It's Tuesday lunchtime and you're the news editor of Daily News, a 24-hour news channel on a fairly quiet news day five years from now.
Suddenly, you see on the news wires a report that Home Secretary Peter Broad has been arrested. One of your journalists telephones New Scotland Yard but is told nothing apart from the fact that there will be a press conference there in an hour. However, another reporter has heard that Broad has been caught in possession of heroin.
Meanwhile, a separate news wire reports that 16 year-old pop superstar, Pixie Innocent has been rushed to hospital believed to be suffering from a severe allergic reaction. You phone the hospital. Staff there say there will be a press conference in an hour at the hospital in St Albans. You have only got one camera crew in London, and it's currently on its way to New Scotland Yard.
Question 1
Based on the evidence you have so far, which story would send your crew and truck to cover live?
a) Political scandal press conference
b) Pop Star Nut Allergy Drama
(answer coming soon)
MV
Mr Voiceover
I'd send the camera crew to the political story because:
Popstars going into hospital is nothing new (there was hardly any coverage of Geri Halliwell's liposuction)
A cabinet minister being arrested would be huge news, and there would probably be news reports breaking on channels such as BBC and ITV.
I agree with Mr v/o. I think that the story would get more attention over politics, than a popstar in hospital. Although, if I had two i would send both, as younger people want to know whta is happenning to thier idle.
It depends on what time of day, or what news service it is. If I was doing Entertainment news, I would focus on popstar. If I was doing Early evening news, popstar (as younger people would watch that) If it was News at [wh / T]en I would do politics.
Although, if it was 5years from now, the election would have finished a year ago, so noone really cares about politics. Mainly, I would pick popstar.
(Note to BBC: I'm not always this indecisive)
If this was your choice then you're thinking along the same lines as BBC, ITN and Sky - who all said they would send the truck to cover the political story live.
BBC - 'We would try to cover both stories but would send the truck to The Home Secretary Press Conference.' Sky - 'The political story has more intrigue about it.' ITN - 'We would say there had been reports that Peter Broad has been arrested and move somewhere down the line of being arrested with drugs if we think our source is good, without saying that's definitely the case.'
b) Pop Star Nut Allergy Drama
You're on your own. Although they would try and cover the drama, all three broadcasters felt at this stage that the Home Secretary drugs scandal was the more compelling story. However, by being the only one to cover the Pixie Press Conference live, you could cut a deal with one of the other broadcasters to exchange your live pictures for theirs of the political crisis.
A source telephones to offer you a video containing footage of Pixie's party where she supposedly was discovered to be suffering from the 'nut allergy'.
The source says it will cost £10,000 to see it - 'and it'll be well worth it'. He sends over a clip of the video by email which shows Pixie in a corner of a nightclub saying to the camera, 'come on Eddie, you said you'd let me try. Put the camera down, I'll make it so worth your while'.
Meanwhile, one of your online journalists, trawling the internet, finds a German website which claims Pixie was rushed to hospital suffering from an overdose. When you look it up on the net you see the headline 'the truth behind the lies - who is supplying little Miss Innocent with her fix?' Underneath, is a grainy photo of Pixie and Edward Baker - the PM's son - in the night-club, with what looks like a syringe.
Question 2
Do you spend the £10,000 to buy the video?
a) Yes
b) No
Answer in 15 mins!
SZ
Sub Zero
Why thanks!
See BBC, I am indecisive but so are you!
Yes. It would be worth buying it. The number of viewers watching that news bulletin would cover the cost (repeatledly). The news story would then be used by other news teams (I think they have to pay for copy of footage???).
The news would be important to the country, as if the PM can't keep up with his son, what chance does he have with a nation? (i'm guessing we're talking about Tony B
liar
. - kidding! )The 'nut allergy' case would be seconded and the PM's son would come first. The dealing is an offence and would be dealt with immediatley. Although the picture looks like the PM's son, we have no proof it is him, no i wouldn't say it was him.
And, I would mention the german site, but not use it as a reliable source. (They said Bounty would soak up, as the strongest - it didn't! What chance have they got for trustworthy info?)
It would have to come out of a reliable source of Germany.
Interesting - it's potentially a great scoop; but you don't know for sure whether you're getting a fantastic exclusive or a total dud until you've forked out the money that could be used elsewhere.
Sky said that they'd spend the 10k but wouldn't necessarily use it yet. However, buying it stops the other broadcasters having it.
b) No
Being cautious with your money at this stage may be wise, especially as you don't really know that much about the story and don't know what is actually on that tape. However you know that if you say no, the source is going to offer what could be a huge exclusive to one of your rivals.
The BBC and ITN both chose this option:
ITN said it would try and negotiate to see more of it without committing money. BBC said they would try to find out a bit more about the story first on their own backs, to see if it's true.
