capture/death obviously wasn't known when it was made. For such a big story I suspect that the one on file would have been voiced by a senior correspondent, someone like Jeremy Bowen or Frank Gardener but then would have been re-voiced this morning with newer details.
It's not just deaths of course, newsrooms also have packages ready for major court cases. These can be more tricky though, I remember a case where we made 'guilty' and 'not guilty' reports.... but there was more than one defendant and it came back as a split verdict. Not only did none of the packages work - even the interviews were irrelevant - but the reporter was on holiday and had included pieces to camera. Not a lot you can do except start from scratch
Last edited by Inspector Sands on 2 May 2011 7:54pm - 2 times in total
JW
Thanks for your replies on the typist query on straps.
What about the proverbial local hour clocks, that oft appear on the top LHC on BBC News graphics? Who/how is responsible for putting the time on the graphic, or is it automated?
I only ask because I noted on this morning's simulcast, Babita Sharma interviewed a BBC Correspondent in Dubai, and the time on the clock was one hour behind real time in Dubai (i.e. it was displaying Doha time)!! I know these clocks are quite often wrong, but how can be? It's a frequently mentioned issue here on the boards.
What about the proverbial local hour clocks, that oft appear on the top LHC on BBC News graphics? Who/how is responsible for putting the time on the graphic, or is it automated?
I only ask because I noted on this morning's simulcast, Babita Sharma interviewed a BBC Correspondent in Dubai, and the time on the clock was one hour behind real time in Dubai (i.e. it was displaying Doha time)!! I know these clocks are quite often wrong, but how can be? It's a frequently mentioned issue here on the boards.
JW
Risky question, as it may provoke some rota-esque criticism.
As most will know, in the airline industry, crew rosters include a number of "standby" days in a month, where they may or may not be called in to replace a crew member who is absent for any reason. This usually involves staying home next to the phone until called, and then stood down as the standby period ends.
Does the same happen on tv news and reporting, where someone will be in reserve waiting to be called in to replace an absent colleague? Or is it far more reactive, in the sense that they will just tap someone on the shoulder in the newsroom and "youre up next" kinda thing?
BBC News 24: the alleged occasion when Clarence Mitchell fell asleep in a locked cupboard, and Nicky S had to stand in for him: although too short notice for a standby filler, but why didn't they just play a repeat of the previous bulletin instead of Nicky having to go on at the last moment?
As most will know, in the airline industry, crew rosters include a number of "standby" days in a month, where they may or may not be called in to replace a crew member who is absent for any reason. This usually involves staying home next to the phone until called, and then stood down as the standby period ends.
Does the same happen on tv news and reporting, where someone will be in reserve waiting to be called in to replace an absent colleague? Or is it far more reactive, in the sense that they will just tap someone on the shoulder in the newsroom and "youre up next" kinda thing?
BBC News 24: the alleged occasion when Clarence Mitchell fell asleep in a locked cupboard, and Nicky S had to stand in for him: although too short notice for a standby filler, but why didn't they just play a repeat of the previous bulletin instead of Nicky having to go on at the last moment?
DE
It doesn't happenen as a general rule, though almost all staff working shifts in the BBC are paid "Unpredictability Allowance". It doesn't quite give the BBC the right to call on standby staff, but they can be asked to change days of work, change hours of work and in some cases be leant on very heavily to come in on their days off. Some departments have slightly different interpretations of what UPA actually means and the subtleties of interpretation can lead to staff believing they have certain rights when other departments think they don't. Staff moving from one department to another can find these interpretations quite eye opening! Anyway in news a lot of journalists in particular consider the job they do to be a reactive one, one where they completely accept and expect to be working on off-days, work extra hours, get despatched all over the place etc.
In the old BBC Presentation department (which became Red Bee) there used to be standby transmission staff scheduled for Christmas and New Year. There was a standby payment (half the bonus payment ISTR), which would be increased to the full bonus if you were called in. I don't know whether Red Bee continue that.
I don't think bulletins were routinely recorded as emergency fillers until after this happening. BBC World Pres installed a device that recorded the last two hours worth of news programme but this was operational from about 2000 onwards I think... I think this incident was long before that ... However, It did get used when the bomb outside Television Centre went off and the news centre was evacuated AFAIK.
Risky question, as it may provoke some rota-esque criticism.
As most will know, in the airline industry, crew rosters include a number of "standby" days in a month, where they may or may not be called in to replace a crew member who is absent for any reason. This usually involves staying home next to the phone until called, and then stood down as the standby period ends.
Does the same happen on tv news and reporting, where someone will be in reserve waiting to be called in to replace an absent colleague? Or is it far more reactive, in the sense that they will just tap someone on the shoulder in the newsroom and "youre up next" kinda thing?
As most will know, in the airline industry, crew rosters include a number of "standby" days in a month, where they may or may not be called in to replace a crew member who is absent for any reason. This usually involves staying home next to the phone until called, and then stood down as the standby period ends.
Does the same happen on tv news and reporting, where someone will be in reserve waiting to be called in to replace an absent colleague? Or is it far more reactive, in the sense that they will just tap someone on the shoulder in the newsroom and "youre up next" kinda thing?
It doesn't happenen as a general rule, though almost all staff working shifts in the BBC are paid "Unpredictability Allowance". It doesn't quite give the BBC the right to call on standby staff, but they can be asked to change days of work, change hours of work and in some cases be leant on very heavily to come in on their days off. Some departments have slightly different interpretations of what UPA actually means and the subtleties of interpretation can lead to staff believing they have certain rights when other departments think they don't. Staff moving from one department to another can find these interpretations quite eye opening! Anyway in news a lot of journalists in particular consider the job they do to be a reactive one, one where they completely accept and expect to be working on off-days, work extra hours, get despatched all over the place etc.
In the old BBC Presentation department (which became Red Bee) there used to be standby transmission staff scheduled for Christmas and New Year. There was a standby payment (half the bonus payment ISTR), which would be increased to the full bonus if you were called in. I don't know whether Red Bee continue that.
BBC News 24: the alleged occasion when Clarence Mitchell fell asleep in a locked cupboard, and Nicky S had to stand in for him: although too short notice for a standby filler, but why didn't they just play a repeat of the previous bulletin instead of Nicky having to go on at the last moment?
I don't think bulletins were routinely recorded as emergency fillers until after this happening. BBC World Pres installed a device that recorded the last two hours worth of news programme but this was operational from about 2000 onwards I think... I think this incident was long before that ... However, It did get used when the bomb outside Television Centre went off and the news centre was evacuated AFAIK.
TM
Actually ITN operates in a similar way, using ‘A Days’ (Available) and ‘P Days’ (Protected). Staff are effectively put on standby for A Days where they have to be contactable up until midday in case they need to be called in at short notice to cover absences or major breaking news stories in their areas of expertise. Although they can also be called in on P Days, it is quite rare and they have a right to refuse – (although that is also quite rare). The rosters are also designed to ensure there is round-the-clock presenter cover in the ITV newsroom in the event that a newsflash is required on the network (not sure if that also applies to Channel 4 News though).
Risky question, as it may provoke some rota-esque criticism.
As most will know, in the airline industry, crew rosters include a number of "standby" days in a month, where they may or may not be called in to replace a crew member who is absent for any reason. This usually involves staying home next to the phone until called, and then stood down as the standby period ends.
Does the same happen on tv news and reporting, where someone will be in reserve waiting to be called in to replace an absent colleague? Or is it far more reactive, in the sense that they will just tap someone on the shoulder in the newsroom and "youre up next" kinda thing?
As most will know, in the airline industry, crew rosters include a number of "standby" days in a month, where they may or may not be called in to replace a crew member who is absent for any reason. This usually involves staying home next to the phone until called, and then stood down as the standby period ends.
Does the same happen on tv news and reporting, where someone will be in reserve waiting to be called in to replace an absent colleague? Or is it far more reactive, in the sense that they will just tap someone on the shoulder in the newsroom and "youre up next" kinda thing?
Actually ITN operates in a similar way, using ‘A Days’ (Available) and ‘P Days’ (Protected). Staff are effectively put on standby for A Days where they have to be contactable up until midday in case they need to be called in at short notice to cover absences or major breaking news stories in their areas of expertise. Although they can also be called in on P Days, it is quite rare and they have a right to refuse – (although that is also quite rare). The rosters are also designed to ensure there is round-the-clock presenter cover in the ITV newsroom in the event that a newsflash is required on the network (not sure if that also applies to Channel 4 News though).
SP
I thought pres was overstaffed on Christmas Day because of the Queen's Speech? Being a Grade 1 broadcast they staffed the spare pres suite just in case, apparently.
In the old BBC Presentation department (which became Red Bee) there used to be standby transmission staff scheduled for Christmas and New Year. There was a standby payment (half the bonus payment ISTR), which would be increased to the full bonus if you were called in. I don't know whether Red Bee continue that.
I thought pres was overstaffed on Christmas Day because of the Queen's Speech? Being a Grade 1 broadcast they staffed the spare pres suite just in case, apparently.
DE
I don't remember the spare suite being staffed just for the Queen's speech but before server playout (when programmes were transmitted directly from tape) there were usually two copies in the presentation area and on Christmas Day, an extra copy run in synch from Post Production.
For the Milennium Bug fiasco, there were staff in Television Centre, extra staff at Television Centre and a full set of staff at Pebble Mill. By then running two tape copies of programmes simultaneously had become the norm (it was only routine from about 1998 onwards believe it or not - before then there was one tape copy of each programme and that was it.)
For the Milennium Bug fiasco, there were staff in Television Centre, extra staff at Television Centre and a full set of staff at Pebble Mill. By then running two tape copies of programmes simultaneously had become the norm (it was only routine from about 1998 onwards believe it or not - before then there was one tape copy of each programme and that was it.)
MW
For the Milennium Bug fiasco, there were staff in Television Centre, extra staff at Television Centre and a full set of staff at Pebble Mill. By then running two tape copies of programmes simultaneously had become the norm (it was only routine from about 1998 onwards believe it or not - before then there was one tape copy of each programme and that was it.)
It being common knowledge to the Londoners that computers don't exist north of Watford.
For the Milennium Bug fiasco, there were staff in Television Centre, extra staff at Television Centre and a full set of staff at Pebble Mill. By then running two tape copies of programmes simultaneously had become the norm (it was only routine from about 1998 onwards believe it or not - before then there was one tape copy of each programme and that was it.)
It being common knowledge to the Londoners that computers don't exist north of Watford.
IS
For the Milennium Bug fiasco, there were staff in Television Centre, extra staff at Television Centre and a full set of staff at Pebble Mill. By then running two tape copies of programmes simultaneously had become the norm (it was only routine from about 1998 onwards believe it or not - before then there was one tape copy of each programme and that was it.)
It being common knowledge to the Londoners that computers don't exist north of Watford.
Well you say that, but of course one of the advantages that night was that those in Birmingham wouldn't have had any computer automation to use had they needed to take over that night - it would have been all manual in converted edit suites
For the Milennium Bug fiasco, there were staff in Television Centre, extra staff at Television Centre and a full set of staff at Pebble Mill. By then running two tape copies of programmes simultaneously had become the norm (it was only routine from about 1998 onwards believe it or not - before then there was one tape copy of each programme and that was it.)
It being common knowledge to the Londoners that computers don't exist north of Watford.
Well you say that, but of course one of the advantages that night was that those in Birmingham wouldn't have had any computer automation to use had they needed to take over that night - it would have been all manual in converted edit suites
Last edited by Inspector Sands on 15 May 2011 10:06pm
WE
He fell asleep in a locked cupboard? What would he been doing in a cupboard in the first place alledgedly?
(Second thoughts, don't answer that!
)
Risky question, as it may provoke some rota-esque criticism.
As most will know, in the airline industry, crew rosters include a number of "standby" days in a month, where they may or may not be called in to replace a crew member who is absent for any reason. This usually involves staying home next to the phone until called, and then stood down as the standby period ends.
Does the same happen on tv news and reporting, where someone will be in reserve waiting to be called in to replace an absent colleague? Or is it far more reactive, in the sense that they will just tap someone on the shoulder in the newsroom and "youre up next" kinda thing?
BBC News 24: the alleged occasion when Clarence Mitchell fell asleep in a locked cupboard, and Nicky S had to stand in for him: although too short notice for a standby filler, but why didn't they just play a repeat of the previous bulletin instead of Nicky having to go on at the last moment?
As most will know, in the airline industry, crew rosters include a number of "standby" days in a month, where they may or may not be called in to replace a crew member who is absent for any reason. This usually involves staying home next to the phone until called, and then stood down as the standby period ends.
Does the same happen on tv news and reporting, where someone will be in reserve waiting to be called in to replace an absent colleague? Or is it far more reactive, in the sense that they will just tap someone on the shoulder in the newsroom and "youre up next" kinda thing?
BBC News 24: the alleged occasion when Clarence Mitchell fell asleep in a locked cupboard, and Nicky S had to stand in for him: although too short notice for a standby filler, but why didn't they just play a repeat of the previous bulletin instead of Nicky having to go on at the last moment?
He fell asleep in a locked cupboard? What would he been doing in a cupboard in the first place alledgedly?
(Second thoughts, don't answer that!
)