´óÏó´«Ã½

The Glass Box for Wednesday

Comments

1. At 04:50 PM on 08 Aug 2007, witchiwoman wrote:

   It better be good - outside forces mean I'm down to 3 PMs a week; need a mid week fix!

2. At 05:25 PM on 08 Aug 2007, Frances O wrote:

   Oh, goody, Joan Bakewell reading out the PM contact details.

3. At 05:26 PM on 08 Aug 2007, eeore wrote:

   how curious, in your interview with the chap from channel 4, your repeatedly stated that 'it was not for the police to provide evidence.'

   But then no doubt you were probably being quoted out of context.

   oh and btw, good for channel 4 that they still make documentaries... unlike the ´óÏó´«Ã½ who rely on 'lifestyle' programs and propoganda

4. At 05:34 PM on 08 Aug 2007, witchiwoman wrote:

   Which First Choice hotel was that exactly?

5. At 05:36 PM on 08 Aug 2007, The Stainless Steel Cat wrote:

   So "from 6:30 to 7 we have an hour of Scottish news"? Aye right, ya numpty.

   Scots are parochial for wanting a local main news bulletin? So we have to put up with parochial London-based news instead?

   A good juxtaposition of the eminently sensible First minister and the typical New Labour scare-monger (licence fee of £1000? Rubbish.) In the computing world we call that FUD: Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt. Thait is, spurious scare-mongering from an organisation with no sensible arguements.

   This is all nonsense anyway. Why would anyone watch the idiot-box at 6pm when they can listen to the Six O'Clock news on Radio 4?

6. At 05:40 PM on 08 Aug 2007, Dave Fillary wrote:

   I support Mr Salmond - because a Scottish ´óÏó´«Ã½ might have the effect of reducing the number of Scotts broadcasting in England about English affairs about which they have no interest except for their MP's who vote on English affairs at Westminster

7. At 05:42 PM on 08 Aug 2007, wrote:

   I'm actually getting sick to death about hearing about Scotland on ´óÏó´«Ã½ Televison and Radio in England!

   Yes - whatever they want, let them have their own national news - can we have ours in England then please - and not focus on Scottish stories?

8. At 05:49 PM on 08 Aug 2007, witchiwoman wrote:

   Where exactly is that Frist Choice hotel?

9. At 06:04 PM on 08 Aug 2007, Peej wrote:

   The Scottish 6 piece was good, two well argued points of view and a good referee in the middle. There was the obvious irony of course in that the representitive of our UK broadcaster and the minister of our UK government were Scottish. Some might say that if Mr Salmond wants to hear only Scottish accents on the media he doesn't need to change a whole lot. If he gets his way will you lot need work permits?

10. At 06:10 PM on 08 Aug 2007, JimmyGiro wrote:

    The Dispatches guy didn't like the police going public! What a hypocrite!

    On the matter of Beijing, the reporter gave some fairly misleading observations:

    - The 'smog' is more likely to be the dust from the surrounding desert rather than pollution. Beijing being in the north away from the industrial areas of the middle and south.

    - The "regimented celebrations" are similar to all other Olympic hosts practising massed displays, or does the reporter think that these just turn up on the night?

    - And what country has never used steroids to enhance its weight lifters.

    I don't think the reporter earned his air ticket, or if he is a resident reporter then the ´óÏó´«Ã½ should shop around and buy him some steroids.

11. At 06:28 PM on 08 Aug 2007, wrote:

    Calling all parents - anyone thought of a old fashioned bucket and spade seaside holiday in a caravan with all the comforts of home, including provision of a cot side and a potty for that little bottom. Stroll down onto the private beach, bring home the fish for tea in the bucket!!! or stay on the beach in the sand castle you've just built. Recommended by Granny's everywhere.

    See www.kathyscaravans.com

12. At 06:30 PM on 08 Aug 2007, admin annie wrote:

    SSC - well said. and I thought Eddie was well up to standard in the way he challenged both points of view.
    Peej, you were probably being funny in your mention of scottish accents, but I don't think that's Alex Salmond's point really.
    Dave, English MPs have voted on matters affecting Scotland and Wales for several hundreds of years, I don;t think we heard any english voices at that point raised to say they shouldn't be doing it because they didn;t live in either of those countries.
    If you live in England, and particularly south east england I don;t think you notice how skewed the news is towards where you live; you need to live elsewhere to see it.

13. At 06:39 PM on 08 Aug 2007, The Stainless Steel Cat wrote:

    Jonnie (7):

    Yes - whatever they want, let them have their own national news - can we have ours in England then please - and not focus on Scottish stories?

    Mwahahahahahah! Either you're having a laugh or somehow England is getting the Scottish news while we get the English news.

    Seriously, watching national television news, I feel like I must be living on the outskirts of London. Anything not concerning London and its close surroundings is given short shrift:

    "Flooding in the north of England caused eight thousand people to lose their homes. We go straight to Surrey where a woman's blocked drain has caused minutes of tragic misery."
    
    "This afternoon a train crashed in Portsmouth. No Londoners were hurt."

    "A meteorite today destroyed the entire central belt of Scotland. Delays were expected on trains running from King's Cross."

14. At 07:27 PM on 08 Aug 2007, David Barnsdale wrote:

    You gave Mr Salmond a very easy ride. He was being very disingenuous in portraying the six o'clock news as about internationalism. You gave a far harder time to his critic who got to the heart of the matter – it is about picking apart the things that link us together. Given Salmond's politics why did you find this idea so surprising?

15. At 08:28 PM on 08 Aug 2007, DI Wyman wrote:

    nice one....spot on.....scottish news for the scots...as it should be.

    ...welsh news for the welsh.......even cornish news for the corny...

    ...but what about the rest of us...how about non Londinium news for those outside of the M25...

    ...sub - national news for all....

    ....The ´óÏó´«Ã½ it's what we do?....

    DIY

16. At 08:58 PM on 08 Aug 2007, witchiwoman wrote:

    The Frist Chioce hotle, damn you, NOW!

17. At 09:55 PM on 08 Aug 2007, Owain wrote:

    The Comment Glass Booth:

    Hi, I am tonite's editor, Owain Glyndwr (chosen I think for my impartiality)

    We thought the ones on Scotland went well. They were very balanced. Not too many Rob Roys or John Bulls.

    We are pleased to see the tradition of Commenting without having heard the item continues happily.

    Those Commentators who seek to replace Radio Player by their own recalled quotes intrigue us. Do they 'seek to replace Radio Player.....by ......quo(tation)'?

    Witchiwoman oscillates nicely between happy go lucky ecstasy and lubricated urgency. Evidently a good vibration for her.
    

18. At 10:04 PM on 08 Aug 2007, Jackie Younger wrote:

    I was shocked that on tonight's pm, the flood crisis in Asia was given only a brief mention during the headlines whereas the article about 21 men involved in antisocial behaviour during their flight abroad was deemed to warrant a 3 minute feature. Is it not of greater importance that hundreds of people have lost their lives and millions are homeless? Your programme could have used the airtime to publicise their plight and the desperate need for aid.

19. At 10:26 PM on 08 Aug 2007, Seon wrote:

    Something that neither Eddie, Mr Salmond nor any of the contributors or commentators on the Scottish broadcasting debate seem to be aware of is that the ´óÏó´«Ã½ in Scotland already produce the best news/current affairs programme in any language in the UK.

    It's called Eòrpa and is broadcast in Gaelic with English subtitles by ´óÏó´«Ã½ Alba. It looks at European stories from a Scottish, even Highland, or should I say Gàidhlig perspective. Because the programmes are made and presented by people who speak more languages than just English, and live in a minority community within a UK minority community, they offer insight and understanding of international stories that you just don't get on ITV, the ´óÏó´«Ã½'s UK service or from ´óÏó´«Ã½ Scotland.

    If you want proof that programmes produced from within a community don't have to be parochial but can broaden your horizons, please (Eddie particularly) try and get hold of some tapes - unfortunately it's only weekly and runs only in blocks of programmes rather than throughout the year.

    It seems to me that Eòrpa already offers a template for what Mr Salmond is talking about in news/current affairs terms, and it's a pity that he isn't familiar with it. (No, I don't have connection with the programme, just a viewer).

20. At 10:32 PM on 08 Aug 2007, Peter Bolt wrote:

    To put my belated, and perhaps blighted view, on Wa Ha the Jocks. I served, as a Englishman, in a Scottish Regt and spent two very happy years in Edinburgh and surrounds. It really is a very beautiful city. The peoples hospitalty knows no bounds.
    Sad to say Scotland will eventually become a separate country within the EU. It is better we divide as friends, which we will. It is a different country, What the English must do is accept it and make our own arrangements.
    

21. At 10:59 PM on 08 Aug 2007, wrote:

    Sorry Jackie, I think you're wrong. News is not just about where most people died today. It's about what's happened that affects me and mine. I'm chuffed that these morons may now be less likely to ruin my plane journeys.

    Sid
    

22. At 11:37 PM on 08 Aug 2007, Aperitif wrote:

    Hmm, well if there is going to be a Scottish 6 o'clock news is there any chance you could wangle it so that it's available in Northumberland too?* It would be much more relevant than an "English" news bulletin which, with the loss of a Scottish audience, would surely become even more South-East-centric.

    *Knowing the power you wield, Eric.

23. At 11:58 PM on 08 Aug 2007, admin annie wrote:

    yes Seon but you do have to be able to speak gaelic to watch it!

24. At 12:50 AM on 09 Aug 2007, wrote:

    Re: SSC -

    Yes, of course you are right - I banged out the comment without really reading what I'd written or properly thinking about the comment.

    I think - what I meant - was the presidence that's given to Scotland (and it's 6 million inhabitants) on a general basis.

    With all the focus on Mr Salmond, and the fact that all our recent 'heads of government' are Scottish, a reasonable percentage of our broadcasting accents are Scottish - I blew a quick fuse!

    It seemed when I was a little younger that I had more of a sense of pride about being English, rather that British, or a member of the United Kingdom. That seems to have been driven out of me - I am now getting the feeling that it's frowned upon to say you are English?

    Then - to hear this story on PM - about the Scots wanting their own National News - just hit a sore point I think. Still my gut reaction is Yes! Fine! ´óÏó´«Ã½ Scotland National News - you present it - provide the journalists and the funding - but not out of my license fee!

    As for the home counties flooding? SSC - Come on?

    I think there was plenty of diverse coverage on that one?

25. At 02:42 AM on 09 Aug 2007, wrote:

    In Scotland, we would still be able to see the London-based Six as it is also shown live on ´óÏó´«Ã½ News 24, and presumably would remain to be so.

    As for further costs in producing a Scottish Six, the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Scotland team already have journalists for national coverage, which they use for Radio Scotland's extensive news programmes. I doubt there would be that much increased cost involved.

    As for the suggestion that the ´óÏó´«Ã½ producing an hour long Scottish Six news programme on ´óÏó´«Ã½ 1 Scotland might directly lead to the break up of the United Kingdom - is anyone expected to take that argument seriously?

26. At 06:08 AM on 09 Aug 2007, The Stainless Steel Cat wrote:

    Jonnie (24):

    ´óÏó´«Ã½ Scotland National News - you present it - provide the journalists and the funding - but not out of my license fee!

    No, out of *my* licence fee. I'm sure there's some left over from Scots' fees after producing Eorpa, Radio Scotland and Balamory.

    As for the home counties flooding? SSC - Come on?

    I think there was plenty of diverse coverage on that one?

    Sorry Jonnie, but it seemed to me that the Home Counties got substantially more coverage than soggy Hull. I doubt it would even have got that without the Prescott connection.

    Plus, can you remember when Paisley was flooded a handful of years ago? Many people lost all their furniture and valued possessions, they were evacuated to church halls and the like, all very familiar.

    No?

    I wonder why that might be...

    (By the way, I'm not by nature a Nationalist, but I'm increasingly coming to the conclusion that the UK would do well to get independence from London.)

27. At 07:23 AM on 09 Aug 2007, eddie mair wrote:

    Annoyingly, I was well aware (because we discussed it beforehand) that it could be part of Mr Salmond's agenda to try to wrest broadcasting from London control (he mentioned it in passing in the int) yet didn't even ask either guest about it. The broadcasting bit is said to be part of a much bigger strategy (today's Scotsman nails the story properly). It's different from the other points raised here...and I'm annoyed with myself that I didn't raise it because it is a very important part of the bigger picture which I didn't come close to explaining on the air. My fault entirely. We even discussed it all in the "real" glass box after 1800 - Jeremy and Adam two of our producers got it spot on.

28. At 08:48 AM on 09 Aug 2007, witchiwoman wrote:

    4, 8 and 16 were not me!! Who's using my name? Am v upset but this, I feel quite betrayed.

29. At 09:38 AM on 09 Aug 2007, Eloise Twisk (edited Weds PM) wrote:

    Thanks for all the comments. I must just point out to Jackie Younger (18) that we did run a feature on the flooding in Bangladesh and India at about 5.40 last night. I wanted to run it higher up the running order, but the reporter, John Sudworth, was having problems filing. He's on his own and filing using a laptop in Bangladesh presents certain problems. the cue is below -- you can see we did highlight the emergency aid appeal being launched by Oxfam. Oh, we also led the programme with the story on Friday.

    "Millions of people affected by flooding in South Asia could face a health crisis, experts have warned. The World Health Organization and Unicef have said stagnant waters can provide "a lethal breeding ground" for disease. The international aid agency Oxfam has launched a two-million-dollar appeal to help some of the most vulnerable people hit by the monsoon flooding. PM's John Sudworth is in Bangladesh."

30. At 10:01 AM on 09 Aug 2007, wrote:

    Well in 2003, according to 'The Scotsman' the Scottish didn't want a special 'SIX' ...

    December 2003: After years of campaigning for a Scottish Six, the ´óÏó´«Ã½ relented and carried out a series of meetings and a poll. However, the results were against the idea. The survey of 1,090 people showed 45 per cent of Scots wanted to keep Reporting Scotland, while only 38 per cent wanted a Scottish Six. The rest were undecided.

    As for SSC and the licence fee:

    I've no idea how many Scottish people pay the licence fee, but believe the number of dwellings to be around two million. Now given thet the licence fee is £135 - I wonder how far 235 million pounds would go torwards mainting the infrustructure of television and radio transmitters, digital implementation, buildings, maintenance, editorial costs, ...... if England was taken out of the equation?

31. At 10:10 AM on 09 Aug 2007, Simon Worrall wrote:

    Eddie;
    I can well understand that you don't comment about your personal viewpoint on the many stories that you cover. But surely the notion of a Scots ´óÏó´«Ã½ news programme for Scotland gets very close to home for you?

    I wasn't clear whether Mr. Salmond desires to simply have the ´óÏó´«Ã½ produce such a programme, or whether it applies to all news bulletins/channels, or even if it touches on all broadcast news in every form? Does he desire to control and regulate national news media outlets from Edinburgh and Balkanise the news in Britain?

    How far does the principle stretch? Should our Blog correspondent who signs 'Lady from Auchtermuchty' have a ´óÏó´«Ã½ bulletin for her parish? Should town mayors and village councils subvert Salmond and demand parochial news programmes? Having demanded subsidiarity he'd be in no position to refuse it to others at lower levels than his own.

    But what I'd really like to know is *your* opinion about *your own* situation, should he get his wish granted? It's like a journalistic slant on the West Lothian question. If Scotland achieves full subsidiarity and regulation over news media in Scotland where does that leave journos of Scottish ancestry working in other countries of the U.K.?

    Your legal right to work in England would remain unaltered, but what about your moral right to keep English/Welsh journos out of your job, when Scotland has its own broadcast news systems? Could you (and all other Scots in British news media) continue to do your job effectively with that kind of question being directed your way?

    On the upside it might mean that Andrew 'Brillo' Neill (yes, I know it's a deliberate mis-spelling, I'm a Private Eye reader) has to be banished from being involved in English news. There's one possible bonus.

    It doesn't have to be controversial (and frankly I expect you to decline this request), but I'd be interested in what you personally feel about such a situation arising.

    Si.

32. At 11:15 AM on 09 Aug 2007, wrote:

    Whenever I visit my parents in the west of Scotland, I exasperate my mother by having no idea what's going on north of the border.

    Freak weather?
    Escalating cost of new parliament building?
    Latest blow to the fishing industry?
    Murders and drugs crime?
    Organised crime driving small taxi firms out of business?

    Nothing.

    The BRITISH Broadcasting Corporation should use the pseudonym John Wyndham invented in the Kraken Wakes:

    ENGLISH B. C.

    Most Scots don't particularly want to scrap the Union. They/we/I just want it to feel more .. well .. united.

    Fifi

33. At 05:44 PM on 09 Aug 2007, Aperitif wrote:

    Fifi (32) I agree and would add that some of us who live (just) in England feel the same!

34. At 06:16 PM on 13 Aug 2007, Roger Howard wrote:

    Has the ´óÏó´«Ã½ gone mad? "Sounds of summer" replacing 6 pm Big Ben chimes is bad enough ...but for those sounds being the "sounds of Delhi" is a total disgrace. This really is unacceptable.

    A few chattering people and the odd car horn. And for what? Are you sure it wasn't Cairo?

    If you are to play with our ears in so cavalier a fashion why not have the sound of British birdsong, or Morris Dancers, or Town Criers, or the bat and ball of a Test Match? Or perhaps the sound of children at a British seaside? Why not the sound of the harvest - which is in full swing - or perhaps the sound of walkers in the Lake District?

    But no, this is the ´óÏó´«Ã½ - the 'Bash Britain Corporation' as is so sadly evident these days...

    
    

35. At 07:45 PM on 13 Aug 2007, Aperitif wrote:

    Roger (34) I could've let the rest of your tirade go, but calling for bird"song"??? Grr.