She's obviously one of the people made redundant following the closure of the ITV News Channel. She was hardly ever on ITV1 and with the likes of Nina Hossain and Andrea Catherwood already filling all available cover slots there wasn't any work for her left
Same could be said about Lucy Alexander, Faye Barker, and Carrie Frais, hence their move to Sky, though the latter two predominantly appeared on the News Channel.
I'm surprised the likes of Owen Thomas and Phil Gayle are still with ITN to be honest - can't really see much work for them unless McTavish has left the Morning News?
She's obviously one of the people made redundant following the closure of the ITV News Channel. She was hardly ever on ITV1 and with the likes of Nina Hossain and Andrea Catherwood already filling all available cover slots there wasn't any work for her left
Same could be said about Lucy Alexander, Faye Barker, and Carrie Frais, hence their move to Sky, though the latter two predominantly appeared on the News Channel.
I'm surprised the likes of Owen Thomas and Phil Gayle are still with ITN to be honest - can't really see much work for them unless McTavish has left the Morning News?
Faye Barker is now with Sky News, and I've heard that Rachel McTavish left long ago.
Faye Barker is freelance so hasn't really 'gone to Sky'. She's back reporting for Calendar quite often.
I bet Leyla was ITN staff, what with her being there since the ITN News Channel days and one of the main News Channel presenters
Most of the others made erratic appearances on the News Channel at the best of times, loads of shifts one week than disappearing for 3 weeks, so presumably have a lot of other work off screen as well
The Morning News is Nazzernine Moshiri this week, but was Phil Gayle last week and Owen Thomas the week before that
Nice article. Also good to see that he gets in a mention of the "rivals" in the shape of Thompson (Sky LaF) and Alagiah (BBC Six). All one big happy family really!!
I am still slightly perpelxed by the fact that Austin has become ITN's Star Man. It's all very US network-esque, where the young guns are making a serious play for the elder statesemen's well worn chairs.....(e.g. Anderson Cooper edging out Aaron Brown.)
For me, and although his credentials are highly honorable, Austin has never really made much of an impact on the general news scene, certainly not in the way that Alastair Stewart and John Suchet, and even Nicholas Owen, have done. All three would have made excellent lead-man candidates. Austin has put in a noble effort, but it all seems rather rushed IMO.
You seem to hold the opinion that Alastair Stewart and Nicholas Owen have no say in what they do, and that Mark Austin was chosen to be "ITN's Star Man". He only presents two news bulletins - arguably there's no "star man" since Sir Trevor left the company. Mark Austin is a journalist who happens to present the main evening and late bulletins on ITV, and I believe he's just that. I don't think it's got anything to do with ITN marketing him as the "star man". Huw Edwards however has, since about 2003, been the BBC's main man, and this is an image they were keen to impress. I can't see though how Mark makes the same impression.
I wonder if thats why Lucy Owen doesnt present any bulletins on ITV1 national news anymore. A shame really.
ITV News tend to 'use' (I dare say it) Lucy Owen on bulletins nobody else really wants to do, such as Christmas day. She's a very pleasant voice , but slightly raspy and timid!
You seem to hold the opinion that Alastair Stewart and Nicholas Owen have no say in what they do, and that Mark Austin was chosen to be "ITN's Star Man". He only presents two news bulletins - arguably there's no "star man" since Sir Trevor left the company. Mark Austin is a journalist who happens to present the main evening and late bulletins on ITV, and I believe he's just that. I don't think it's got anything to do with ITN marketing him as the "star man". Huw Edwards however has, since about 2003, been the BBC's main man, and this is an image they were keen to impress. I can't see though how Mark makes the same impression.
I would say that the gushing ad transmitted on ITV1 on the eve of his debut on the 10.30 ("Mark Austin - the new face of ITV News") together with the multitude of press interviews he conducted after Trevor retired, would suggest otherwise.
You seem to hold the opinion that Alastair Stewart and Nicholas Owen have no say in what they do, and that Mark Austin was chosen to be "ITN's Star Man". He only presents two news bulletins - arguably there's no "star man" since Sir Trevor left the company. Mark Austin is a journalist who happens to present the main evening and late bulletins on ITV, and I believe he's just that. I don't think it's got anything to do with ITN marketing him as the "star man". Huw Edwards however has, since about 2003, been the BBC's main man, and this is an image they were keen to impress. I can't see though how Mark makes the same impression.
Not sure, James, but ITN have tried to give us the impression that as the filler of McDonald's shoes on the two main bulletins, Austin is the de-facto successor. I am sure it indeed IS their intention to portray him as the lead anchor on the channel (or Star Man, as I maybe uttered above - equates to the same thing).
My point is that Mark Austin (excellent though he is) seems to have been hurriedly thrown into the role, when he is not quite yet a household name in the same mold as McDonald or Suchet or Stewart.
I do concede that Owen / Stewart may not have been interested in the "top gig" that Austin has been given - but I personally feel that they would have been more suited.
Well IMO, if Alastair or Nick strongly felt they deserved the bulletin and felt they had been overlooked, tehy probably wouldn't be there now. Come on, just because they don't get the 10.30 (which has a smaller audience anyway) doesn't mean they didn't have a say in it. Alastair fronts London Tonight, a programme that I hear he's very dedicated to and Nick has an hour slot, what more could he want? However, Nick was much more watchable when he had the show to himself.
