The studios at Eastern Way have been progressively run-down in the last few years with most equipment locked away out of use. What's left is run by remote control from Leeds.
They don't control the whole programme from Leeds, the programme is still made in Carlisle with it's own gallery.
The studios at Eastern Way have been progressively run-down in the last few years with most equipment locked away out of use. What's left is run by remote control from Leeds.
They don't control the whole programme from Leeds, the programme is still made in Carlisle with it's own gallery.
I think the "remote control" was an editorial rather than production nuts and bolts comment.
An intense backlash against the proposed cuts in the South West has begun, with even Westcountry News themselves broadcasting a damning report about ITV plc's plans. On Sunday, The Politics Show ran a lengthy report featuring interviews with former Westcountry chairman Stephen Redfarn, and various local MPs all condemning the cuts and warning of a Bristol bias.
Last night's Westcountry News even went as far as to stick the knife into their own bosses - with clips of the Westcountry opening promo, Julie Fisher's narration contained much emotive language: "So many high hopes, the launch of Westcountry brought even greater news coverage for the South West". The report ended with the Westcountry W in firework form: "Now it looks as though all the dreams of almost 15 years ago are up in smoke". Go Westcountry!
An intense backlash against the proposed cuts in the South West has begun, with even Westcountry News themselves broadcasting a damning report about ITV plc's plans.
Unless the Editor and Journalists already know that their jobs are on the line, then this move was essentially professional suicide. Even though the news is supposed to have fair and unbiased reports, there is also a perceived clause within any employment contract which prevents you from damaging your empoyer's business or reputation.
They are effectively now in breach of contract and could be dismissed for gross misconduct (unless of course the report was sanctioned by ITV plc HQ)
However, if their jobs are on the line (and if the Westcountry situation is in any way similar to Border's plight, they will be) it is an absolute masterstroke.
Can you imagine the negative publicity if these guys are fired for this report? The local press will have an absolute field day, and ITV are virtually guaranteed to lose virtually every one of the (fiercely proud of their region) viewers of their local programming -- for a time at least.
An intense backlash against the proposed cuts in the South West has begun, with even Westcountry News themselves broadcasting a damning report about ITV plc's plans.
Unless the Editor and Journalists already know that their jobs are on the line, then this move was essentially professional suicide. Even though the news is supposed to have fair and unbiased reports, there is also a perceived clause within any employment contract which prevents you from damaging your empoyer's business or reputation.
They are effectively now in breach of contract and could be dismissed for gross misconduct (unless of course the report was sanctioned by ITV plc HQ)
editorially westcountry staff are obliged to present a fair and balanced report on what is a huge story for the media landscape of the south west.
i'd imagine the NUJ and ofcom would have something to say if itv plc were to put pressure on the staff in plymouth to try and spin the story or ignore it. doing so would also do a great deal of damage to itv news in general and the successor programme to westcountry live/htv west.
it would also fool very few people given that bbc south west are likely to be across the story anyway.
Unless the Editor and Journalists already know that their jobs are on the line, then this move was essentially professional suicide. Even though the news is supposed to have fair and unbiased reports, there is also a perceived clause within any employment contract which prevents you from damaging your empoyer's business or reputation.
They are effectively now in breach of contract and could be dismissed for gross misconduct (unless of course the report was sanctioned by ITV plc HQ)
You could say ITV plc is in breach of contract for wanting to slash local news provision.
It's easy to see the report as self-indulgent, but what crime have they committed other than to report what we already know - namely that ITV plc wants to see their region merged to cut costs? Admittedly the language used did seem to be that of a once-proud independent company hating having to operate within the confines of now being a regional branch of a network broadcaster, and one which is increasingly preventing them from offering the local service they set out to do in 1993.
On the subject of bias, there was a great deal of concern when Westcountry won the franchise that the involvement of South West Water as one of the station's backers might lead to favourable reporting of the water provider. Such fears never materialised, but here Westcountry News is fighting for its very survival so I guess they're entitled to use fighting talk.
jason posted:
However, if their jobs are on the line (and if the Westcountry situation is in any way similar to Border's plight, they will be) it is an absolute masterstroke.
Can you imagine the negative publicity if these guys are fired for this report? The local press will have an absolute field day, and ITV are virtually guaranteed to lose virtually every one of the (fiercely proud of their region) viewers of their local programming -- for a time at least.
And like those in the Border area, South West viewers have always been very supportive of their local ITV station. Sacking or even reprimanding Julie Fisher - a well-liked local broadcaster, would lose ITV plc a lot of public support (if indeed they could possibly have any for wanting to axe a local news service that's existed in some form since 1961) and they already have most of the local MPs on their case.
i'd imagine the NUJ and ofcom would have something to say if itv plc were to put pressure on the staff in plymouth to try and spin the story or ignore it. doing so would also do a great deal of damage to itv news in general and the successor programme to westcountry live/htv west.
it would also fool very few people given that bbc south west are likely to be across the story anyway.
I appreciate what you are saying. But there are ways and means of disposing of troublesome staff other than through the disciplinary route. I suspect that those promoting a clear "anti-ITV plc" stance will rapidly find themselves shortlisted for redundancy/early retirement, or simply transferred to less influencial posts.
I appreciate what you are saying. But there are ways and means of disposing of troublesome staff other than through the disciplinary route. I suspect that those promoting a clear "anti-ITV plc" stance will rapidly find themselves shortlisted for redundancy/early retirement, or simply transferred to less influencial posts.
In the NHS the preferred method of dealing with clinical staff constantly obstructing management is to offer them a management position, usually the attached salary makes this an offer they can't refuse. This was once highlighted by Casualty (yes I know that's fiction) but in a storyline mirroring real life practice, paramedic Jane Scott was offered a managerial position after constantly winding up the corporate director and in her new role soon upset her former friends by ordering cuts left right and centre.
Maybe anyone causing trouble at Westcountry will find themselves promoted to management like so? Lindsay Charlton, current MD of Meridian, was once a newsreader.
And like those in the Border area, South West viewers have always been very supportive of their local ITV station. Sacking or even reprimanding Julie Fisher - a well-liked local broadcaster, would lose ITV plc a lot of public support (if indeed they could possibly have any for wanting to axe a local news service that's existed in some form since 1961) and they already have most of the local MPs on their case.
Viewers supportive of Border??
Perhaps they are, in Cumbria, but those out in the far-flung reaches of the region will no doubt be thinking differently. Even allowing for the Scottish opt-out, a typical edition of Lookaround will feature numerous reports from Cumbria and the Isle of Man, a handful from Dumfries & Galloway, and very few, if any, from the Scottish Borders. The fact is that Border's Scottish audience are very poorly served by the company, and deserve better.
