主播大秀

On the night of 23rd February 1950, 主播大秀 producer Grace Wyndham Goldie realised her dream and ushered in a new era of political broadcasting – the first ever election results programme. Years before Goldie had been warned off television, being told it would be of no importance in her lifetime. Well how times have changed…the 主播大秀 election results programmes are watched by millions eager to find out who will form the next government.

Goldie is a woman who pioneered her vision of election broadcasting at the 主播大秀. I like the sound of her. Described as 'a small, birdlike woman with a striking finely chiselled face and a sharp questing mind' but also someone who could be 'difficult and capricious'. She was a woman it was said of 'iron whim'. You certainly need that if you work in political news.

When I first joined the 主播大秀 aged 19, I think it’s fair to say there were a lot more men in senior positions than women. Despite being told to go and get a good degree I decided hard work and perseverance would win the day. 27 years on, I now run the 主播大秀’s Political Newsgathering and it’s a very different world to the one Grace Wyndham Goldie experienced. Not only am I surrounded by brilliant women AND men, we work in a news cycle that’s so fast, no-one sits down.

In Goldie’s election night programme, she relied on maps stuck to walls and lists of which politician was up or down. Of course what Goldie did then was cutting edge however old fashioned it seems now when we have touchscreens and virtual reality graphics. Where there are comparisons to my world 67 years on are the judgements made about what news lines to run, the accuracy over policy details, the overwhelming importance of impartiality throughout all of the 主播大秀’s coverage. The difference now is the speed of the news. The advent of Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for example mean the story can change in a second. The parties’ spinners are ever present, ready to push a line, pull a story. The leaders may seem calm but behind the scenes they are learning their words, anticipating the questions. And if a story breaks while they’re on stage – well they just have to roll with it – but the press knows it and they know that too.

Despite the second female Prime Minister taking office last year, politics remains an area dominated by men. Although there’s been a big growth in recent years, still only 30% of MPs in the last parliament were women. Political broadcasting is changing too. Laura Kuenssberg is the 主播大秀’s first female Political Editor, and I’m proud to work alongside her as well as the other women who now report on politics for the 主播大秀. Though as we always say, and perhaps Goldie would too, it’s not about being a woman, it’s about getting it right.

Katy Searle is the 主播大秀’s Editor of Political Newsgathering.

• will air on 主播大秀 One and the 主播大秀 News Channel from 9.55pm on Thursday 8 June and will be available to watch on 主播大秀 iPlayer for 30 days after broadcast.