I can't help feeling the reason that the BBC aren't dealing with actual reporting is because there isn't all that much to report. So far it's been Jeremy Bowen, Archbishop from some council, who was walking past the BBC OB Van and got put on air, the British archbishop bloke, Krakow OB, and not much else. The Pope has died, that much has been reported. They're waiting for further news now, but they've realised there's not all that much happening, so they've cut to the prepared Obits.
Seems sensible to me.
I have just returned from the theatre and have heard of Pope John Paul II's expected death. I am greatly saddened of the news. Of course, it was expected though I hope that the Pope died peacefully in his final hours. I wish to pay tribute to a great holy leader. He was treasured by millions across the globe and will most certainly be missed. The world has lost a truly great Holy Father. He was a great leader and even through bad health throughout several years, he pushed on and never gave up hope. What I liked about him was that he always looked to the bright side in every situation and always remained optimistic. He was a man of peace. As a Catholic, I am greatly saddened to say farewell to the Pope.
Pope John Paul II - may you rest in peace
1920 - 2005.
Although I'm not Catholic, I fully echo Couch Potato's sentiments. History will judge Pope John Paul II as one of the most influential figures of recent times, indeed of all time.
I can't help feeling the reason that the BBC aren't dealing with actual reporting is because there isn't all that much to report. So far it's been Jeremy Bowen, Archbishop from some council, who was walking past the BBC OB Van and got put on air, the British archbishop bloke, Krakow OB, and not much else. The Pope has died, that much has been reported. They're waiting for further news now, but they've realised there's not all that much happening, so they've cut to the prepared Obits.
Seems sensible to me.
Some of the guests on tonight (and the last few days and the next few days) were fixed in the last few days, some in the last few weeks - some months ago. Tonight, no significant guest will have been grabbed "walking past the OB van" in a place with 70,000ish people assembled (and the live position is high on a rooftop).
Just been listening to some internet stations in Rome, there seems to be almost normal programming, but with a bit more speech (obviously giving the news)... Meanwhile, on the TV front, I had a look at Italian and Polish TV stations on wwITV.com and of the Italian ones I saw they were showing news coverage... and the Polish channels were off air completely or showing captions.
Channel 4 have just revealed the news themselves, with an animated caption displaying "Channel 4 News Report". One of the continuity announcers explained what happened briefly.
One thing I didn't see any channel do - and it would have been very effective - was to let the sound and pictures from St Peter's Square run without commentary for a significant chunk of time. There were some wonderful, quietly moving scenes on live tonight - but swamped by presenter/reporter voices. That's the natural adrenalin-fuelled fear of "dead air" that producers have - but they missed a trick. There's nothing better at showing what people really feel about something than... erm... showing what they really feel.