POST-graduate Journalism student, Sandra Juncu, from Edinburgh Napier University takes a look at what made it in the media today…
It’s a quiet day for media stories in the press, today.
As reported yesterday on allmediascotland, the editor of Question Time, which is to be produced in Scotland. The Herald tells us (page 9) that family and ‘personal reasons’ have prompted Ed Havard to reject Glasgow and stay in London. The BBC was informed of his resignation this week and the post is to be soon advertised..
On the same story, The Daily Record (page 21) raises the question of presenter David Dimbleby’s future on the show. The article reports that Dimbleby, who regarded Havard as a protégé, was ‘furious when plans emerged to move the show from Westminster to Scotland three years ago’. The presenter refused to comment on Havard’s decision to quit.
Moving on, in a two-page spread, The Scotsman (pages 16-17) reviews Prime Minister, David Cameron’s appointment of Craig Oliver as his new communications director. The feature – by Eddie Barnes – reveals that the BBC TV executive was an unexpected successor to his predecessor, Andy Coulson, with no previous experience in politics or in the print trade. Says Barnes, the Scotland-raised journalist started his career as a news assistant at STV news, advanced to ITV news, from where (after a brief period at Chanel 4) he moved on to the BBC.
In trying to explain David Cameron’s choice, the article speculates that there was a need for somebody with a ‘feel for TV’. Plus didn’t fit the identekit image of a spin doctor, including being from the ‘liberal’ BBC. Also, he is not connected to media mogul, Rupert Murdoch; unlike Coulson, a former News of the World editor.
Coulson resigned from the position after the re-surfacing of allegations about phone-hacking carried out by News of the World journalists – in order to find out private information about celebrities and other high-profile public figures – during his time as editor.
Elsewhere, and following a recent trend, including during the sentencing of former MSP, Tommy Sheridan, The Herald (page 10) reports that the Supreme Court (the final court of appeal for civil cases in England, Wales and Northern Ireland) is to allow journalists, members of the public and legal staff to use ‘live text base communication’ during hearings. This means journalists can broadcast news from court live, via twitter.
Finally, Alan Titchmarsh will host ITV1’s first gardening and lifestyle series. The former Gardener’s World presenter, on BBC2, has signed a two-year deal with ITV1 and is understood to be very eager to start this new prime-time project. Her is quoted in the Daily Record (page 21), saying: “This is a great opportunity for anyone involved in broadcasting and one that I relish taking on.”
