ITV London Tonight

CPFC, you are of course correct that London Tonight had over the course of the last 18months become a shadow of its previous self.
As an ex-LNN insider however I can assure you that editorially the staff were also completely aware of that.
Unfortunately the management of the news division changed a couple of years ago, and it was noted then that the new manager was put in place to make cuts (in the first round of redundancies and the axing of London Today) not to grow the programming.
London Tonight then suffered from a rather dull and grey leader who suffocated creativity and a progressive news agenda.
There were plenty of good ideas and people behind the scenes, but their work seldom made it past the 'programme prevention' management style that ultimately may have killed the product.

I do think that the current incarnation of London Tonight has its good points - the move away from a crime-led agenda is welcome, IMO.

And they're obviously trying to produce a modern, bright and breezy programme. It almost works, but not quite. If the first 10 minutes of the show was always dominated by hard news it wouldn't be nearly so bad.

Hmm I hope tonight is not an exception, but the first ten minutes has been real London news stories, Ronke Phillips live on the guilty verdict of that woman on the top story, and Keir Simmons (no D) actually doing a worthwhile report. It also seems there will be a bit of sport and entertainment news, so tonight certainly seems the best so far. I hope it continues this way, obviously it'll never get to how it was 10 years or even 10 months ago, but tonight is good. Probably will change tomorrow though.

http://www.londonbroadcasting.org.uk/alancapper.jpg

Interesting to see LBC's man in New York - Alan Capper - reporting for London Tonight from New York.

He became LBC's NY stringer in early 2001 when Stuart Thomas (then LBC's editor and now of course in charge of London Tonight) sat next to him on a transatlantic flight.

On September 11 he saw the first plane hit the World Trade Center from his apartment, phoned LBC, begged to be put straight to air, and was consequently one of the first to report the disaster.

I wish Central News was more like London Tonight with a similar set and better strucuring. News in the central region takes all most of the programme. I know a lot doesnt like this, but I prefer London Tonight, and I think the Friday programme is good, as it is the essentail guide to the weekend, and i like that, but as long as the news is covered in the first 10 mins, thats enough for me!

The most regionally focused news service has got to be on Lookaround, all 'serious' stories are covered in the first fifteen minutes, with a live OB or stand-up presentation in the studio for at least one of the stories. There is then a 10 minute sport section on a Monday and friday. Then the rest of the programme is focused on some really 'rural' stories. It's quite good, because many stories are covered which would not normally get a look-in on any other news programme, so the term news-magazine does apply to Lookaround. Althought Lookarounds new set is better than it's predecessor I really wish they would get modern-looking one and come out of the dark-ages.

Alastair Stewart and Joyce Ohajah are presenting tonight's main programme. Is this Katie's first day off since 1 March (apart from Good Friday/Easter Monday)?

Why does London Tonight get all these stories from America/Live in America whilst the small ITV companies such as Border and Channel don't get anything like that.

money perhaps?

i have no doubt that lookaround are still workin within the same budget offered to them by border tv if not less since the merger.

central news west have had reports from america - there was one from dublin last night and gary newbon filed reports from the world cup in korea.

I suppose. But Border said they would have more live OB's, there is now about one a week. Surely now with the merger, ITV plc. can give Border a little financial support?

they're trying to cut costs, not increase them. regional news is just a necessary evil for itv at the moment, i certainly wouldn't hold my breath in expectation of any investment into regional news or regional programming in general.

Yes, well there's cutting costs and cutting quality!