POST-graduate Journalism student, Orla Ni Sheaghdha, from Edinburgh Napier University reviews the media stories in today’s newspapers…
ITV is featured in most of the papers this morning and is expected to announce, on Wednesday, a profits rise for 2010.
The Herald reports (page 24): “ITV is expected to reveal that profits more than doubled in 2010 after it benefited from an advertising market revival.” The article continues: “The broadcasting giant, which is home to hit shows, I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! and Coronation Street, is forecast to announce that it made pre-tax profits of £298 million in 2010, up from £108 million the previous year.”
The Scotsman, meanwhile, reports (page 35): “Analysts at Numis Securities predict that advertising revenues increased by 16 per cent in the year, after a first-half boost from the World Cup.” Writes Peter Ranscombe: “A strong line-up of shows helped generate further increases in advertising revenues in the final quarter, with the finals of talent show, The X Factor, reported to pull in up to £250,000 for a 30-second slot. Downton Abbey drew an audience of more than ten million for its final episode of the first series.”
According to the Scottish Daily Express (page 45): “ITV is expected to reveal that profits more than doubled last year when it reports on Wednesday after it benefited from an advertising market revival.”
In a different guise, ITV also appears in The Scottish Sun as This Morning becomes the first UK programme to feature product placement. Writes Jane Hamilton (page 25): “ITV has signed a £100,000 three-month deal with Nescafe to promote its Dolce Gusto coffee machine.” The article continues: “Experts estimate product placement will be worth up to £150 million for TV companies. But gambling, booze, tobacco, junk food and medicines cannot be featured.” David Turtle from Mediawatch UK is quoted in the article. He says: “We’re amazed that [broadcasting regulators] Ofcom has gone ahead with this proposal.”
Elsewhere, The Scotsman reports on journalists tweeting in the courtroom (page 39): “The use of ‘live text-based communication devices’ from the courts has been like the dawn chorus. The first lonely tweets were in December when the judge in the first bail hearing for Wikileaks founder, Julian Assange, allowed journalists to report discreetly – but live – from the courtroom.”
The article continues: “In Scotland, STV was the first off the mark to submit a formal request for live tweeting from Glasgow High Court on 26 January when Lord Bracadale was due to sentence Tommy Sheridan. More requests quickly followed.” The article goes on: “The BBC has drawn up its own rule, saying tweeting will be done only by a reporter who attends the whole of a trial to ensure continuity and full knowledge.”
The BBC is also featured in this morning’s Scottish Daily Express (page 22): “BBC journalists have been urged to smarten up after the Ukranian president was shocked to be interviewed by a reporter wearing jeans.” Reports Jane Mathews: “Last week Viktor Yanukovych, the president of Ukraine, looked dismayed as Newsnight reporter Justin Rowlatt interviewed him in his presidential palace wearing his blue denims.” She continues: “BBC weatherman Tomansz Schafernaker attracted complaints from viewers after conducting a weather forecast last November in jeans and a blue jumper with no shirt underneath.” The article finishes with a quote from a BBC spokeswoman: “There is not a dress code as such, just general guidance about maintaining an appropriate and professional appearance.”
Meanwhile, journalist, Helen Croyden, is featured in The Daily Record (page 17) with the release of her new book: “Helen’s life was turned around after she joined SugarDaddie.com, a website which offered her the opportunity to meet rich men.” Lindsay Clydesdale writes: “Now the 33 year-old has written a book about her Sugar Daddy diaries.” The piece continues: “Helen, who was then working for ITN, said: ‘I never imagined that a girl like me would ever entertain the idea of taking money from a man’.” The book is due to come out on Thursday.
According to The Scottish Sun (page 1, TV Biz): “Comedy Benidorm pulled in its highest-ever ratings for the first episode of the new series – peaking at eight million viewers.” The article continues: “Meanwhile, BBC1’s Let’s Dance for Comic Relief attracted 7.2 million viewers on Saturday night.”
Supermodel, Naomi Campbell, is tipped in this morning’s papers as Cheryl Cole’s replacement on The X Factor. The Scottish Daily Express reports: “X Factor bosses are hoping that the supermodel Naomi Campbell will bring an explosive element to the show if she replaces Cheryl Cole as a judge. The famously hot-headed star is being lined up to take Cheryl’s chair amid rumours the singer may be moving to America as a judge on the US version of the hit show.”
There is speculation in The Scotsman (page 15) about Cole’s reported move to America: “Cheryl Cole’s dreams of American super-stardom appear to have been dealt a blow, with reports that she has missed out on the top job on the US version of The X Factor.” The article continues: “As Cole’s dreams of landing the top role on the American show appear to be disappearing, TV bosses in the UK have already been looking for her replacement, with supermodel Naomi Campbell rumoured to be lined up.”
And finally, Scots singer, Susan Boyle, is set to be a guest star in an episode of The Simpsons, according to the papers today. The Herald reports (page 2): “Susan Boyle has landed a role on The Simpsons – as the new girlfriend of fellow Scot, Groundskeeper Willie.” According to the Scottish Daily Express (page 15): “Singing sensation Susan Boyle is finally set to find romance by starring in an episode of The Simpsons.” Writes Judith Duffy: “TV bosses are said to be keen for her to be the love interest for fellow Scot, Groundskeeper Willie, the school janitor.”
