He likes to spread his wngs as well. Martin Popplewell. Started at channel 5, went to BBC News (though I only ever saw him reading the interactive bulletins!), and now to sky. Perhaps he likes a change now and again!
Actually Martin started at BBC News ... he was a presenter on South Today, then came to News 24 and presented UK Today, then he went to 5, he's now AFAIK freelance and was reporting on N24 the other day.
He likes to spread his wngs as well. Martin Popplewell. Started at channel 5, went to BBC News (though I only ever saw him reading the interactive bulletins!), and now to sky. Perhaps he likes a change now and again!
Actually Martin started at BBC News ... he was a presenter on South Today, then came to News 24 and presented UK Today, then he went to 5, he's now AFAIK freelance and was reporting on N24 the other day.
and IMO he's just what the channel needs - a fresh, young, lively presenter. He should be used more often.
My God, I hate this whole "young people are great" attitude that's invaded just about every TV newsroom in the country.
I'd much, much, much rather listen to a 65 year old duffer who's read up on his subject for the past few decades than a 25 year old just-graduated pretty boy/girl who's got most of their background info from the internet.
Well for my first comment after returning this second from Orlando Florida, is...
Bob Friend could kick the crap theoretically out of any other newsreader in UK Television!
It is alot easier to take an older person seriously and trust what they are saying is accurate, than some 20-30 year old who tries to add a twist to telling you the news...
He likes to spread his wngs as well. Martin Popplewell. Started at channel 5, went to BBC News (though I only ever saw him reading the interactive bulletins!), and now to sky. Perhaps he likes a change now and again!
Actually Martin started at BBC News ... he was a presenter on South Today, then came to News 24 and presented UK Today, then he went to 5, he's now AFAIK freelance and was reporting on N24 the other day.
Actually Martin Popplewell used to stand in for Chris Lowe at weekends and present with Anna Jones. He also took part in the Monarchy programme with David Dimbleby. I think age and boyish looks got in his way at BBC News 24. Shame coz he's a good presenter.
My God, I hate this whole "young people are great" attitude that's invaded just about every TV newsroom in the country.
I'd much, much, much rather listen to a 65 year old duffer who's read up on his subject for the past few decades than a 25 year old just-graduated pretty boy/girl who's got most of their background info from the internet.
Because the average age of male presenter at News 24 must be on the wrong side of 50 - with Sissons, Hayton, Chris Lowe - all very good presenters - it just needs to be more balanced out overall.
Yeah but the likes of Popplewell, Tim Willcox, Matthew Amroliwala, Peter Dobbie, Jon Sopel, Chris Eakin probably bring the average age of the male presenter on News 24 down quite a bit - 40s somewhere. More intersting question would be the average of the women presenters - most under 35 I'd say.
My God, I hate this whole "young people are great" attitude that's invaded just about every TV newsroom in the country.
I'd much, much, much rather listen to a 65 year old duffer who's read up on his subject for the past few decades than a 25 year old just-graduated pretty boy/girl who's got most of their background info from the internet.
Because the average age of male presenter at News 24 must be on the wrong side of 50 - with Sissons, Hayton, Chris Lowe - all very good presenters - it just needs to be more balanced out overall.
Again... Why?
You are suggesting that it needs to be balanced out for what reason?
Because it attracts a younger audience? Bollocks.
Presenters should be the most knowledgable of them all - they have to deal with tonnes of different situations, many with little information at all available, many unscripted and unprepared for, many requiring a good knowledge of past events and so forth. Journalism is also the sort of profession whereby you learn the most on the job, not at Oxbridge. You cannot tell me that a 25 year old has learnt as much about how to report (or not, in some instances) as a 65 year old.
Well I'm sory, but In my opinion - I do prefer older and more experienced presenters such as Buerk and Sissons on programmes, such as the 10 O Clock News.
But on a rolling, live, always active news channel - there needs to be a balance between experience and liveliness. IMO, the best presenters at News 24 are the more experienced males, but it doesn't give the channel a sense of pace or activeness. Especially since nearly ALL of the women there are very young and and have little experience. It would be a lot more refreshing to see the presenters with more energy, I think its fair to say that Chris Eakin, as a presenter, has more energy and life than Peter Sissons.
Sky News achieves activeness & a feeling of being live by presentation and the actual agenda of the hours of news. For example; Sky News Today has more pace than ANY of the BBC News 24 bulletins, since Martin and Julie are constantly moving and re-freshing the headlines. With News 24 its just a One / Six / Ten O Clock bulletin re-read over and over again, and this needs changing, as well as making the presenters seem more awake, and less like a retirement home.
The Sky News Tribute site - http://skynewstribute.co.uk has more news on their front page about this.
It also mentions about the Sky Copter which is nearly ready for proper action and will be used a few times every week from the end of this month.