ITV News

I've always found Alistair Stewart to be authorititative, but he does have a bit of character about him-- I don't find that smug personally. I can appreciate that he comes across pompous at times, when interviewing people; but I'd rather presenters gave politicians etc a hard time when interviewing them, rather than being too 'cosy'.

I think I miss Nicholas Owen on ITV News the most-- I think he had the right balance of being friendly but credible.

Alistair Stewart - don't like him. When talking to a headteacher in a link the other day for the truancy story, he was literally shouting at him in an accusatory way:

"BUT ISN'T IT PARTIALLY YOUR FAULT IF YOU CAN'T CRACK DOWN ON THESE TRUANTS?!"

I mean is it really necessary? The Dead Ringers sketch has him down to a tee.

1.30 - Katie
6.30 - Mary / Nina on Friday
10.30 - Mark / James Mates on Friday

That would do.

Hmmm, not a good question from Alistair. I think journalists should avoid "closed questions" where at all possible-- a yes/no interview is not exactly insightful.

But when a headmaster is faced with a question like that, he's hardly going to just say "Yes" or "No" is he?

I'd put him on the 10.30. In fact, make that the 10.

It is just me or is the floor a lot more bluer? It seems darker compared to before.

I noticed that on the Lunchtime News. I think it was nicer when it was white, before the rebrand last year.

Me too, I think it made the set look more fresher.

Maybe were looking at another small tweak, the blue clock was used for the front pages again last night, the floor has been made more blue aswell. Maybe this is to co-incide with the 'no standing' presenting. Is the end of the teal near?

They've been using the blue background for the papers since Monday (Clicky).
I don't understand why the first newspaper is shown on the wall, then the rest are on the screen.

Well he could have said just "yes" or "no" if he felt like it, unlikely as you say in this instance. My point was, it is the sort of question that invites a yes or no answer.

I think a better question would have been: "Some people might say you are partially to blame-- how would you respond to that?".

What, where, who, why, when or how questions are usually more productive than something that can be answered with just a "yes" or "no".

The old walking standing newspaper review was done on the jib and from the sounds of things they seem to have phased out using it on live shots. I wonder if its some kind of health and safety issue.

Alistair Stewart's voice really irritates me. He sounds to me like he's trying to impersonate Trevor McDonald whilst modulating his voice. Not quite as annoying as Brian Sewell, but almost.