DV
Remarkable considering the relegation of religious coverage on the BBC that the coverage was as good as it was. For the first state visit of the Pontiff (who after all is the Spiritual leader of in excess of 1Billion globally) to the UK 'ever' the level of coverage has been rightly enhanced. The UK is the centre of attention globally for four days so it's right that National coverage should be commensurate with that.
I'm concerned that the bulk of events of tomorrow in London seem to be demoted to the News Channels, with the exception of Evening Prayer in Westminster Abbey.
As for the boring expense argument it's clear from the crowds that the alleged £12M cost has already been repaid by the tourists and journalists from all over the World that have visited to engage in or report on the events. If a P&L account was done I suspect a considerable 'profit' will be made by UKplc on it.
I'm concerned that the bulk of events of tomorrow in London seem to be demoted to the News Channels, with the exception of Evening Prayer in Westminster Abbey.
As for the boring expense argument it's clear from the crowds that the alleged £12M cost has already been repaid by the tourists and journalists from all over the World that have visited to engage in or report on the events. If a P&L account was done I suspect a considerable 'profit' will be made by UKplc on it.
NH
Nick Harvey
Founding member
I was somewhat amused by a comment I heard earlier this evening.
"His absolute belief in God has to be called into question when you realise that the PopeMobile has bullet-proof glass."
Nice one!
"His absolute belief in God has to be called into question when you realise that the PopeMobile has bullet-proof glass."
Nice one!
BR
Is it really - admittedly not the full picture but it's not exactly top story on cnn.com - and only seems to be covered from the abuse angle - whilst news.com.au doesn't seem to mention it at all. And the British media doesn't exactly track the Pope around the world on other state visits. No other spiritual leader would be afforded such airtime by the BBC, and frankly any catholic putting importance on this man really has to question what exactly it is they believe in.
Remarkable considering the relegation of religious coverage on the BBC that the coverage was as good as it was. For the first state visit of the Pontiff (who after all is the Spiritual leader of in excess of 1Billion globally) to the UK 'ever' the level of coverage has been rightly enhanced. The UK is the centre of attention globally for four days so it's right that National coverage should be commensurate with that.
Is it really - admittedly not the full picture but it's not exactly top story on cnn.com - and only seems to be covered from the abuse angle - whilst news.com.au doesn't seem to mention it at all. And the British media doesn't exactly track the Pope around the world on other state visits. No other spiritual leader would be afforded such airtime by the BBC, and frankly any catholic putting importance on this man really has to question what exactly it is they believe in.
IS
Total overkill, has the BBC News Channel or Sky actually done any other news today at all?
I couldn't bear watching more than a few minutes of the fawning coverage... and there's another 3 days of it.
I couldn't bear watching more than a few minutes of the fawning coverage... and there's another 3 days of it.
IS
I think that was a Billy Connolly line
In the few minutes I did actually watch I heard the BBC commentator say a line about how many millions of years the volcano that Edinburgh Castle sits on is... yes because the belief in an earth hundreds of millions of years old is a well known part of catholic dogma!
I was somewhat amused by a comment I heard earlier this evening.
"His absolute belief in God has to be called into question when you realise that the PopeMobile has bullet-proof glass."
Nice one!
"His absolute belief in God has to be called into question when you realise that the PopeMobile has bullet-proof glass."
Nice one!
I think that was a Billy Connolly line
In the few minutes I did actually watch I heard the BBC commentator say a line about how many millions of years the volcano that Edinburgh Castle sits on is... yes because the belief in an earth hundreds of millions of years old is a well known part of catholic dogma!
Last edited by Inspector Sands on 17 September 2010 1:09am
IS
I look forward to the state visit of the Ayatollah next year!
(yes I know it's a bit different as the pope is unique in terms of being a religious leader and that he in nominally a leader of a state, even though it's on a par with Disney World)
I don't think that will make up for the considerable cost - the £12 million figure being bandied around doesn't include policing costs, the total cost of this visit will be considerably more.
I don't see a big tourist rush from abroad to see him, and all the tickets were given out/sold in the UK (also why would someone come here to get a brief glimpse of him this weekend when they can go to Italy any other time of the year?). I'm not sure how you think that the foreign journalists over here this weekend will be offsetting the cost either, the VAT on a few nights in hotels isn't going to amount to much.
Remarkable considering the relegation of religious coverage on the BBC that the coverage was as good as it was. For the first state visit of the Pontiff (who after all is the Spiritual leader of in excess of 1Billion globally) to the UK 'ever' the level of coverage has been rightly enhanced. The UK is the centre of attention globally for four days so it's right that National coverage should be commensurate with that.
I look forward to the state visit of the Ayatollah next year!
(yes I know it's a bit different as the pope is unique in terms of being a religious leader and that he in nominally a leader of a state, even though it's on a par with Disney World)
Quote:
As for the boring expense argument it's clear from the crowds that the alleged £12M cost has already been repaid by the tourists and journalists from all over the World that have visited to engage in or report on the events. If a P&L account was done I suspect a considerable 'profit' will be made by UKplc on it.
I don't think that will make up for the considerable cost - the £12 million figure being bandied around doesn't include policing costs, the total cost of this visit will be considerably more.
I don't see a big tourist rush from abroad to see him, and all the tickets were given out/sold in the UK (also why would someone come here to get a brief glimpse of him this weekend when they can go to Italy any other time of the year?). I'm not sure how you think that the foreign journalists over here this weekend will be offsetting the cost either, the VAT on a few nights in hotels isn't going to amount to much.
Last edited by Inspector Sands on 17 September 2010 1:02pm - 2 times in total
JW
I see that Anna Botting has lent her British Airways uniform to Helen Willets today on BBC World weather. Not that I particularly watch what people are wearing, you understand..................
All things considered, I thought that the Sky News coverage of the Papal visit was rather good and well balanced. As one of the previous posters mentioned, let's not forget that the Pope is a global head of state with more following than any other denomination of the same headed structure.
I thought the coverage was actually more balanced than I expected it to be.
All things considered, I thought that the Sky News coverage of the Papal visit was rather good and well balanced. As one of the previous posters mentioned, let's not forget that the Pope is a global head of state with more following than any other denomination of the same headed structure.
I thought the coverage was actually more balanced than I expected it to be.
GS
Isn't it funny how the cost issue seems "boring" to the same people who will lament the "squanderous" previous Government?
Do you really think that Edinburgers or Weegies coming out of their house to line some streets puts money in the kitty?
I find that deliciously rich.
Gavin Scott
Founding member
As for the boring expense argument it's clear from the crowds that the alleged £12M cost has already been repaid by the tourists and journalists from all over the World that have visited to engage in or report on the events. If a P&L account was done I suspect a considerable 'profit' will be made by UKplc on it.
Isn't it funny how the cost issue seems "boring" to the same people who will lament the "squanderous" previous Government?
Do you really think that Edinburgers or Weegies coming out of their house to line some streets puts money in the kitty?
I find that deliciously rich.
EX
Yes
Total overkill, has the BBC News Channel or Sky actually done any other news today at all?
Yes
IT
itsrobert
Founding member
Channel 4 News last night demonstrated once again the pitfalls of having a presenter on location. Jon Snow was at the Papal Mass in Glasgow last night and he could hardly be heard against the backdrop of constant singing. The sound mixer must have had an awful time trying to deal with that difficult situation. It was particularly bad when Snow was trying to conduct a double interview/debate and the singing could still be heard while the interviewees were talking. It made it very uncomfortable and difficult for the viewer to follow what was going on.
It begs the question: did they really need Jon Snow to anchor the programme from the Mass? Alex Thompson provided the main (and, incidentally, excellent) report and Snow's only other participation in the programme was a recorded piece about the build-up to the event in Glasgow and a live interview with Alex Salmond, which could easily have been conducted from the studio in London. Kylie Morris hosted most of the programme as she was back in London with the rest of the day's news. Don't misunderstand me, I do think some situations warrant a presenter being on location (e.g. something on the scale of the 9/11 attacks where most, if not all, of the programme will be centred on that story) but for the most part it's a complete waste of time and, in many examples, detracts from the programme rather than enriching it. Surely the powers that be could have worked out that hosting a programme from a live Mass would be challenging from an audio perspective?
It begs the question: did they really need Jon Snow to anchor the programme from the Mass? Alex Thompson provided the main (and, incidentally, excellent) report and Snow's only other participation in the programme was a recorded piece about the build-up to the event in Glasgow and a live interview with Alex Salmond, which could easily have been conducted from the studio in London. Kylie Morris hosted most of the programme as she was back in London with the rest of the day's news. Don't misunderstand me, I do think some situations warrant a presenter being on location (e.g. something on the scale of the 9/11 attacks where most, if not all, of the programme will be centred on that story) but for the most part it's a complete waste of time and, in many examples, detracts from the programme rather than enriching it. Surely the powers that be could have worked out that hosting a programme from a live Mass would be challenging from an audio perspective?