The Newsroom

ITV London Tonight

(December 2003)

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JW
JamesWorldNews
Indeed, Rob.

Sandy Gall and Alistair Burnet. Peter Woods and Michael Buerk. Peter Sissons and so on................not exactly oil paintings, but when they were on, we would sit and listen! (and not only listen, but we would actually hear what is said.)
IT
itsrobert Founding member
BBC WORLD posted:
Indeed, Rob.

Sandy Gall and Alistair Burnet. Peter Woods and Michael Buerk. Peter Sissons and so on................not exactly oil paintings, but when they were on, we would sit and listen! (and not only listen, but we would actually hear what is said.)


Absolutely, James. And the women of the news in the 1980s - Anna Ford, Julia Somerville, Carol Barnes, Selina Scott, Fiona Armstrong et al - were attractive ladies but they had gravitas and credibility. They came across as serious journalists and were no less authoritative than Gall, Burnett, Sissons and the rest of the male newscasters. Something's changed in recent years. Don't get me wrong, there are still credible but attractive female newscasters in 2011 - Julie Etchingham, Mary Nightingale, Fiona Bruce to name a few - but there's now a trend for far more style than substance, epitomised by Natasha Kaplinsky, Kate Silverton and some of the autocuties on Sky.
LE
Lester Founding member
itsrobert posted:
BBC WORLD posted:
Indeed, Rob.

Sandy Gall and Alistair Burnet. Peter Woods and Michael Buerk. Peter Sissons and so on................not exactly oil paintings, but when they were on, we would sit and listen! (and not only listen, but we would actually hear what is said.)


Absolutely, James. And the women of the news in the 1980s - Anna Ford, Julia Somerville, Carol Barnes, Selina Scott, Fiona Armstrong et al - were attractive ladies but they had gravitas and credibility. They came across as serious journalists and were no less authoritative than Gall, Burnett, Sissons and the rest of the male newscasters. Something's changed in recent years. Don't get me wrong, there are still credible but attractive female newscasters in 2011 - Julie Etchingham, Mary Nightingale, Fiona Bruce to name a few - but there's now a trend for far more style than substance, epitomised by Natasha Kaplinsky, Kate Silverton and some of the autocuties on Sky.


Fail to see the issue with Natasha. It's almost as if because she is attractive/presentable that it's a downside... She's worked her way up through regional television and then onto news channels, breakfast news shows, main evening news, she's got the experience and it so happens that she's very attractive and engaging. So what? Give her a break.
MA
Macalolo
Lester posted:
itsrobert posted:
BBC WORLD posted:
Indeed, Rob.

Sandy Gall and Alistair Burnet. Peter Woods and Michael Buerk. Peter Sissons and so on................not exactly oil paintings, but when they were on, we would sit and listen! (and not only listen, but we would actually hear what is said.)


Absolutely, James. And the women of the news in the 1980s - Anna Ford, Julia Somerville, Carol Barnes, Selina Scott, Fiona Armstrong et al - were attractive ladies but they had gravitas and credibility. They came across as serious journalists and were no less authoritative than Gall, Burnett, Sissons and the rest of the male newscasters. Something's changed in recent years. Don't get me wrong, there are still credible but attractive female newscasters in 2011 - Julie Etchingham, Mary Nightingale, Fiona Bruce to name a few - but there's now a trend for far more style than substance, epitomised by Natasha Kaplinsky, Kate Silverton and some of the autocuties on Sky.


Personally I dont have an issue with Natasha herself however I have got an issue with the fact that when employing presenters they always seem to get people from outside London Tonight to present. Matt Teale, Donal Macintyre etc when they have got people like Ben, Charlene, Alexandra to present bulletins.
Fail to see the issue with Natasha. It's almost as if because she is attractive/presentable that it's a downside... She's worked her way up through regional television and then onto news channels, breakfast news shows, main evening news, she's got the experience and it so happens that she's very attractive and engaging. So what? Give her a break.
SN
The SNT Three
I think Natasha is all right - she's got enough gravitas definitely for regional news, and can adapt to the lighter stories when needed. I'm not so keen on her coming onto the nationals though. Maybe she'll be ok on the lunchtime news but I'd much rather see Mary and Julie later on...
GM
GMc
Lester posted:
Fail to see the issue with Natasha. It's almost as if because she is attractive/presentable that it's a downside... She's worked her way up through regional television and then onto news channels, breakfast news shows, main evening news, she's got the experience and it so happens that she's very attractive and engaging. So what? Give her a break.


Her looks aren't the reason why I don't like her. I like Julie and Nina - and they are more attractive than Natasha (IMO).
She just doesn't grab my attention. She seems like the type of person who worked her way up in a different way Rolling Eyes (I will get shot down for that, but that's just what I think).
It has already been said, but ITV are clearly going for a "celebrity" in a bid to boost ratings. Shame... Confused
LL
London Lite Founding member
ITV Central's John Willats was on court reporting duty for LT this evening.

22 days later

LL
London Lite Founding member
Bridgid Nzekwu (C4 News) read tonight's late bulletin.

14 days later

LL
London Lite Founding member
Natasha's making her debut as I type, this is despite Nina presenting national bulletins today.
LO
Londoner
Who was the presenter of the late bulletin last night?
LL
London Lite Founding member
Londoner posted:
Who was the presenter of the late bulletin last night?


Sascha Williams, freelance ex ITV Anglia.
DF
DrewF
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