The usual formal version of the BBC1 Christmas pudding ident was used this evening to introduce the newsflash regarding the Asian Earthquake. Very bad idea IMO. I know, it's Christmas, but this is a very serious and solumn matter. I think that they should have used a silent still of ballet instead.
I would like to express my dismay at the BBC for choosing to link "The Great Wave, BBC News Special" with the "Asian earthquake appeal" by using one of the current Christmas idents.
It was a poor act of judgement to fade from a parent with a dead child in his arms to children larking in the snow.
I felt this was not only in poor taste but helped to reduce the effectiveness of the appeal which followed.
It's about time a clock was introduced - using even the most formal dancer ident is completely unappropriate. At 12:00PM on 31st August 1997, the morning when Princess Diana died, neither the revolving "1" globe or its variant clock were used. Instead the old BBC logo was displayed, with the narrator explaing the morning's tragic news.
The usual formal version of the BBC1 Christmas pudding ident was used this evening to introduce the newsflash regarding the Asian Earthquake. Very bad idea IMO. I know, it's Christmas, but this is a very serious and solumn matter. I think that they should have used a silent still of ballet instead.
I would like to express my dismay at the BBC for choosing to link "The Great Wave, BBC News Special" with the "Asian earthquake appeal" by using one of the current Christmas idents.
It was a poor act of judgement to fade from a parent with a dead child in his arms to children larking in the snow.
I felt this was not only in poor taste but helped to reduce the effectiveness of the appeal which followed.
I disagree. There was no reason why the Christmas Idents couldn't have been shown. It is Christmas and however bad the tragedy was, our lives have to continue. The very respectful and dignified CA introduced the programme with the utmost sympathatic tones and the music was lowered and the puddings were in slow motion. I think, actually, that with the majority of the country, the BBC were far more concerned with the terrible, tragic events rather than worrying about what ident to use.
One thing is clear though, the effectiveness of the appeal is going to be undermined if we continually hear about the tidal wave for excessive lengths of time. There is only so many times we can be told that there was an Earthquake and that thousands have died. Even on local news we get it. I havn't a clue what's going on locally now because we don't hear about it.
All they need to tell us is how many people have died and not go on and on and on showing the same pictures day after day after day. It's ridiculous and makes me think that news organisations love these stories just to try and deliver the most dignified coverage.
I think, actually, that with the majority of the country, the BBC were far more concerned with the terrible, tragic events rather than worrying about what ident to use.
I agree with your sentiment but we are discussing TV presentation here. It is one persons job to worry about specifically what presentation is used. The people in current affairs do the worrying about how to report the tragic events. To say that the person in presentation was overcome with emotion and did something a bit wrong is not likely.
If they have no options for a sombre announcement then they need to get one. What did they do for 9/11?
