POST-graduate journalism student, Patrick McPartlin, from Edinburgh Napier University, scours the papers for media stories making the news today…
A ‘technical hitch’ last night on STV – which saw the Central Belt treated to news from Aberdeen, including news items from Shetland, the island of Barra and Plockton in Wester Ross – is covered by both the Daily Record (page 24) and the Scottish Daily Express (page 2). STV anchor, John McKay, later shed light on the problems, saying on Twitter: “We had a technical breakdown which prevented us getting on air. Was sitting in the chair ready to go. It’s the risk of live TV.”
Both The Herald and the Scottish Daily Mail report the long-running saga of the BBC’s Question Time being set to shift production to Glasgow, as part of plans by the Corporation to ensure that at least half of its network programme spending is outwith London by 2016. The latter reports (page 5) that TV licence fee payers will have to foot the bill for travel to and from Glasgow, as well as hotel costs, with The Herald reporting presenter, David Dimbleby’s supposed refusal to travel to Scotland – suggesting that production meetings will have to be held in London despite the team being based in Glasgow.
Dimbleby is quoted about the planned move, saying: “It’s like trying to report on Holyrood from Westminster.” As widely reported a fortnight ago, in the midst of criticism levelled at the BBC, the editor of the show, Ed Havard has resigned over the plans.
The news yesterday that former GMTV presenter, Lara Logan – now chief foreign correspondent with American network CBS – was attacked and sexually assaulted by up to 200 protestors in Egypt’s Tahrir Square, has made most of the papers this morning, with the Daily Record (page 17), the Scottish Daily Express (page 19) and the Scottish Daily Mail (page 7) and The Scottish Sun (page 25) all reporting her ordeal. Friends of the South Africa-born reporter are quoted in the Scottish Daily Express saying that Ms Logan is planning on returning to work as soon as possible.
It seems that we won’t be hearing the end of the Sky Sports sexism scandal any time soon. Four days after Andy Gray and Richard Keys began hosting their new show on radio channel, talkSPORT, The Scottish Sun (page 3) is reporting that former Celtic footballer, Alan McInally, is set to become Sky’s top pundit, following a successful trial period.
And lastly, Adrian Chiles has made the papers again, this time appearing on page 1 of The Scottish Sun’s television supplement, TV Biz. Chiles, presenter of ITV’s breakfast show, Daybreak, has come under fire for his use of the c-word on his new Sunday night chat show.
Chiles said, “Russell Brand – what a c***”, during the show, screened at 10.30pm. Media regulator, Ofcom, is understood to have received 16 complaints whilst ITV is reported saying that it had received “less than 20″ phonecalls, with Ofcom doubting further action would be taken, given the broadcast time.
