The Newsroom

George Best

Too much coverage? (November 2005)

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CA
cat
That's slightly childish.

I have to say, I love this email comment on the Sky website:

Liver thief. I hope he meets his donor in purgatory and the person kicks him straight down to hell. Good footballer, by all accounts though, but who cares?
Anon
BR
Brekkie
Had the misfortune of catching the end of Granada Reports before the Evening News.

They had George Best's image plastered over all the screens, and were reading out viewers memories, all talking about him in past tense.

Wasn't till the Evening News began it was confirmed he was still alive!
TA
tv addict
To be fair they did make it clear he was still alive but I don't think you can blame the media when his doctor says ''George Best has hours to live - prepare for the worst!''
NW
nwtv2003
Brekkie Boy posted:
Had the misfortune of catching the end of Granada Reports before the Evening News.

They had George Best's image plastered over all the screens, and were reading out viewers memories, all talking about him in past tense.

Wasn't till the Evening News began it was confirmed he was still alive!


Well for the first fifteen minutes it was just this....

http://www.rp-networkservices.com/tvforum/uploads/gr241105f.jpg

Again they were treating it like he died, but kept stressing he was coming to the end. NWT weren't as bad, it was the top story for about five minutes and the end was sombre with Gordon Burns saying our thoughts go out to Best's family.

Plus Granada are doing a Soccer Night special at 12.00am tonight. They might as well just rerun Granada Reports. Rolling Eyes
ST
Stuart
30 years ago he kicked around a ball, earned loads of money....spent it on booze and died because of it after an unwarranted internationational celebreity status.

His odd attempts to reclaim that by selling pictures to NoW are pitiful examples of his last years. Perhaps some people cannot die with grace after years of public disgrace.

This over-exposure is disgusting.
NH
Nick Harvey Founding member
As I mentioned a little earlier in "another place".

Nick Harvey posted:
'Er indoors saw a vaguely amusing caption on Sky News during the afternoon, which probably sums up most people's boredom with the subject.

"Breaking News - George Best - No Change".


Mind you, I think Brad sums it all up nicely over there.

Brad posted:
Oh well... spare a thought for the poor butcher who has to put a new sign up in his window tomorrow...

BEST LIVER FOR SALE
IS
Inspector Sands
Asa posted:
7 o'Clock News taking the mick tonight?! I like the way they've included various other news outlets in their report about Best but they showed one from Kay Burley completely fumbling her sentence about wanting comments from people who "will then be passed on to the right people"


Doesn't the 7 O Clock News always take the mick?

The thing that's annoyed me today is Sky calling him 'Georgy Best'

It's been a very sad prolonged death, just wish it was all over for his sake
DU
Dunedin
Am I the only one feeling slightly odd when news readers (Sky have been doing this all day) say things like: "very sad news today about George Best...."

It's not really that sad at all, except for his close family and friends.

This whole "Best-vigil" is toe-curling broadcasting. There is no way it should be leading any news broadcast until he dies.
GE
thegeek Founding member
the 6 o'clock news ran an obit package for him today. So what do they play tomorrow if he dies during the afternoon?

Without wanting to sound too callous, I'm pretty fed up with all the coverage regarding his ill-health. That said, you do have to wonder if newsrooms are all full of editors with their feet up, glad of the space-filler, or kicking themselves for falling for yet another false alarm.
DE
denton
thegeek posted:
the 6 o'clock news ran an obit package for him today. So what do they play tomorrow if he dies during the afternoon?

Without wanting to sound too callous, I'm pretty fed up with all the coverage regarding his ill-health. That said, you do have to wonder if newsrooms are all full of editors with their feet up, glad of the space-filler, or kicking themselves for falling for yet another false alarm.


BBC Newsline devoted approx' 20 minutes, I think, to this story tonight. Yes the story should be covered; but this is overkill. Inform the viewer of the situation by all means, do a pointless live two-way if you like: but at least wait until the man is dead before transmitting the eulogies and tributes. The pictures of him plastered over the white sections of the desk were rather OTT too.
RO
roxuk
It seems to have spilled over in to the papers today too..you'd think he had died from some of them. It seems so over the top.
TV
tvnewsjunkie
mccanmat posted:
Wouldnt it be ironic if he dies today? On the day that new licencing laws come into force and doctors are predicting more alcoholics, that Britain's biggest alcoholic dies?


Oh come on .. everyone knows that award belongs to Oliver Reed.. Best doesn't even come close...

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