- Peter Horrocks
- 30 Nov 06, 04:21 PM
As I mentioned earlier, I recently gave a speech - at the new - on some of the themes which are driving our strategy for the future of 主播大秀 TV News; including the growing importance of user interaction, how new technology is challenging the traditional concept of 主播大秀 impartiality, and how broadcasters will have to adapt to regain lost audiences.
You can read the speech below. I'd be very interested to know what you think of my arguments.
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If you scratch some broadcast journalists of my generation you'll discover, barely skin deep, that the reason some of them went into broadcasting was to tell the audience what to think. I have to confess that was part of my motivation - the sense of having the opportunity to produce journalism that would really change people's understanding of the world. And I suspect it's a motivation that would be recognised by my former editor and mentor - Tim Gardam - the chair of the steering committee for this prestigious new institute.
Now I'm in a job - as head of the 主播大秀's TV News services - where the power to influence what millions think may seem considerable. But I have to report my disappointment - though it's a disappointment I thoroughly welcome. Because any power there may once have been to tell people what to think has evaporated. Convulsions in technologies and fragmentation in audience attitudes mean that the power to instruct the public is seeping through the broadcasters' fingers...
Continue reading "The future of news?"
Peter Horrocks is head of 主播大秀 Newsroom
- Peter Horrocks
- 30 Nov 06, 02:58 PM
Our coverage of the sad news of Gordon Brown's young son being diagnosed with cystic fibrosis has caused some comment in the newsroom and from viewers.
There have been a few questions about the prominence of the story (the Ten O'Clock News led on it, for instance). And some viewers have asked why, given many families are affected by the condition, we are concentrating on one family.
主播大秀 News always considers carefully how it handles stories that relate to family and personal matters. However we felt that our audiences would engage with this story and that it would become a part of their understanding of the man who is likely to be Britain's next prime minister. As Nick Robinson commented, David Cameron also has a disabled child and he has explained how that has affected his political perspective.
Newsnight carried an intriguing interview with a Labour political adviser, Ed Owen, who has a daughter with Cystic Fibrosis. He explained the need for parents to provide the intensive physiotherapy for the affected child. It is a legitimate matter of public interest for us to inform the audience how Mr Brown's family could be affected by this. And that is more significant than other families faced with the same circumstances.
But beyond the potential political significance it is legitimate to report on a story about a prominent figure from the human perspective. Mr Brown had issued a statement about the condition and was happy for his colleague Yvette Cooper MP to speak on behalf of the family. Our medical correspondent then added to the basic information by providing some valuable context explaining that the life expectancy of cystic fibrosis sufferers is much greater now than used to be the case.
Connecting with all our audiences by covering stories that they can readily relate to is an important part of keeping 主播大秀 News relevant. Coincidentally, I gave a lecture this week which - amongst other things - addressed this issue. I'll write more about it later today...
Peter Horrocks is head of 主播大秀 Newsroom
The Mirror: Columnist Brian Reade asks, "why the fear over Michael Grade defecting to ITV?" ()
The Guardian: "The 主播大秀 will have to lop at least 拢1.6bn off spending plans if - as looks likely - the government gives it a licence fee deal in line with inflation or below." ()
