John Stonborough F.C.I.P.R.

‘3 Hours’

I had a tetchy email from a Mr PD who takes issue with a fleeting reference in an earlier post about the BBC World Service programme Outlook. He writes
‘what is wrong with Outlook? This is the programme that helped keep sane Terry Waite and the other Beirut hostages, and they were quick to pay tribute to the World Service for that when they were freed…’
Cool your jets, mate, I like Outlook, I just ought to be asleep at ‘3 hours’ or what ever the blasted World Service (and nobody else) calls 3am, and so should you. I also recommend their website, where you can get your Outlook badge and ‘listen again’ to riveting items about Nigerian villages where men and women speak separate languages; sounds familiar. Maybe a Nigerian reporter would like to visit our house.

or as Wittgenstein said

so I said, ‘an interview is no time for an original thought.’
and Wittgenstein said, ‘Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must be silent’.
Ummmm

Dracula Vernacular

What with it being Halloween, we need fresh blood – not literally, but a couple of presentation trainers (not media trainers) who really know their stuff to join the team. Someone who understands visual aids, timing, presentation, writing for speech, and everything that goes with multimedia delivery, even a couple of good jokes would be a blessing. Get in touch. Tonight.

Here’s a Sample bad joke:

How do they describe the Test Match on Transylvanian TV?
The Vampire strikes Bat.

Calling All Insomniacs

Fed up with listening to Outlook on the BBC World Service - well try this.

“Welcome to (BBC) Editorial Policy’s new monthly Newsletter. As part of the redesign of the Editorial Guidelines website the Newsletter will feature updates and information about current editorial policy issues in one easy to digest portion. Please subscribe to the newsletter by using the button above, and contact the Editorial Policy team if you have any questions.” David Jordan (Controller, Editorial Policy)
and here’s his picture:

Thanks Dave I have (you click subscribe on the web site) and I look forward to receiving my first edition shortly.

Radio 5 Live but not kicking

“BBC programmes should be based on fairness, openness and straight dealing. Contributors should be treated honestly and with respect”.

Fine words right from the beginning of the BBC Guidelines, but often ignored - Panorama please take note - so was nice to see a BBC Radio 5 Live email setting out clearly what a programme was about and what they wanted in advance. The target of my praise is Martin Bedford, Editor of the excellent Sunday evening biz spot ‘Ask the Boss’ presented by Jeff Randall.

Here’s just a taste….

….will be going to our Leeds studio. Please let me know if you would like us to arrange some transport. He will need to be in the studio from around 7pm. I’ll schedule a short “hit” with him somewhere near the top of the show to ellicit maximum response from our listeners. Then he’ll do the main interview from 7.30. That slot will consist of two types of questions. Those texted and emailed by our listeners (vetted by my staff) which obviously we can’t prepare him for. And “corporate” questions from Jeff. I outline below the sorts of areas these will cover:
He then listed a dozen ‘questions’ and added

It would also be helpful if I could talk through some of these so that I can brief Jeff on what he will say. If I have missed anything, please get in touch.

My only beef is that audio of R5Live itself is SO BAD. Unlistenable to on 909 in the car. It sounds like a short wave TX 2000 miles up the Amazon - not that I have ever been there, but you get my point. I suppose my next car will have to have digital, along with SatNav, hydrogen (emission free, as Ken calls it) fuel cells (since when Ken is water not an emission, eh?), a government-road-use-snooper-device and a hands free bluetooth thingy. Can’t wait.