BP
Oh the poor lamb - I'm sure the copious amounts of money they throw at him will soften the blow a little.
It's the production team behind the scenes I feel sorry for - they'll have to work just as long a shift.
Alastair has had a long day with presenting every bulletin since 11.25am!
Oh the poor lamb - I'm sure the copious amounts of money they throw at him will soften the blow a little.
It's the production team behind the scenes I feel sorry for - they'll have to work just as long a shift.
EX
Watching the 10.30 news last night (Sunday) I have to say I was rather disappointed. Not because of the quality, but because of the short lengh. It started late which didn't help but a number of key stories were either not mentioned, or only briefly, Certainly I don't feel it was a full round up of the days news, on one of ITV's biggest nights of the year. Maybe ITV need to consider longer weekend news bulletins?
RV
Even better, why don't the bulletins shrink to nothing? I can get my Tiger Woods and X-Factor news elsewhere, if I so desire, and ITV can give up the pretence of being PSB.
IT
To be fair, though, the BBC has also covered Tiger Woods in recent weeks and they devoted time last night not only to The X Factor but also to BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
itsrobert
Founding member
Even better, why don't the bulletins shrink to nothing? I can get my Tiger Woods and X-Factor news elsewhere, if I so desire, and ITV can give up the pretence of being PSB.
To be fair, though, the BBC has also covered Tiger Woods in recent weeks and they devoted time last night not only to The X Factor but also to BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
RV
You're right to attempt to balance it up.
However, last night was the rare occasion that X Factor was a legimately newsworthy event, given close on 20 million watched it! It was justifiable for BBC News to cover it.
With ITV News, my goat is got by the constant tabloid Susan Boyle-type pap that they just love to trail most days. And aren't they revelling in this tawdry Tiger business? I was dumbfounded the other day when a poor reporter stated as fact the hospitalisation of Mr Woods' mother in law was due to the stresses of recent events. Don't suppose, don't guess. She may have had pre-existing medical issues. A prime example of losing the basics amidst the tabloid feeding frenzy and chase for ratings.
Sport's Personality of the Year featured genuine talent worthy of the hype. Did ITV News cover that?
However, last night was the rare occasion that X Factor was a legimately newsworthy event, given close on 20 million watched it! It was justifiable for BBC News to cover it.
With ITV News, my goat is got by the constant tabloid Susan Boyle-type pap that they just love to trail most days. And aren't they revelling in this tawdry Tiger business? I was dumbfounded the other day when a poor reporter stated as fact the hospitalisation of Mr Woods' mother in law was due to the stresses of recent events. Don't suppose, don't guess. She may have had pre-existing medical issues. A prime example of losing the basics amidst the tabloid feeding frenzy and chase for ratings.
Sport's Personality of the Year featured genuine talent worthy of the hype. Did ITV News cover that?
Last edited by RegionalVariation on 14 December 2009 4:04pm
IT
itsrobert
Founding member
I don't know why so many people continue to be surprised by ITV News' editorial agenda. For as long as I can remember, ITV News has focused more on human interest stories than other rival broadcasters. If human interest isn't your thing, then don't watch ITV News. There are plenty of alternatives. It surprises me how members here are always criticising ITV News for not being serious enough, when ITV themselves make it clear they are about more than just economics and politics. If you want that, watch BBC News.
No, ITV didn't cover BBC Sports Personality of the Year, but would you expect them to, especially when time was so obviously limited? Try as you might to paint the BBC as a serious broadcaster which rises above self-promotion, the evidence just doesn't stack in your favour. I can remember many, many occasions when the BBC has indulged in some self-promotion on its news bulletins: Strictly Come Dancing, Children in Need, Doctor Who, anyone? Even weekend weather forecasts promote televised BBC sporting events. The BBC is just as guilty of this practice as ITV.
No, ITV didn't cover BBC Sports Personality of the Year, but would you expect them to, especially when time was so obviously limited? Try as you might to paint the BBC as a serious broadcaster which rises above self-promotion, the evidence just doesn't stack in your favour. I can remember many, many occasions when the BBC has indulged in some self-promotion on its news bulletins: Strictly Come Dancing, Children in Need, Doctor Who, anyone? Even weekend weather forecasts promote televised BBC sporting events. The BBC is just as guilty of this practice as ITV.
RV
Where did I take a shot at ITV News' human interest angle? At times ITV News produce some excellent, what you may term human-interest reports, which reflect the mood better and seem more in touch than colder, more distant BBC News.
My objections centred around the insatiable peddling of all things tacky talent show and salacious revelations from a domestic dispute.
I'm a human and the BBC's straighter, more factual approach interests me whereas ITV, forever pushing the truth a bit too far in the quest for ratings, cannot be trusted.
My objections centred around the insatiable peddling of all things tacky talent show and salacious revelations from a domestic dispute.
I'm a human and the BBC's straighter, more factual approach interests me whereas ITV, forever pushing the truth a bit too far in the quest for ratings, cannot be trusted.
IT
By 'human interest', I refer to ITV's tendency to focus on stories with a wider, more mainstream appeal; be it the human element of a story or an entertainment or celebrity-centred report. Your comment was regarding one facet of what I would consider a broader outlook which underpins most of ITV's reporting. Most people recognise that ITV's news output is built on these foundations in contrast to the BBC's more institutional and factual approach, which is why I find it so surprising that members here continually criticise ITV for its editorial decisions. Surely it is well known by now what ITV News stands for? What would be the point of every broadcaster having the same editorial content and agenda? It would make for a very boring and stagnant television journalism market.
itsrobert
Founding member
Where did I take a shot at ITV News' human interest angle? At times ITV News produce some excellent, what you may term human-interest reports, which reflect the mood better and seem more in touch than colder, more distant BBC News.
My objections centred around the insatiable peddling of all things tacky talent show and salacious revelations from a domestic dispute.
I'm a human and the BBC's straighter, more factual approach interests me whereas ITV, forever pushing the truth a bit too far in the quest for ratings, cannot be trusted.
My objections centred around the insatiable peddling of all things tacky talent show and salacious revelations from a domestic dispute.
I'm a human and the BBC's straighter, more factual approach interests me whereas ITV, forever pushing the truth a bit too far in the quest for ratings, cannot be trusted.
By 'human interest', I refer to ITV's tendency to focus on stories with a wider, more mainstream appeal; be it the human element of a story or an entertainment or celebrity-centred report. Your comment was regarding one facet of what I would consider a broader outlook which underpins most of ITV's reporting. Most people recognise that ITV's news output is built on these foundations in contrast to the BBC's more institutional and factual approach, which is why I find it so surprising that members here continually criticise ITV for its editorial decisions. Surely it is well known by now what ITV News stands for? What would be the point of every broadcaster having the same editorial content and agenda? It would make for a very boring and stagnant television journalism market.
ST
By 'human interest', I refer to ITV's tendency to focus on stories with a wider, more mainstream appeal; be it the human element of a story or an entertainment or celebrity-centred report.
I tend to agree with RegionalVariation , broadcasters shouldn't be wasting their short bulletins reporting on events they have created from their own entertainment schedule, or the minutiae of somebody's domestic situation.
Nearly 70% of the population obviously didn't think X Factor was important enough to sit through, so I fail to see why the result needed to be reported again to the 30% who had just watched it. I don't remember ITN ever announcing who'd commited the crime in the early 1990s after the end of an Inspector Morse episode (which probably had a similar audience).
They are nothing more than cheap filler items, because ITV News can't be bothered paying for a decent agenda for their bulletins. The 'human interest' angle is wearing a bit thin!
They should report the news....or just give up altogether.
My objections centred around the insatiable peddling of all things tacky talent show and salacious revelations from a domestic dispute.
By 'human interest', I refer to ITV's tendency to focus on stories with a wider, more mainstream appeal; be it the human element of a story or an entertainment or celebrity-centred report.
I tend to agree with RegionalVariation , broadcasters shouldn't be wasting their short bulletins reporting on events they have created from their own entertainment schedule, or the minutiae of somebody's domestic situation.
Nearly 70% of the population obviously didn't think X Factor was important enough to sit through, so I fail to see why the result needed to be reported again to the 30% who had just watched it. I don't remember ITN ever announcing who'd commited the crime in the early 1990s after the end of an Inspector Morse episode (which probably had a similar audience).
They are nothing more than cheap filler items, because ITV News can't be bothered paying for a decent agenda for their bulletins. The 'human interest' angle is wearing a bit thin!
They should report the news....or just give up altogether.