Newswatch
| 10:33 UK time, Monday, 23 April 2007
On this week's Newswatch, the programme which discusses viewers' complaints about Â鶹Éç TV News, Alison Ford, UK news editor, responds to criticisms that the Â鶹Éç’s coverage of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s relationship was no better than that of the paparazzi.
You can watch the programme by clicking here.
Comments
One of the problems with Newswatch is that there is no follow up. On this latest programme we had that rare event, a Â鶹Éç producer conceding that, just perhaps, some questioning was intrusive. So what happens now? New guidelines? Reporter in question disciplined? Who knows?
The dealing with the Royal story is completely off the mark. Why is it that the other story that could have lead that day, the other story that could have been chosen, was one of the biggest explosions and mass deaths in Iraq for nearly four years. 200 people are dead. But somehow, the Â鶹Éç was not guilty for not putting this first.
Anybody can say "It's difficult, but side A wins" to their audience, when side B is not even mentioned! Why not say what the competing story was, and see how your Newswatch audience like that?
This is not responding to criticisms. This is defensive rhetoric designed to fob off people the Â鶹Éç has no interest in pleasing.
And it hasn't worked.