- Kevin Bakhurst
- 10 Nov 06, 04:13 PM
News 24 has just carried the live statement by the BNP's Nick Griffin and Mark Collett .
The comments were highly charged and Mr Griffin attacked the government, the Crown Prosecution Service and the 大象传媒. They called the 大象传媒 "cockroaches".
Of course it's always a risk carrying these live events when they are heated and the individuals have a track-record of controversial and outspoken views, and it's an interesting position for the 大象传媒 to be reporting in an impartial way while being attacked like that.
Yet I'm sure it's absolutely right that we were there and carried the comments live. Today's case raised the very current issue of freedom of speech and what is - and isn't - acceptable in today's Britain. Carrying - and testing - a complete range of legal views that represent the various constituencies across the UK is crucially important to the 大象传媒's reputation for fairness.
Kevin Bakhurst is controller of 大象传媒 News
- David Jordan
- 10 Nov 06, 01:14 PM
Jon Snow of Channel Four News has said on his that he has chosen not to wear a poppy on air, though he does wear one in his personal life. His view is that any symbol is a distraction. He's discovered, or perhaps he already knew, that it is a controversial viewpoint.
As far as the 大象传媒 is concerned, presenters or reporters appearing on television can wear poppies if they want to. There is no rule that tells them they must do so. It is a matter of individual choice. The 大象传媒 does give some guidance on when to wear them, so that we can have some sort of uniformity on screen, though there is some flexibility in that too. We suggest starting to wear poppies a couple of weeks before Remembrance Sunday. That's roughly when the Royal British Legion officially starts selling them. This year they started to do so on Saturday 28 October.
Buying and wearing poppies is an entirely voluntary act in society, and we don't believe it should be any different for newsreaders or presenters. There are some places in the UK - Northern Ireland, for example - where wearing a poppy has been a controversial thing to do. It may be difficult for some foreign correspondents. And it may be inappropriate for some activities. So it wouldn't be right for us to issue an all-encompassing directive to all of our reporters and presenters to wear poppies. People have different views about it and find themselves in different situations at home and abroad.
And there is no guarantee that every presenter or reporter who wants to wear one in this period will always be seen doing so. Some TV is made a long time before it is shown and often the participants don't know when the programme will be transmitted. Nor is there a guarantee that presenters won't wear them earlier than suggested . Politicians seem to acquire poppies very early, so on some news and current affairs programmes you may find the presenter doing so too.
I have been asked whether presenters might be pressured by editors to wear poppies before they go on air. This shouldn't happen. But as the controversy sparked by Jon Snow has shown, there is clearly the potential that not wearing one might cause some controversy. In my experience editors and producers usually point this out to presenters and make it clear they might have to answer complaints if they don't wear one. But that's not the same as applying pressure - that's simply a matter of pointing out the consequences of their actions
David Jordan is controller, Editorial Policy
- Peter Barron
- 10 Nov 06, 11:46 AM
It may have an ugly acronym but UGC is the current media darling. It's not hard to see why user generated content is so attractive. With millions of potential newsgatherers wielding mobile phones and cameras, it means they can capture anything newsworthy or entertaining that moves. If, as a media organisation, you can get it to come your way - kerr-ching.
But in the related field of current affairs, UGC hasn't roared yet. Al Gore's has led the way in broadcasting films made by the public, but while 7/7 and the Buncefield fire have been the obvious big UGC hits in news, and whacky "You've been framed" type pictures do the rounds from YouTube, there hasn't yet been a really memorable and arresting bit of current affairs. Indeed, the first wave of TV democratisation - Video Nation - has had much more impact than anything from the new wave.
We're aiming to change that by launching the more smoothly titled Oh My Newsnight (homage to the in this area. Newsnight already receives loads of high quality UGC in the form of text - check out for example Vikingar's almost nightly essays complete with sources and footnotes - but very little in a form we could put on TV.
So early next year we're offering slots on the programme for short films and pieces of video made by viewers. It doesn't have to be high quality (see Jeremy's effort ) but it does have to say something interesting about the world we live in. Given that large numbers of you tell us on a nightly basis how we should be tackling the war in Iraq, climate change, Madonna etc, it would be disappointing not to see and hear what you would like to say on the programme.
What do you get out of it? A chance to speak to a million viewers. A chance to make TV history. And, I hope, a warm glow.
For details of how to take part .
Peter Barron is editor of Newsnight
- Steve Martin
- 10 Nov 06, 11:37 AM
I promised to let you know when you could hear and comment on the finalists in our young broadcaster competition. Well, the time has come - the shortlist of contenders is here. Over to you.
Steve Martin is on air editor, 大象传媒 World Service
Guardian: Jeremy Vine to present revamped Panorama ()
Daily Mail: Foreign secretary criticises broadcasters for interviewing extremist Muslims (No link)
Daily Telegraph: I won't bow to 'poppy fascists', says Channel 4's Jon Snow ()
Daily Telegraph: Head of MI5 says life is not as simple as Spooks ()
Independent: Obituary for 大象传媒 Radio Norfolk's John Taylor - "widely acknowledged to be the oldest presenter working in local radio". ()
