Shrew Media

New Year, new site

2007-01-01T19:59:00.000Z

The Stoat has moved to a new site for the new year! Thought it was about time to drag myself out of the dark ages... Take a look at Media Stoat

Driving Home for New Year

2006-12-31T20:30:00.000Z

Well, for once the weather forecast was right. I'm home after driving pretty much the full length of the M1 motorway with most of it drenched in spray, hurling down with rain, strong and gusty winds and - through the Midlands - mist. Nice. So after 200 miles my shoulders are shot but the beer is poured, and the nibbles of French sausage, Turkish Delight and Mini Cheddars are going down a treat. There's candle light, because the fuse for the lights has gone and we don't have any spare, whilst musical accompainment is seaping through the wall from next door's party (wouldn't be so bad, but no taste whatsoever!!).

Have to say though that Radio Five Live did themselves proud with a pre-recorded programme this evening - the film review programme was a re-run from Christmas Day, but at least the intro and outro was re-recorded to reflect this, and apparently, the programme re-ran the same web-cam pictures. That's a very clever idea if that actually happened, but I was doing 45mph on the M1 in a monsoon at the time, so can't prove it.

So as the old year turns new, the news agenda keeps turning, so I'll leave you (on UK time) with this thought from Lost Remote on the Saddam-hanging material that's doing the rounds on the net courtesy of a mobile phone (and someone was taking still pictures, too, I note from this evening's news). I tend to agree with the posting, 2007 will be interesting.

Have a good one and see you next year :)

Oh dear... oh dear, oh dear...

2006-12-29T15:30:00.000Z

Work over the past couple of days has been very quiet. It's a great time to get the naff jobs out of the way that I've put off the rest of the year. Although this year, a whinging colleague who should've been on holiday had it cancelled and turned up to tell everyone about it... and not just once, oh no... It hasn't been cheery.

Aside, I went to see The New Statesman at the Trafalgar Studios last night. I haven't laughed that hard in a long, long time. I've heard that the script has some additional material on hand depending upon the political news of the day. The thought of the US invading Norway and Alan B'stard's quest to take over Number 10 by kidnapping Tony Blair and bringing down the BBC was very, very funny. Excellently written and a superb performance from Rik Mayall, it definately brought back fond memories of the original series from the 1980s. Indeed, I noticed that amongst the programmes was a DVD of the first series. Fine stuff. Great theatre too, as the front row is actually on the floor level stage.

Westminster Council has been getting ready for the Trafalgar Square New Year's Eve (non) celebrations. I spotted this lunchtime teams of workmen brushing anti-climb paint on all the lamposts. And then tying signs to each one warning of the paint's presence. Why? Surely if you're drunk enough to have a go climbing a lamp post you're not really going to be reading signs.

Happy New Year! I've great plans for 2007.

The Best... and the worst

2006-12-26T14:26:00.000Z

I love this time of year as it really brings out the two faces of the media.

On the one hand, the reviews of the year and pre-recorded specials in place of live broadcasting is a complete nause. I also can't abide programme presenters that proclaim they'll be with us on Christmas Day - in spirit alone as it's obviously pre-recorded - there's been a lot of that on Radio Five Live over the past few days. I've presented on Christmas Day morning, it was great fun and still got home before lunch.

On the other, there's been some good efforts. The BBC World Service 'Europe Today' programme ran Europe's Christmas food and festivities. Very interesting differences and similarities. The common message was the fear of commercialisation and 'cultural imperialism' from the USA.

On television, the Christmas Day special of Dr Who had its good and awful points (not for this posting, but I'll let them go by because I'm feeling charitable for once) but bleeding dry Strictly Come Dancing? Enough, please. That said, the Father Ted Christmas special in the lingerie department is still very, very funny (as was the 'Father Neil Hannon' quote). And since when was a BBC programme getting high ratings a news story and worthy of interactivity? Oh, every day if you're the BBC news website needing some filling...

I presume next come the New Year Resolutions? Food for thought... meanwhile, another beer methinks.

Wow, Chelsea have just scored an own goal... that's something you don't see very often!

Hic!

2006-12-25T20:50:00.000Z

Greetings of the season!

Best wishes to you, be you in Australia, Canada or in the places in between.

After a fill of food and merriment, I'm sleeping it off, so some broadcasting musings tomorrow.

zzzz zzzz

My husband and i-pod

2006-12-23T20:25:00.000Z

Probably the best thing about HM Queen's Christmas message this year being podcast is not that fact that it's being podcast at all, but the fact that Private Eye foretold the event in a cartoon earlier this month!

Tracking Father Christmas

2006-12-22T21:34:00.000Z

I could witter on about the BBC telly tax story, or that it's still foggy in London and there's travel chaos.

But no, the biggest story of the day is this:

NORAD is tracking Santa!

Can't wait for the first piccies. I'm pretty sure that this was on-line last year, but according to the website they've been doing this for over 50 years. A small bell did start ringing when I saw this earlier, and I recall from my Cold War childhood a news story of NORAD not only looking out for missiles and impending doom, but also Santa.

Ahh.

Snow turns a white shade

2006-12-21T19:26:00.000Z

Something really quite cool from the Channel 4 newsblog today.

Sadly, the audio is only in Windows...

Paying to prevent the digital divide

2006-12-20T20:19:00.000Z

Here we go, don't say I didn't warn you with tales of woe from Europe.

I see today that the UK's Culture Secretary has said that the BBC will have to foot the bill to subsidise the vulnerable in upgrading receiving equipment when the UK goes digital. The bill? An estimated £600m. Ouch.

But it's not the BBC paying, but the taxpayer, because of the unique way in which the BBC is funded (i.e. a tax). Although the BBC is still awaiting its latest 'tax' settlement - a decision that the government makes - so all this is up in the air, so to speak. So it might come out of the BBC's pocket to the detriment of other budgetary priorities.

Herein lies the problem - whoever wants digital switchover to happen should pay for it. So that's the government, then? Another argument I've heard is that if the BBC doesn't lead the way, new technology - not just but including digital - won't happen. So they're a massive player.

The good news, if there is any, is that at least someone has thought about the potentially hundreds of thousands, if not more, people in the UK who won't be in a postition to afford the new, arguably basic, kit that digital demands (those who can afford it will go for the newer whiz kit, naturally). This isn't just the switch from black and white to colour TV, but something so big that hasn't happened in the history of UK broadcasting. I mean, there are people in Yorkshire who still can't get either Channel 5 (no great loss) OR digital radio... admittedly that's a TX problem, but the principle's there.

Until this sort of argument over who pays and blanket coverage is sorted out, I'm afraid by government intervention - and not regulators or broadcasters with their own vested interests - we may as well put off the analogue switch off until we're absolutely confident that the country's covered.

Like we saw in Holland...

No, it can't be...

2006-12-19T21:00:00.000Z

Have I really just seen an ad on Channel 4 for 'Celeb Big Brother' starting January?

Great...

Two quick questions

2006-12-17T18:55:00.000Z

Question 1. What is it with Radio 5 Live not podcasting the good stuff and podcasting the Daily-stoating-Mayo? Richard Bacon's hosting 'Fighting Talk - Any Other Business' just now, which is the normal Fighting Talk punditary thing, but talking about the week's news. A great premise, but is it being podcasted? What do you think?

(If anyone gives me the 'it's only a trial' BBC spin as they did after the Weekend Business posting a few weeks back, I'll scream)

Question 2. Now that channel 182 on Sky has changed its name to Russia Today and is taking news through the night, why hasn't it moved to sit alongside the other news channels? Arguably better quality than the French effort!

Belgian break-up uproar!

2006-12-16T13:46:00.000Z

A news spoof in Belgium attracted a lot of attention earlier this week. None of it outside Belgium, though.

French-language RTBF broadcast on Wednesday night a report that Flanders had declared independence from Belgium, the country split and the King had done a runner. Unfair comparisons were made with the War of The Worlds broadcast in the US by some commentators.

Apparently, French-speaking Belgium wasn't impressed, and some in Flanders weren't too happy either. Later in the week, politicians were up in arms, right-wing Flanders separatists were excited and the RTBF journalists were being hauled in for meetings.

One thing springs to mind. Someone, somewhere within RTBF must have known this was going to be broadcast and must surely thought about what kind of reaction it would attract. So all this back-tracking sees no sympathy from me.

I would hate to think what the reaction would be if a similar item was run in the UK, say the border checks were being built at the M4 Severn crossing. Well, fact is, it wouldn't happen. There's too much political twitching about the UK split at present.

It would be very funny if someone tried, though...

Radio is alive and doing well

2006-12-16T13:43:00.000Z

Something lovely from the Lost Remote blog on the US census. It makes very interesting reading and great ammunition for the next time someone tells you that no one's listening to radio any more...

Too much news!

2006-12-15T15:33:00.000Z

A lot has already been said in the blogosphere and, dare I say, the mainstream media, about the perceived avalanche of news stories yesterday in the UK. Or, to be fair, the avalanche of news mainstream organisations thought was important enough to carry. This led to the age old row between the media and the government - the government buried their bad news by releasing it on the same day as major news stories from elsewhere.

Prime Minister Blair interviewed by police - police lead, surely
Investigation into sales of aircraft to Saudi Arabia dropped - government lead
Report published into the investigation of the death of Princess Diana - report authors lead
2,500 post offices across the UK to close (scandalous) - government lead
5 women dead in Suffolk - police lead
Christmas is coming - Santa lead

OK, I made the last one up. But was the agenda conspiracy or cock up? You decide, don't let me influence you.

Highlight of the day: I had to laugh out loud last night when one of my least favourite presenters on Radio Five Live asked 'has there been too much bad news today?'. Good grief, you're a 24 hour news station, are you seriously telling me there was too much news?

Today I've been at home writing my latest MA assignment - BTW, I passed my OU degree, I got my results last night and an undergrad diploma I forgot about. Hurrah! Al Jazeera English is on in the background. It's making a good change from the constant whoosh of breaking news on Sky (it's a clever trick, make a sound to get attention, put the breaking news caption on screen, then make the audience wait a few seconds for the actual news). Or, from the BBC, the 'waiting for the Queen to appear at Sandhurst' camera looking at a half empty parade ground. Yep, it seems they like the more sedate pace of hanging around for news rather than broadcasting it, then.

Right, another 1,500 words to go. I've covered the resurgent Cornish language, Yorkshire nationalism, BBC metropolitan bias, the Iranian revolution and Central American radio. Still to come, the English parliament on-line debate and France 24...

Another 48 hours

2006-12-14T20:03:00.000Z

I've been to four parties in 48 hours (actually three in one day) and yesterday received an unexpected invitation to join boat owners on the Regents Canal in London in their annual carol singing. What a marvellous evening! The weather was great, the singers enthusiastic and the mulled wine well warmed. And considering this came after the works Christmas lunch and beer outing, we all did very well. It was actually very atmospheric standing on the tow path, lyrics in hand, attracting bemused looks from passers and yelling from angry cyclists (miserable that we were in their way. Scrooges).

But for all the greetings of the season, that's it, party season over. 48 hours of party-to-party and it's all over for another year. Quite a good thing, actually, because I'm shattered and I have an essay to write.

Big UK news to analyse today, so more tomorrow morning when I'm a little more with it.

An early warning on digital switchover

2006-12-12T20:53:00.000Z

Back in November, I noted the story from Sweden that politicians were having second thoughts about the whole digital radio thing. Well, the Netherlands has travelled further down the digital road than anywhere else, and actually switched off analogue TV transmissions on Sunday (10th).

Here is the sorry tale about how it went. Badly, apparently. According to the "no picture" website, there's been hundreds of complaints sparked by poor reception. Quite large towns are without reception at all and this is despite a push from the digital operator to give users aerial adapters. Which it seems aren't doing the job. We're not talking about a large country or large population here, either.

Arguably, of course, you could say that hundreds of thousands, nay, millions of people didn't complain and / or have nothing to complain about. But the fact that the decision to actually switch off took place without absolute certainty of coverage is somewhat worrying.

So as we in the UK go hurtling towards a similar digital switch off, I really hope problems like those the Dutch suffered at the weekend are ironed out.

Listen up OFCOM, it could happen to you, too.

Funny then, still funny now

2006-12-11T20:44:00.000Z

More 4 is running "The 30 Greatest Political Comedies" at 9pm tonight, hosted by Michael Howard and Charles Kennedy, which should be a laugh in itself!

Looking forward to the extracts from The New Statesman. Hilarious the first time around, and hopefully as good on the stage - I've booked tickets during its London run for an evening during that Christmas / New Year lull as a pick-me-up!

The bleak midwinter

2006-12-11T20:02:00.000Z

A state of lethargy settled in the office today. I don't think it actually got light in London today because of the day's heavy rain, which engendered a feeling of misery amongst us. And I thought it was just me thinking "I'm shattered" all day. I also fear a cold is on it's way again, if I ever got rid of the last one (so much for vitamin C). I had great plans to crack on with some writing this evening but that's not going to happen. Early night with a book instead as later in the week, there's not one but three Christmas parties to get through.

Anyway, today I RSS'ed the Channel 4 Newsblog. Jon Snow's entries are rather good, then again he's a journalist I've always liked. There's the occasional "filler" posting by a non-entity called "Newsroom blogger", which is probably a collective identity for the duty editors or seomthing, but the named journalist entries are rather fine, and I get the impression that they are a lot less staged than the BBC ones.

Finally, Russia Today really has to sort out the scrolling text on Sky 182. The bottom's still missing and it's starting to annoy me.

Two signs that Christmas is nearly here...

2006-12-10T19:48:00.000Z

The Famous Grouse ads are back! Hurrah!

And the Home Secretary says we must be on our guard for a terrorist attack. How times change, eh? I remember the same warnings 20 years ago. Different enemy, though. Merry Christmas, and don't forget to be scared about shopping in city centres.

Great, isn't it?

The final frontier

2006-12-10T15:28:00.000Z

It's been a while since I've laughed out loud like just now.

This is an absolute gem of a You Tube mash-up posted on CMM News a few days back: Star Trek meets Monty Python.

Enjoy!

Hyper Music

2006-12-09T23:55:00.000Z

I did a rare thing this evening. The other half was out, so ended up spending the evening listening to Muse (probably a tad loud, but the neighbours throw parties, so what the hell), surfing and reading. This is opposed to the usual thing of catching up with the things I've Sky +ed during the week or EPG surfing.

OK, confess, one episode of Torchwood because I'm so far behind, but that's all...
Detaching myself from reality like that was rather relaxing. Although, I have to say I was back to the news after 11.30 to catch the Sunday newspaper reviews! Sad.

My next set of study materials has arrived in the post. Grief, I'm glad I'm not a postman. This module is about analysing the media (that'll be my job, then) and convergance. Should be fun getting my head around all the academic terminology for the things I do every day.

Amongst the pack was a weighty book called 'Handbook on Radio and Television Audience Research" produced by the BBC World Service Training Trust and UNICEF. That on its own will be very useful indeed.

The beautiful game conquers politics

2006-12-08T21:34:00.000Z

Congratulations to the Gibraltar Football Association in their associate membership to UEFA after seven years of trying. This is a triumph of sport over politics, as Spain has been attempting to block Gibraltar's membership on nothing but political terms (amongst other things, Spain argues that the Victoria Stadium, Gibraltar's footballing home, is on 'disputed territory').

So good for UEFA, actually after pressure from the Court of Arbitration for Sport who said there was no sporting reason for Gibraltar not to be accepted into UEFA. Good for the CAS. Come on, FIFA, you next.

Let's see whether Spain goes ahead with the threat not to take part in UEFA competition if Gibraltar fields a team. But just like the disruption to the Christmas Radio Times (see earlier posting), it won't happen, will it?

France 24 has first night nerves

2006-12-07T20:17:00.000Z

Right, who's going to lay into the technical problems on opening night of France 24 then (as many did when AJE started)?

Maybe it was the weather that gave me a 'technical fault' blue screen of death on Sky Channel 515 with less than 25 minutes to launch. Now, after dipping back in at 2000 for the news, (pics come from the very start, I Sky +'ed it) there was 8 minutes of news, a ridiculously long weather forcecast (with its own credits - impressive) and then - mind the gap - black screen - oh, let's re-run the test film again. Although the give away that the channel was live was the ticker across the bottom. Have to say, though, that the picture quality was pretty ropey when you compare it to AJE.

Ok, the moan over. The lovely Francois Picard kicked things off standing up behind the desk. I think it's far too early to comment much on the news agenda, because it's been an odd day and the agenda has to settle to see any slants, but it didn't seem very different from the stuff I was seeing all day.

Indeed, commenting on both the Livinenko story and the north London tornado. Lots of references to things that were going on in France just to satisfy the remit.

So first night nerves out of the way, France is the latest to have its 'Al Jazeera', that is, a rolling news channel which isn't dominated by the US narrative. Seeing a different opinion is always a good thing, but I just hope all these japes into international news (Russia, AJE just the latest in the line) have longevity.

Life on Mars

2006-12-06T22:01:00.000Z

Water has flowed recently on Mars, according to NASA. Wow! It's stuffed the news agenda on Sky News! Yep, life on Mars and leaving human space junk behind is more important than General Mike Jackson's comments regarding the MoD, the Iraq Study Group report or Gordon Brown's budget speech.

Makes a change from poisoned spies at least.

The US way is not the only way

2006-12-06T21:23:00.000Z

Maybe it was the lack of sleep and a very early start this morning, but I nearly lost it this afternoon listening to a US academic telling us how blogging and 'citizen journalism' worked... with complete disregard for the blogging scene or academic discussion on the whole 'CitJ' thing outside the US. Said academic was so wide of the mark about the international arena it was embarrising. I'm sure mutturing with colleagues at the back of the hall was noticed and that was why I was totally ignored when it came to the Q&A. Still, I don't hold grudges and it's probably the egotistical nature of some strains of academia, but I wasn't chuffed to have such 'facts' spouted (women only blog about shopping, was one classic line I spluttered at).

I amuse myself with the fact that this lecturer knew nothing about the UK political blogging scene whatsoever, and I would've done anything to have seen a head-to-head with Guido or Iain Dale et al, let alone the female political blogging community. Shame I didn't know in advance that there was wireless connectivity in the hall, otherwise I would've live blogged the sorry tale.

That aside, my colleague and I ducked out early and went back to the station via the culture, politics and media sections in Blackwell's book shop. Deadly at the best of times, let alone in Oxford.

So to clear my head of such academic ramblings, I'm watching back episodes of The State Within (no brain required) with my cat.

And apologies to people around me on the tube this evening - I laughed out loud with irony to read that traces of Polonium 210 had been found at Arsenal's stadium (I jested to the other half that it would be very intereting if radiation was found at Chelsea...) and the British Embassy in Moscow. Grief, the plot thickens.

Two annoying pieces from BBC news

2006-12-05T18:11:00.000Z

As I look at the world's media all day, I'm disheartened to return to UK media and be really annoyed by petty stuff. Sadly, two things this evening have got my stoat.

First, what's with this:

Powerpoint journalism!!

Is it just me or is this becoming more and more prevelent? Here's a journo stood in front of a graphics screen essentially giving a powerpoint presentation. Obviously it's a complicated story that needs explaining with slides. Look, I get these all day and the gag's wearing thin. Surely there's better ways to deliver the news.

Second, at the bottom of this story on the BBC website about the death of two firefighters at the weekend is this:

Books of condolence were opened at town halls and fire stations across the county and a memorial fund started to the two men who lost their lives.

The BBC has also set up an online book of condolence.

No, no and no! What public service is there in the BBC setting up an on-line book of condolence? It's just a new name for a message board, isn't it? And what is the BBC going to go with it afterwards? Hand over a disc to the fire brigade? I've no problems with a forum for thought, but something really irked me by calling it what they did and their intentions.

Whinge over. I'm in a bad mood after the batting collapse in the test match, and that fact that I'm getting up at 5.15am tomorrow to go to a conference. Nice!

The strike that won't affect output

2006-12-04T21:49:00.000Z

Media Guardian reports that journalists at BBC Worldwide are going out on strike and that the strike will affect production of the 'bumper' Christmas / New Year edition of the Radio Times.

Yeah, right. Are you really telling me that the biggest selling edition of the BBC's listings rag will be affected? I'll believe it when I see it.

Incidentally, wise words from James Cridland: It's trendy to appear stupid

Randall speaks to Murdoch

2006-12-03T19:30:00.000Z

One programme Radio Five Live doesn't podcast is 'Weekend Business' with Jeff Randall (yes, Daily Telegraph journo who broke the Grade story has a programme on the BBC. Oh, the irony). Shame really, as he's just spent the first half hour interviewing James Murdoch and it was worth a more active listen. He asked the standard fayre of questions - what of the ITV news this week, will Sky have 10million subscribers by 2010, will you be taking over the business - but overall, rather interesting.

Quote for me was from Murdoch, when asked about the BBC, he said they were doing great things with digital, but establishing a "BBC Google" was way beyond the BBC's public service remit. Quite right too.

A little bit naff having the BBC's media correspondent, Torin Douglas, straight off the back of the piece being an instant pundit as he didn't have anything new to say and merely filled a minute. Then again, apart from revealing that the Sky business is "carbon neutral", arguably nor did Murdoch...

An afternoon in Calais

2006-12-03T13:00:00.000Z

I'm still amazed by the fact that I can get in the car, drive to Calais for the afternoon, do a spot of shopping at the supermarket and be back home before 9pm. Mind you, that was what I, and many, many others in SE England did yesterday. It was a mad idea, I know, to go to France on a December Saturday. Apart from the queues at self service check-in (caused by people who couldn't work the thing), and it was stupid going to the big Calais shopping centre... actually, it's still great.

I'll always listen to a podcast during the 35 minute Eurotunnel crossing. On the way out, it was Deutsche Welle's Inside Europe show - a classic piece of European broadcasting style with an American accented host, but quite informative (I never knew the French were making Mont St Michel an island again). It also prompted the following observation from my other half: "how do they get away with putting music in their podcast?" Different regulations, it seems.

Back to the UK, after a burst of the BBC World Service on MW and flicking through the FM dial whilst waiting to get through passport control, it was Iain Lee on LBC. I find the whole phone-in talk show a bit of a nause, as sub-groups of regular callers tend to dominant. Although I do dip in and out of LBC and quite like it. Perhaps because after a day of seriousness and downright misery of the world new agenda, I love something that doesn't make me think. Lovely stuff.

Anyway, top stoat tip: if you are going to do the beer run to foreign parts this festive season, definately do it, but on a weekday.

Good News...

2006-12-01T20:47:00.000Z

A great website for stoats who, from time to time, get depressed analysing the bad news in the media all day. Happy reading!

Spy Plot Thickens

2006-12-01T19:26:00.000Z

This story's now turning into rather a big thing. For starters, I've never seen Channel 4 News run a 'Breaking News' graphic during a bulletin. Yep, it's getting that bad.

It's also sparked a flurry of, frankly, half-arsed analysis by UK journalists surfing the net to report how the Russian media isn't covering the story. More 4 news had a brave attempt this evening at showing that, until the bloke had died, there was hardly a comment; things had changed. No, the Russian media are not ignoring the story. It just wasn't on their radar for a while (the UK media are guilty of that from time to time too, you know). I would presume that now an Italian academic who met Litvinenko in London has been found to be contaminated with polonium 210, the same analysis will be tagged to the Italian media. Bring on the stereotyping, me thinks.

Of course, the frantic speculation by health, science and security experts continues unabated in amongst graphic over-load. Desperate pleas for information are abound - were you on one of the aircraft? Did you eat in Itsu? Did you stay at the hotel? Tell us your story, send us your pictures.... Is it me, but I have't seen any response bar one bloke who spoke to daytime Radio Five Live. Maybe I'm just watching the wrong bulletins or being blinded by the breaking news graphics.

There's nothing much else in the UK news agenda at present, so the frenzy is likely to continue over the weekend.

Heart-stopping BA moment!

2006-11-29T18:55:00.001Z

I'm just watching breaking news on Sky that British Airways have withdrawn three Boeing 767 aircraft from service after traces of radiation were found on two (the third test is underway). This is all to do with the Litvinenko poisoning case and as numerous locations across London are being tested.

So with the news that "BA customers are being contacted", and I flew in a BA 767 two weeks ago, up pops an email in the inbox from BA... thankfully only telling me that I can get 20% off at Selfridges this weekend.

My flight isn't on the list on the BA website. Phew.

Bad day for the newspapers

2006-11-29T18:16:00.000Z

A double blow for dead tree media today.

First, the Royal Editor of the News of the World, Clive Goodman, says sorry for tapping the phones of members of the royal household. He's being sentenced in January.

Second, "amazing" pictures, which made many of last week's papers, of animals still in the womb actually turn out to be fake. They were, in fact, models. D'oh!

Not much more to say about either of them, really, except draw your own conclusions!

Grade musings, whilst Sweden thinks DAB is a bad idea...

2006-11-28T18:27:00.000Z

The UK media has been self-obsessing all day over the move by Grade from the BBC to ITV. Much speculation about what next for the BBC before the renewal of the Charter, and the next two years for ITV. I think what's crucial is in the short term: the ITV relationship with BSkyB and the call from Virgin / NTL to OFCOM to look into the recent buy-in by BSkyB. Grade left the BBC, amongst other reasons, to go back to programme-making... with Sky on board, that's highly possible, and a definate way of rubbing NTL's nose in it.

Once again, however, the media have missed another very interesting (for their future) story. Over in Sweden, the new Culture Minister has said that DAB radio is not the radio of the future. She reckoned people buying completely new radio receivers was neither economically nor politically possible.

Point: politically impossible? Crikey DM, they're making digital radio a political issue! This is Sweden, not some small third world country that can't afford the infrastructure upgrade. As the British government get their head around what it actually means to switch off analogue telly, it's rather significant that such a move could get political. Watch this space, as they say.

Grade goes to ITV

2006-11-27T22:34:00.000Z

And there was me having a quiet evening watching BBC4, I flick over to BBC1 for the news and there's the Daily Telegraph story from Jeff Randall announcing Michael Grade is leaving the BBC for ITV. Here's the break on BBC News.

According to Sky, Randall suggests 'the gossip has been going on for weeks' and the BBC are 'shocked' that he's off. Ray Snoddy reckons Grade doesn't get on with Murdoch, which will make the Sky / ITV deal interesting.

More tomorrow when it's sunk in a bit

Spy poisoning suspect

2006-11-26T20:13:00.000Z

Amongst the many conspiracies doing the rounds in both the mainstream and alt media, this is probably the funniest...

The Reithian or Brechtian BBC?

2006-11-26T11:28:00.000Z

This is a great site comparing what the BBC News site puts where in its agenda, and what users are actually reading. It's a basic list, but I've dipped into it a few times over the weekend already and nodding appreciatively at the thought.

For instance, the BBC's top story is the overnight rocket attack in Gaza. The top read, however, is the killing of a groom by police in New York City. Readers see the Gaza story as fifth on the list. The site exclaims that the BBC is "38%" in touch with what we're reading.

Now, other media stoats may want do a grand piece of analysis on this: social demographics of the site's users, editorial biases of the BBC's public service remit, and the like, all influencing the whys and wheres of the information, but that aside, it's an interesting comparison. It also fluctuates - I noticed it was up to 68% at one point yesterday!

So to explain the title, does this site answer the question: Is the BBC still Reithian in giving the masses the 'best of everything', or slowly turning to Brecht's partcipatory media (radio, but I'm sure he'd approve of the internet)? The news site is still giving users a list of stuff to read, but leaving it up to the readers to select their material.

Still, it's a miserable day and the cricket's miserable too. Grief...

Braving the autumn weather

2006-11-25T09:36:00.000Z

I'm about to brave the wind and rain this morning to rescue a package from the post office. This being the downside of all those promises that shopping for the festive season would be made easier by going on line. Yeah, right.

Still, Amazon and others have just about fulfilled the list, although I still found myself in the centre of London on Friday getting something special for the other half.

So as I go out into the elements today, I spare a thought for those poor journalists hanging around, as they call it, 'a sushi bar in London' still covering the Litvenenko story. You know, I never thought I'd see the headline 'Atom Attack' on British television (Sky News, last night). Although, it seems to be a theme... see the Kuwait Times piece.

Bloody Awesome!

2006-11-24T00:34:00.000Z

Went to see Muse at Wembley for the second time this week.

Awesome. That's all, really. Different shows each night, some different songs, too. It was great to be reminded what fantastic tunes they've done. Marvellous audio-visual experience, there was too much going on to really take everything in.

As my pal said after the gig, what must it be like waking up each morning realising you're Matt Bellamy?

Genuis. Far too much talent, the three of them!

Spies, lies and videotapes

2006-11-20T18:08:00.000Z

The UK rolling news media has been obsessed with two stories all day today. Not Tony Blair in Afghanistan, not a school shooting in Germany, but spies, lies and battles over media convergence.

A former Russian spy poisoned by thallium in sushi has got the conspiracy theories, experts and former spies back into the cold light of media exposure. Correspondents have been out on the streets of London and Moscow rounding up commentators and atmospheric camera angles, and sexy graphic-ed packages were built up in time for the main evening bulletins. They all had their theories - criminals, warlords, revenge, the Russian state, Putin himself... they were loving it. Even more so when the UK's own security services announced they were looking into it. Indeed, the media book of spy stereotypes was dusted off today. Suffice to say, there was no word of the story on Russia Today...

Second obsession was Sky buying into ITV and Richard Branson not being very happy about it. As someone who rarely finds themselves on ITV anymore, this argument isn't about programming or content, is it? Tell me it's more to do about controlling distribution and convergence of platforms. Branson wants in to media (after 'merging' with ntl) and Sky wants to keep him out. The sorry tale has been referred to UK regulator OFCOM, so expect a fuzzy outcome and a whole lot of speculation from the rest of the media - such as the BBC particularly indulging in some schaudenfreuda - as to 'what this means'. Means stuff all to the massess who just want to see soaps and celebs in reality programmes.

The cold's a little better, thanks. Nothing that a hearty meal and a warm brandy at bedtime won't sort out.

Stuffed-up stoat

2006-11-20T11:01:00.000Z

This week is my busiest in a while - a day's training, then Radio At the Edge on Thursday, and seeing Muse at Wembley on Tuesday and Thursday nights. Plus, the Ashes starts at around 3am on Thursday morning, although trying to work out how the plugged-to-death BBC Radio Five Live podcast coverage works is beyond me (distinct lack of a mention of this on their website beoynd their preview programme).

And with enough proper work in the office to keep me going all week and a 3,000 word essay to start, let alone finish, on alternative media and national identity - stick with me - why, oh why, is now the perfect time to come down with a miserable head cold??

So I'm off work feeling rotten, stuffed up and sore-throated, but it does mean that cat and I are curled up watching Al-Jazeera English during the day.

Front line documentaries

2006-11-16T20:40:00.000Z

A friend spotted that the Tafalgar Studios (within the Whitehall Theatre) was running their first cinema viewings today, namely three short films from the Independent Film and Television College of Baghdad.

So we took an hour out of work and popped along to a freezing (over-excited air-con) intimate studio theatre.

The three films were: Baghdad Days, the diary of a Kirkuk student who returns to Baghdad in 2005 looking for work, finding a place to live and generally living in the city in changing times; Hiwar, the story of Iraqi artists forming a meeting place and gallery; and Omar Is My Friend, a taxi driver and student braving checkpoints and having only daughters in a male-dominated society. I'd already seen parts of Omar on Channel 4 in their Three Minute Wonder slot.

Bearing in mind these were first attempts at documentary making by film students and therefore technically still learning the ropes - it shows - the subject matter and initial story-telling were superb. Afterwards, Maysoon Pachachi, one of the Iraqi film-makers who set up the college, di a Q&A session, in which she spoke about being a film-maker in the Middle East, and told the sadly small audience (about 20 of us) what had happened to the main characters since the documentaries were made about a year ago.

If you get a chance to see any of these, I can highly recommend them as snapshots of ordinary life in Baghdad in 2005, particularly the human side of Iraqis going out to vote for the first time. Maysoon told the audience that Al Jazeera English has just commissioned some films from her students, so wtahc this space. Sadly, the security situation has deteriorated since then, which made the films even more special.

Today's other news...

2006-11-15T19:09:00.000Z

Whilst the UK's mass media worried themselves about the start of Al-Jazeera English, they missed thte start of a new English rolling news channel on Sky. Tucked away on Channel 182 (on Information TV2) is Russia Today.

This is Russian news in English, and international news from a Russian perspective. So why not give it a 500 number like AJE? Probably because for a few hours a day it carries The Jewellry Channel. Nice.

Picture quality's good, apart from the lighting being a little too bright and the ticker at the bottom of the screen which is clipped (see pic). But, like AJE I've added it to my favourites.

This is all very refreshing, and will make a change from the western-centric biases of the likes of CNN, Fox, Sky News and the BBC.

By the way, why did Media Guardian make a thing of the fact that AJE had techincal problems on their first day? So the AJE website crashed. Yes, these things happen when you're popular. And there was a problem with lip-sync in the first hour. How many times does that happen (unreported) on the BBC and Sky? Lots. OK, so it's not good in your first hour, but these things happen and it was sorted. Next will come the cry of "no one's watching".

Well, I doubt many people will be watching Russia Today... but that won't make it a less legitimate news outlet.

The Turkish Airlines Experience

2006-11-14T18:36:00.000Z

I've just come back from a lecture gig in Turkey and flew an internal and international flight on Turkish Airlines. What an experience!

First off, I have to say coming in to Istanbul over the mountains and the coastline is very impressive, the weather was perfect. But what made the experience better was that on the international flight, there was a selection on the interactive back-of-seat screen called 'flight cam'. I found it by accident as we trundled along the taxiway waiting to take off as the screen in front of me defaulted to it.

'Flight Cam' is completely useless in mid-flight as there's nothing to see for the clouds. but on take off, landing and chugging along to the gate, there was something worryingly exciting to have the cockpit-eye view of the way ahead. Just like being part of a large simulator. Well, I liked it. I would've taken a pic but whenever the chap in front moved around, a loose cable gave the screen a purple tinge. There's also a button marked 'aft-cam', which simply shows you what cloud you've just flown over. Landing at Heathrow was fantastic, watching the landing lights getting closer.

Other good things. Breakfast: a cheese sandwich with, not roasted peppers, just thick slices of raw, crunchy pepper. Hmm, crispy and tasty. Turkish red wine: actually, very nice indeed for a dry red. Can't for the life of me remember what it was called. Dual English and Turkish language everywhere - that is, the staff, the text of the in-flight rag and all the notices.

Only two down sides. The airbus for the international leg had a distinct lack of legroom. This was because the box of tricks controlling the in-flight entertainment consoles for each seat was underneath that seat. So one small handbag, usually not an issue, actually squandered any legroom I had. Second, the bloke next to me fell asleep and snored very loudly for about two hours. Again, usually fine, but my i-pod decided it didn't want to play ball anymore and the airline headphones weren't the most effficient things I've ever used.

All in all, though, a cracking flight and I'd recommend Turkish, and both my flights were economy. Changing at Istanbul was interesting - I was walking very quickly and I only just made it on a 30 minute transfer (leave more time). All this even after the end of the flight was rather spoiled because of congestion at Heathrow - again - which meant lots of Turkish lift music - and a fire alert in baggage re-claim just as we walked through. Great.

Absolutely shattered now though, as I was at the airport for 2.45 GMT... zzz...

Rumsfeld news a comedy coup

2006-11-09T19:20:00.000Z

This is one of the funniest stories in ages. While cautious of a web-wind-up, the Comedy Central blog seems to have broken the story of US Secetary of Defense Rumsfeld resigning a whole eleven hours before the event, and, it seems, hours before the 'mainstream' media got hold of it.

This is truly embarrassing for the US media. Why does a comedy channel break a large news story like this? The conspiracy types would probably use this to illustrate their line that the US media is in the hands of the Republican party, who would want to break this story on their terms. I admit that most of my recent understanding of US political affairs comes from the Daily Show... all right, maybe not, but I do watch more of that than Fox or CNN these days.

One in the bag for blogging, and for fake news outlets everywhere. UK satire programmes take note...

Reporting religion rubs salt in the wound

2006-11-03T19:15:00.000Z

This evening on BBC Radio Five Live, there was the usual two-way between a newspaper journalist - today from the Times - and presenter Peter Allen, talking about the stories in the papers for tomorrow (a free advertisement for the Times, then).

The story that got my stoat was one from Glastonbury, where allegedly Catholic youngsters had been engaging in a war of words with pagans. Glastonbury, apparently, has a lot of pagans. It was so bad that some pagans had had salt thrown at them. Which to me suggests the ignorance of those doing the salt throwing. Still.

Through this was laughing from the presenter. I hope it was a laugh at the stupidity of the incident. But the thought did cross my mind that if this was name calling and throwing substances at people of another religion, naming no names because that's not fair, I doubt there would have been such hilarious treatment of the story.

I'll have to flick through the Times tomorrow to see how they handle it, but it does seem to me that, once again, some religions and minority groups are treated very differently by the media than others.

Great rolling news

2006-10-31T16:04:00.000Z

ITN news is back on the phone (coming on the same day as an ITV channel Meridian gets its hands slapped for doing a news bulletin that came out looking like a promotional video). Which means I can now, sadly, show off the Virgin Lobster to friends and demonstrate something a little more meaningful than Murder She Wrote.

Not that I can get it to work, mind. One screen says it's subscribed, the other says not. I love it. This means means going through customer services - shudder - to sort it out.

Still, a little piece of good news following a day unable to eat after a bout of food poisoning overnight (poached salmon, never again).

Carrying a light for Torchwood

2006-10-26T20:28:00.000+01:00

I actually got round to watching Torchwood this evening. Now, there have been mixed reviews but generally, there's been a positive reaction.

I've always liked sci-fi, and British sci-fi at that (never could get into Star Trek or the X Files). There was always something a little superior, nay, dark, about British alien stories, and not always with the heroric or happy endings that America demands. So after the revival of Dr Who, so comes the threatened spin off.

Captain Jack seemed too good a character to entirely let go of at the end of the first come-back series. And the BBC commissioning types did the right thing by letting Torchwood get to air. Man, it looks good in HD, too. But enough of John Barrowman for the moment...

So yes, the script was a bit ropey - establishing espisode always are - but the characterisation works, it looks good on the screen, the music's not bad at all and, well, Cardiff as a backdrop? Wasn't sure about that at first, but it really makes a change from endless series set in London or the south of England. The second episode was much better than the first, with some different interpretations available for media students to expose... I found at least two, I think.

It's definately better than the wretched Robin Hood. Dare I say I found it slightly better than the last few episodes of Dr Who. What will pull it down will be trying too hard to be adult, or different. TV shows are, by their very nature, running out of original ideas, and so critics will find comparisons here, there and everywhere if they want to. But trying to shock, trying out new film techniques and the like will wear thin if the writing isn't up to scratch. I fear the longevity of a series that's chasing aliens as a shadowy organisation headed by a man that can't die...

As a piece of escapism from a day long of dreary reality, it was rather good. If the storylines are fresh, then the look and feel will go along for the ride for a few series yet. Spin-offs never get a good reputation, but, I don't know, this one wasn't bad.

Let's see, then. Hidden plotlines of fear of external threat in times of conflict (War of the Worlds, anyone?), fear of difference or the unknown, or fear of over-familiarity breading contempt mixed with contemporary reality with a friendly alien (so a little outside our world) as our guide. And because it's a British series, the alien must has a dark side, surely.

So far, Torchwood ticks all the right boxes so far. If there's a pencil case of writers, as is done with Dr Who, then maybe the spin-off won't go stale that quickly. There's certainly mileage with the right creative minds. I hear, too, that it scooped the largest non-terrestrial audience for a British programme (rather appropriate, I thought). It deserved it. Also, because of the unique way in which the BBC is funded, there's a nice looking website too (so there should be, really).

And it did look rather good in HD.

The singing gasman

2006-10-25T12:43:00.000+01:00

I have the gasmen in today (and tomorrow, and Friday) putting in a new boiler. Despite the house looking like a bomb's hit it, I'm cheered by one of the pair singing his heart out along to whatever pops up on Virgin Radio
Nice.

Oh great...

2006-10-22T10:17:00.000+01:00

Comment is... dull?

2006-10-20T10:02:00.000+01:00

A fascinating thing is happening with forums on Media Guardian. I'm probably late in spotting this, but two things are regularly going on.

The first few postings are usually measured, quite opinionated and, importantly, on topic. Then, as the postings go on, they deteriorate into childish ranting, oneupmanship and, sadly, slagging off (and these are the posts that are allowed to stay on the site).

Second, the same people comment day in, day out. Which again, is fair enough, but it means the same rants, ravings and childish comments spill over from topic to topic.

As the Guardian's site says, comment is free, and I'm the last person to stifle free speech. But there's a problem that the Guardian faces. On the one hand, allowing absolutely everyone (with internet connectivity) to comment is a good thing. But on the other, life gets dull very quickly reading the same voices (give them a column!). The vision that springs to mind is that the regular posters are like children in a playground, all shouting at once, some louder than others, desperate to get heard, however inane. Finally, the Guardian, being a big media organisation, has to be careful not to over-edit for fear of hypocracy. Tough call, eh.

Guilty as charged, I do drop in from time to time, but only leave comments on subjects I feel I'd like to comment on, and I certainly wouldn't engage in the war of words and exchange of insults that goes on day in, day out. It just gets samey and dull, which makes me wonder whether I should bother anymore. The public sphere of the playground has a new home on internet forums.

One of my favourite quotes rings true: 'Just because your voice reaches halfway around the world doesn't mean you are wiser than when it reached only to the end of the bar.' Edward R Murrow.

Very true. Landlord, another pint, please!

Being cross about intolerance

2006-10-18T10:32:00.000+01:00

It never fails to amaze me how religion brings out media hysteria and the worst of people.

Most recently, a popular BBC newsreader, Fiona Bruce, wore a crucifix on a necklace, to howls of protest and an apology from her bosses. Next, Leader of the House of Commons, Jack Straw, said in public that he would ask whether women that visited his surgery would mind removing their veils when they spoke with him. There were even more howls of protest. (Note to the BBC Website - I'm fed up of seeing the same picture when a story about 'the veil' is reported)

Next, a member of check in staff for British Airways (BA) is suspended after wearing a crucifix which was visible to the public. BA has a policy on this which seems to have been broken, but who knows.

I'm simply fascinated by the lack of tolerance from all sides. Some people may have become upset and fair enough, but I think in-house legislation is over-done: an equality and diversity course I did recenty erred on the side of caution so much one was left worrying about saying anything for fear of offending someone else.

Surely in the UK we all have a right to wear what we want. But society dictates limits - such as uniforms for unity of corporate identity - and there's an enormous debate on what is acceptable dress for people who deal with the public, or religious adherence.

Displaying a religious symbol is not the same as preaching. I suppose that some intolerant types may think that a newsreader displaying a cross means they are biased; that proves to me that the complainers know nothing about how news works.

I wonder how much hoo-ha there would be if a Sikh gentleman read the news, or a pagan displayed a pentagram on a necklace.

Tolerance, I fear, is the gold at the end of the rainbow.

Snail mail? A word in your shell-like...

2006-10-15T18:33:00.000+01:00

I've had a very frustrating week battling with a mobile telephone company trying to get a new phone delivered. I'll not bore you with the details, but I will bore you with an idea.

Why is it that, in these days of on-line shopping and the reliance on mail companies to deliver your stuff, delivery companies rarely - if ever - deliver outside working hours? Say 7-9am, and 4-10pm? Or, if that's no good to them, why can't they be more specific about delivery times (a two-hour slot, perhaps). Surely there's a market for such as thing? Works for supermarkets... or maybe they just look after their customers!

As my colleagues shared my woes, we all were in agreement that even paying a small premium to have a delivery later in the evening would be preferable to taking a full day off work (which for most ordinary folk just ain't practical) waiting for a delivery 'sometime between 8am and 6pm'... if it comes at all, in my case during this woeful week.

It does seem a little odd that postal delivery services are not responding to an increasing on-line commerce community that relies on good deliveries. Or maybe the domestic customer just isn't worthy enough when business users are bulk posting.

Anyway, when the phone eventually arrives (if I hear 'you'll have one tomorrow' one more time, I'll scream), I'll review it. Because it's really nice.

The President is dead

2006-10-09T19:59:00.000+01:00

This is a great piece of advertising for the one-off drama, or mockumentary, 'Death of a President' shown on More 4 in the UK.

Wrapping advertising around a newspaper isn't new. But such a stark picture like this, set below the masthead of the paper, definately turned heads with the tourists and some fellow commuters. I have to say that I was rather impressed at the boldness of it, but I wonder whether someone will complain.

And here's the real front page...

I'll be at BBC Broadcasting House tomorrow at an event celebrating 60 years of Woman's Hour. On the one hand, I don't think I've ever listened to it so I'm wondering why I'm going. On the other, I'm catching up with some friends and contacts, and introducing a work colleage to BBC radio! Not sure what she'll make of it, though...

Knights of Cydonia reference...

2006-10-07T22:43:00.000+01:00

Regarding the previous post, this is what I meant (and start the video at the bottom right)

Nice try, but there's nothing original

2006-10-07T21:45:00.000+01:00

I've just finished watching the most over-hyped BBC programme since the re-emergence of Dr Who. Robin Hood is, for me, the Yorkshire hero of legend and so has a special place. Yet none of the authentic-looking sets or stark costumes could cover the fact that the dialogue is this latest Robin Hood re-working was intensely fake (with Shakespearian diction and 'don'ts' replaced with 'do nots' ad nausem) and the show stolen by the Keith Allen Sheriff of Nottingham.

OK, so maybe the villain always gets the good lines, but he didn't (sorry, did not), so plays it for laughs instead as a televisual pantomime villain overacting to his heart's content. And Guy of Gisbourne's burr was something to behold (i.e. very-bad-which-makes-it-comical impersonation of a Sheffield accent). Maybe I've missed the point: this slot, early Saturday evening, is the traditional kids TV placing on the BBC in the UK. But this really was scraping the bottom of the barrel stuff.

I was struggling to find anything original in the piece. Robin running his hand through the hawthorne (in slow-motion) was straight out of Gladiator, the hanging scene pilfered from Plunkett and Macleane / Prince of Thieves / Knights of Cydonia video, pained looks to camera from the BBC's Casanova, and some really over the top music for the soundtrack (which will get the 'silence the background music' lobby up in arms).

In a way, I suppose every generation has its Robin Hood - Errol Flynn, Sean Connery, Michael Praed, Kevin Costner - which means I reach this conclusion biased. But the opening episode, even if it was in HD, lacked any ethereal edge, political satire, sheer escapism or originality of effects / camerawork.

Sadly, despite the hype and lots of advertising on the side of buses, I won't be watching next week.

Minor rant

2006-10-04T18:46:00.000+01:00

Promise not to make a habit of ranting, but...

Walking to the tube station in central London to get home. There I spy a vendor for the London Paper, one of the freebie evening papers now available in the city. She quite pleasantly holds out a copy as a I pass, which I take. Just a smile of acknowlegment to each other.

The next second, another woman has come from nowhere, frantically waving her free newspapers, the London Lite (sic), and yelled 'London Lite' at me.

So, that's the tactic, then. Run over to someone who has obviously just picked up the rival paper, yell loudly and wave your free paper at them.

It's not the first time that's happened, and it's always happened in that order. I wasn't chuffed.

I just hope it's not going to be like this every week.

Right, rant over

Battle of the Geeks

2006-10-01T20:41:00.000+01:00

A new BBC2 programme started this evening, co-produced by the Open University, which seems to be a cross between an updated 'Great Egg Race' and Scrapheap Challenge. That's no bad thing, although the UK/US participation suggests this is another made-for-the-US show (the ad-break placings are pretty obvious).

The start of the series also co-incides with the time when OU courses are reaching their conclusion (don't I know it) and courses are open for registration for the next OU academic year (February to October, generally). In other words, great marketing...

Good for them!

And about time too!

2006-10-01T17:09:00.000+01:00

Just how long have I thought and talked about getting one of these things?

Hello world! What follows, until I get bored or some newer fangled technology comes along, will be ramblings. Sometimes funny, sometimes whingy. But observant, all the same. It's just a life thing. I have no agenda, no political persuasion, no particular take on anything really. Just watching and lurking in life.

Occasionally, there'll be photographs of clouds, too. That's just something I like taking photographs of. Clouds. And sky.

Why Shrew? Nothing to do with Shrewsbury, I assure you. Simply, many moons ago, a school teacher asked 'if you were an animal, what would you be', and everybody said I would be a shrew. Or stoat. So there.