Post by The Weather Clerk on Nov 25, 2005 3:13:21 GMT -5
O.K. this isn't radio, but it's still considering the electromagnetic spectrum!
The media columns in the newspapers suggest that Sky News is the most popular news programme at the current time. My own award for the best news programme of the year goes to Channel 4 news which, in my opinion, rarely ceases to hold my attention. Everything about it seems to mesh: Jon Snow is the idea anchor man, females are chosen because they’re clearly talented journalists and can bond with the viewers, the news features often contain one offbeat topic.
Above all, though, it’s the coverage of energy supplies – both current and future - where C4 leaves the rest of the pack standing. I’m not aware of one other news programme covering the ramifications of the rapid depletion of North Sea gas reserves in the depth that C4 did. There’s also a sense of belonging with this programme, with the regular invitations to email C4 with thoughts and views about the programme’s content. What news programmes do other contributors favour?
R4 used to be a station leader in areas such as this and I find it most depressing to observe that it’s now a complete laggard. Mary Goldring would have presented a one hour Analysis special on the recent rise in the oil price (probably covered two programmes) and I’ve no doubt that she would have conducted an in-depth investigation as to the technical merits of the alternatives. The same applies to transport.
I don’t know if R4 listeners recall, but when the Jamie Oliver issue was in full sail, both Woman’s Hour and The Food Programme covered his outburst in great depth. However, whilst all this was going on, there was a headline in the Independent, detailing the cost of the food that we waste annually. All the other broadsheets also covered this and the figure ranged between £6 - £18 billion pounds. This makes £250m sound like small change. Neither of these programmes focussed on this issue. The message that I demodulated out of all this was that R4 now regards celebrity as more important than substance.
Woman’s Hour used to regard energy issues as of prime importance (in the days of Majorie Anderson) and one would often hear features concerning the efficient heating of a house, but not these days. Let us hear women’s views on energy and environmental issues on WH. How about a feature on WH with a woman servicing her own car or making her house more energy efficient, together with the lessons that she’s learnt from these exercises? What about a fashion item relating to a cold winter and how this affects style?
The media columns in the newspapers suggest that Sky News is the most popular news programme at the current time. My own award for the best news programme of the year goes to Channel 4 news which, in my opinion, rarely ceases to hold my attention. Everything about it seems to mesh: Jon Snow is the idea anchor man, females are chosen because they’re clearly talented journalists and can bond with the viewers, the news features often contain one offbeat topic.
Above all, though, it’s the coverage of energy supplies – both current and future - where C4 leaves the rest of the pack standing. I’m not aware of one other news programme covering the ramifications of the rapid depletion of North Sea gas reserves in the depth that C4 did. There’s also a sense of belonging with this programme, with the regular invitations to email C4 with thoughts and views about the programme’s content. What news programmes do other contributors favour?
R4 used to be a station leader in areas such as this and I find it most depressing to observe that it’s now a complete laggard. Mary Goldring would have presented a one hour Analysis special on the recent rise in the oil price (probably covered two programmes) and I’ve no doubt that she would have conducted an in-depth investigation as to the technical merits of the alternatives. The same applies to transport.
I don’t know if R4 listeners recall, but when the Jamie Oliver issue was in full sail, both Woman’s Hour and The Food Programme covered his outburst in great depth. However, whilst all this was going on, there was a headline in the Independent, detailing the cost of the food that we waste annually. All the other broadsheets also covered this and the figure ranged between £6 - £18 billion pounds. This makes £250m sound like small change. Neither of these programmes focussed on this issue. The message that I demodulated out of all this was that R4 now regards celebrity as more important than substance.
Woman’s Hour used to regard energy issues as of prime importance (in the days of Majorie Anderson) and one would often hear features concerning the efficient heating of a house, but not these days. Let us hear women’s views on energy and environmental issues on WH. How about a feature on WH with a woman servicing her own car or making her house more energy efficient, together with the lessons that she’s learnt from these exercises? What about a fashion item relating to a cold winter and how this affects style?
