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Poppys on the News

BBC World specifically (November 2003)

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BA
Bail Moderator
Talking about Christmas trees why aren't they up on the news channels yet? It IS the season to be jolly isn't it. I mean WHSmith, Boots, Argos, Robert Dyas, McDonalds, Marks & Spencer all have there decorations up, so it must almost be that time.
KA
Katherine Founding member
Bail posted:
Talking about Christmas trees why aren't they up on the news channels yet? It IS the season to be jolly isn't it. I mean WHSmith, Boots, Argos, Robert Dyas, McDonalds, Marks & Spencer all have there decorations up, so it must almost be that time.

Why don't they combine the two and sell snow-frosted poppies?
NG
noggin Founding member
Not sure if there have been any changes recently - but the BBC News guidelines are as follows I think...

All presenters on BBC One, BBC Two and BBC News 24 should wear poppies during the period agreed within the BBC. (I think this started on Sunday). This includes BBC World presenters appearing on BBC News 24, the joint overnight service (I think) and programmes that go out on both services (such as Dateline London).

Presenters who are only appearing on BBC World follow different guidelines I think - as the Poppy is a UK (or Commonwealth?) specific symbol - and has less meaning - in fact may be confusing - to the international audiences (and more specifically non-UK audiences) that presenters who are only appearing on BBC World are broadcasting to, who may not be aware of the symbolism of the Poppy to a UK audience.
:-(
A former member
Oh really? World wont let presenters wear poppies because they're afraid that "coloured folk" will be confused?

That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. If you cant demonstrate your nation's culture on a state-sponsored television network (and dont bother telling me that World is partially private...BBC News as an organization is drinking for the Exchequer's teat), what sort of politically correct nonsense is next?
DC
dcomp11
noggin posted:
I think - as the Poppy is a UK (or Commonwealth?) specific symbol


It's a Commonwealth symbol because we wear them here in Canada as well.
RE
Re-it-er-ate
Phileas Fogg posted:
Oh really? World wont let presenters wear poppies because they're afraid that "coloured folk" will be confused?

That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. If you cant demonstrate your nation's culture on a state-sponsored television network (and dont bother telling me that World is partially private...BBC News as an organization is drinking for the Exchequer's teat), what sort of politically correct nonsense is next?


Yes - very true indeed. It should be something to be proud of not to be hidden away because some people in Singapore don't understand it.

Anyway, what was said earlier in the thread seems to be happening:
http://jolnetwork.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/captures/martine1.jpg
Martine on News 24 with Poppy.

http://jolnetwork.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/captures/martine2.jpg
Martine on World without Poppy.

Obviously taking them off.
JV
James Vertigan Founding member
Bail posted:
Talking about Christmas trees why aren't they up on the news channels yet? It IS the season to be jolly isn't it. I mean WHSmith, Boots, Argos, Robert Dyas, McDonalds, Marks & Spencer all have there decorations up, so it must almost be that time.


Well not really to do with news channels but Auction-World.TV have had their Christmas tree out since about the beginning of October!

On the shop front, my local Safeway haven't got their decorations up yet, not even their fake cone shaped tree which gets put out each year (with nothing on it may I add!) The only mention of Christmas in there at the moment is a whole aisle of Christmas stuff (food/decorations/presents)... It has to be the worst Safeway store in the country... and their claim of being "the friendliest store in town" is false advertising... there are only about 5 polite people who work there, the rest don't have an ounce of politeness... and it gets so untidy in there as well... I hope things improve when Morrisons take over!
EM
EmleyMoor
Phileas Fogg posted:
Oh really? World wont let presenters wear poppies because they're afraid that "coloured folk" will be confused?

That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. If you cant demonstrate your nation's culture on a state-sponsored television network (and dont bother telling me that World is partially private...BBC News as an organization is drinking for the Exchequer's teat), what sort of politically correct nonsense is next?


I don't think it is political correctness but a concern that viewers who are in non commonwealth countries might not understand the significance of the poppy.
I know Sky gets many e mails every year from allover the world from people asking about the significance of the "little red flower" as one correspondent put it.
PE
Pete Founding member
CPFC posted:
I know things have been less than lively on TVF lately, but please - newsreaders wearing poppies, come on!


Yes but there was a fuss last year when one of the people at World got confused over the guidelines and asked a guest to take his poppy off - much to the disgust of the Daily Mail.
NS
NickyS Founding member
Hymagumba posted:
CPFC posted:
I know things have been less than lively on TVF lately, but please - newsreaders wearing poppies, come on!


Yes but there was a fuss last year when one of the people at World got confused over the guidelines and asked a guest to take his poppy off - much to the disgust of the Daily Mail.

The whole thing blew up because of the Daily Mail. For many years no one had worried or even questioned BBC World presenters not wearing poppies. Indeed for many years presenters on the overnight service on News 24 didn't wear them because it was a joint bulletin. It was only after all the fuss that they changed the guidelines to the ones noggin mentioned.
I know when CSpan take the Commons they have to put up a caption explaining what the poppies mean. Surely if people are that distracted by them because they don't know what they are it takes away from what the newsreader is saying and that's bad.
DV
dvboy
Bail posted:
Talking about Christmas trees why aren't they up on the news channels yet? It IS the season to be jolly isn't it. I mean WHSmith, Boots, Argos, Robert Dyas, McDonalds, Marks & Spencer all have there decorations up, so it must almost be that time.

QVC have a tree!

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/r.hardy63/lee/stuff/qvctree.jpg
PE
Pete Founding member
NickyS posted:

The whole thing blew up because of the Daily Mail. For many years no one had worried or even questioned BBC World presenters not wearing poppies. Indeed for many years presenters on the overnight service on News 24 didn't wear them because it was a joint bulletin. It was only after all the fuss that they changed the guidelines to the ones noggin mentioned.


not it was become someone got confused and asked a guest to remove his - that was the problem.

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