Despite the fact that I never have been a great fan of Central News East, I will say that I do not see any real benefit in having one Central region, which, according to the ITV/central website, spans from Shropshire and Herefordshire in the west through to Lincolnshire in the east. As people have already said, where the news is concerned, there is a point when a 'region' stops being regional and relevant.
I live in Nottingham. I really don't give a damn what's happening in Wolverhampton on a so-called 'local' scale.
:-(
A former member
Tyne Tees/Border could go ahead if Only the English parts were put together and Scotland go up to stv,
if not the region would be to big! and could never happen!
Tyne Tees/Border could go ahead if Only the English parts were put together and Scotland go up to stv,
if not the region would be to big! and could never happen!
It's not so much the size, more the differences in cultures.
Border plus Tyne Tees would still be smaller than Grampian for example, which is absolutely huge.
But the gulf between Stranraer and Selby is a lot greater than mere distance. Dundee to John O'Groats, or Penzance to Tewkesbury are similar distances from each other, but there is a vague modicum of an affinity between the second two pairs. Some folk in Stranraer may not have even heard of Selby, and vice versa. The idea is very, very silly if Scotland is included in the plans -- less so (but still far from ideal) if it is only Carlisle as you say.
I would say as well that if they get rid of the Central division it will be an absolute travesty. The regions are arguably too large as they are.
Despite the fact that I never have been a great fan of Central News East, I will say that I do not see any real benefit in having one Central region, which, according to the ITV/central website, spans from Shropshire and Herefordshire in the west through to Lincolnshire in the east. As people have already said, where the news is concerned, there is a point when a 'region' stops being regional and relevant.
I live in Nottingham. I really don't give a damn what's happening in Wolverhampton on a so-called 'local' scale.
I second that. What a lot airhead execs (who've probably never ventured outside the M25) don't realise is that the East Midlands and West Midlands regions are very much distinct; they even have separate regional agencies and accents!
This decision harks back to the days of ATV; it seems ironic that one of the conditions imposed on Central upon its creation, was to create a fully separate news service for the East Midlands!
What a lot airhead execs (who've probably never ventured outside the M25) don't realise is that the East Midlands and West Midlands regions are very much distinct; they even have separate regional agencies and accents!
Yes, that's more or less exactly what I was going to add to Jason's point about regional identities.
The point you are all missing is that local news is the death-rattle of the old ITV.
When even local,weekly newspapers launch their own online editions the end is nigh for the tea-time news on the telly.
Even the most arthritic-riddled, urine-smelling pensioner can work a computer these days and that's where they and everyone else gets their news.
Have you checked out www.itvlocal.com recently.
You really must - because there lies the future of regional news on ITV.
Except,of course,in Wales - where local news is passed on by ageing pit ponies ... well,no-one else has a job here these days.
The point you are all missing is that local news is the death-rattle of the old ITV.
When even local,weekly newspapers launch their own online editions the end is nigh for the tea-time news on the telly.
Even the most arthritic-riddled, urine-smelling pensioner can work a computer these days and that's where they and everyone else gets their news.
Have you checked out www.itvlocal.com recently.
You really must - because there lies the future of regional news on ITV.
Except,of course,in Wales - where local news is passed on by ageing pit ponies ... well,no-one else has a job here these days.
Where to begin?
1, Not everyone - especially "he most arthritic-riddled, urine-smelling pensioner" has as easy access to computers as their TV.
2, If you axe regional news on ITV, where do you expect the website to get material from?
3, Local news on regional paper websites is - with notable exceptions like the Express & Echo in Exeter - nothing more than a device to get people to buy the newspaper. Again, point one applies, as less than 60% of the population has access to broadband.
Go back to the drawing board with your argument, sunshine.
The point you are all missing is that local news is the death-rattle of the old ITV.
When even local,weekly newspapers launch their own online editions the end is nigh for the tea-time news on the telly.
Even the most arthritic-riddled, urine-smelling pensioner can work a computer these days and that's where they and everyone else gets their news.
Have you checked out www.itvlocal.com recently.
You really must - because there lies the future of regional news on ITV.
Except,of course,in Wales - where local news is passed on by ageing pit ponies ... well,no-one else has a job here these days.
Most of the population do still have a life and don't want to be tied to a computer all day looking for news. Television is so much more of a relaxed, family atmosphere than computers and I can't see how your point works at all.
The point you are all missing is that local news is the death-rattle of the old ITV.
When even local,weekly newspapers launch their own online editions the end is nigh for the tea-time news on the telly.
Even the most arthritic-riddled, urine-smelling pensioner can work a computer these days and that's where they and everyone else gets their news.
Have you checked out www.itvlocal.com recently.
You really must - because there lies the future of regional news on ITV.
Except,of course,in Wales - where local news is passed on by ageing pit ponies ... well,no-one else has a job here these days.
I've not always been a huge fan of regional news programmes, but I am sensible enough to realise that they are important in society. To be honest, I am somewhat different in my desire to watch national and international news on TV over regional news. The vast majority of people (well, where I live anyway) are far more interested in what's going on where they live. After all, that's what applies most to people's everyday lives. Local news has the greatest impact, then national (although the two are intricately linked in some aspects, such as top-down government laws/initiatives) and then international - that's at the bottom of the pile. Yes, Iraq is worrying, but to most people it is something happening in a far away land and doesn't have a direct impact on them (with exceptions, of course). Going back in history, local news would have been your lot. Before telecommunications came about, news took weeks to spread around the country by messenger and word of mouth, so it was far easier to know what was going on right where they lived as opposed to what was going on elsewhere.
Local news also helps with social cohesion. It's a platform on which to celebrate your locality, as well as communicate important events which have an impact in everyone's back yard.
Your argument about the internet is not solid. I think you'll find there's still a large proportion of people who don't have internet access (especially OAPs) and even those who do don't get all their news from it. Yes, I get broadcasting news from the net (i.e. this forum, BBC News etc.) but I wouldn't use the internet as my sole source of news. Apart from anything else, it would be a boring experience. Let's face it, internet has revolutionised the way the world works, but it's not about to take the place of television.