Perhaps, Gavin. But, on the other hand, I can't help but wonder if there would be as much criticism levelled at Sky if they had sent someone else along who wasn't quite as "big a gun". If Anna Botting or Lorna Dunkley were sent out, for example, would we be complaining as much, because it seems that Kay Burley's presence anywhere inflames everyone on here.
Irrespective of which anchor Sky sent to the North East, it would have been criticised. To distinguish between Kay Burley and Anna Botting in the way in which you do is, in many respects, wrong: in the wake of the Cumbria shooting, it was Botting that was sent to Whitehaven. Admittedly, it was made easier by the fact that Botting was by all accounts on holiday in the area at the time and has relatively local knowledge, but it still doesn't warrant your distinction. Secondly, am I wrong to assume that some of the decisions taken by Sky in relation to Anna Botting indicate that they think, and believe, that she is one of their 'big guns'? By this, I refer to her partnership with Bob Friend for the launch of what was then considered a flagship broadcast, Sky News at Ten, her role in the recent General Election coverage in which she was based with Nick Clegg, and finally, her role in the 2008 US Presidential Election. I didn't see Kay Burley dispatched to the US to cover the results.
The criticism directed at Sky is valid: it has approached this story from an increasingly tabloid perspective and in so doing has exposed the polarity of Sky's coverage and standards. Whilst Sky is commended periodically - and rightly so - for the quality of its breaking news coverage, journalism and investigations, equally, it is recognised by many for its tabloid approach to news stories. On this occasion, it reacted to a valid news story - in which an individual with a record of criminal behaviour, for whatever reasons, has announced that he will target specifically members of the police - by assuming that it would be appropriate to supplement the known facts of the incident with conjecture, speculation and journalism more commonly found between the covers of the National Enquirer or the Daily Star. As Chie remarked, the BBC has approached this story with far greater caution and respect for the situation than Sky. It has been interesting to note that whilst most people have been critical of Sky's coverage, nobody has thought to question - in the light of Kay Burley and JT arriving on the scene - why the BBC has not done the same.
What hasn't helped Sky is the decision to send Kay Burley. It should come as no surprise to anybody - let alone anybody on here - that she is one of the most polarising figures in broadcasting. You either like her or not. It only takes a minute to search on Twitter to see the reaction of people the length of the country to the way in which she has covered the story. If Sky had wished to avoid any appearance of a) being tabloid-esque in its coverage, and b) being Fox News with a Union Flag, it would have been well-minded to send somebody other than Kay Burley. The moment that she arrived in the region it was, in effect, an own-goal for Sky.
Last edited by Schwing on 8 July 2010 1:57pm
