Did you hear the author Phyllis James - a most delightful woman to meet incidentally - interview (rip into) BBC DG Mark Thompson on the Today prog just now? She said the BBC, which is nearly as old as her (90), is unwieldy, bureaucratic, ageist, overbloated and had lost its way. As an ex-BBC Governor, Lady James had the info to hand to prove her case. He didn’t stand a chance!
I wonder if, when the BBC invited this ’sweet little old lady’ to be a guest editor on Today, they had any idea what an intellect more lethal than a gin-trap actually means. Well they know now!
Click to Comment // Posted on Thursday 31 December 2009 // General
From today’s California Chronicle; Sam, the Man in the Know
http://www.californiachronicle.com/articles/yb/139090495
Q: What was the only on-air arrest? (asks) Geoff Martin, Motherwell
A: The Capital Radio show PDQ was hosted by John Stonborough. In March, 1983, he interviewed Derek Barnes about his minicab firm. When accused of fraud, Barnes tried to walk out but ex-policeman JS made a citizen’s arrest. Since it was sub judice, the episode could not be broadcast until the following October when Barnes was jailed for four years at Reading Crown Court.
What Sam doesn’t know is that Barnes wrote to me from Reading jail and asked for a ‘cassette’ of the programme, which he had missed. What I want to know is why a chap living in Motherwell, Glasgow presumably, is writing to a Californian news web-site?
Click to Comment // Posted on Saturday 19 December 2009 // General
I am just finalising an Ofcom Fairness complaint about a C4 programme for a client. Nothing new there. The rule is, or was until today, that TV complaints had to be submitted to Ofcom within 90 days. NOT any more. The new limit is 20 days. If you need to contact them for an extension, here is the address.
Ofcom
OCC Broadcast Team Riverside House
2a Southwark Bridge Road London
SE1 9HA
Tel: 020 7981 3040 Fax: 020 7981 3334
Email: occbroadcast@ofcom.org.uk
And the new 2009 Ofcom Broadcasting Code is here: http://bit.ly/58kUPP
Click to Comment // Posted on Wednesday 16 December 2009 // General