OT: Look North

[spuorgelgoog]

I hope Paul didn't do the paving.

Owain

[Bill Wright]

Yes but he's got a big advantage there because it's an African name and he was an African. I bet he couldn't have spelled Budziszewski. There again, Sid Budziszewski sometimes has trouble.

Bill

[Gib Bogle]

Of course Mandela's death was in reality a non-event. It was totally anticipated and had absolutely no effect on anything. I guess the salient point was that these news organisations (it's much more widespread than the BBC) had months to prepare their stories, which were all set up just waiting for the button to be pushed. It was much easier to push the button than to send reporters out into the field (and the rain!) to get some real news.

[Gib Bogle]

That's a very silly comment.

[Clem Dye]

I thought the same. The coverage of Mandela's sad demise verses the rest

of the news coverage on the BBC was grossly imbalanced in my opinion, and as you said, Look North's Friday programme was very poor if you wanted to learn about what was going on in the region (unless Leeds is now the region). I get annoyed when Harrogate isn't shown on the weather

maps!

Clem

[stuart noble]

I think we sometimes forget that the "news" is in fact a "show". Maybe they pulled the plug on Nelson only when arrangements for the worldwide jamboree had been finalised.

[spuorgelgoog]

Yes, and she was responsible for the rise in house prices too.

Owain

[Phil Cook]

Not for nothing is it called Look Leeds in Sheffield.

[The Natural Philosopher]

Flipping eck! And there was me thinking she was no more than a air headed deb without two O levels to rub together, who just wanted lots of attention and went to extreme lengths to get it, ending up getting as much attention as anyone has any right to get, just for being dead.

[Bill Wright]

It would be nice if Sheffield local TV could give them some competition.

Bill

[Dave Plowman (News)]

I wish them luck, but the history of these local TV stations in the UK suggests they'll need it.

[whisky-dave]

Wow that was efficcient quicker than phoning for an ambulance ;-)

a full roundup of the

Nothing much exciting happened in london as far as I know, the only thing o n the news seemed to be about Nelson Mandela.

nal news

yes and very repeatative it seemed although I kept switching channels in an attempted to aviod it.

[ARW]

He is due to be released soon. I'll look forward to seeinng how he enjoyed prison - and he will have enjoyed it.

[Woody]

If you want to see what BBC News thinks of its viewers, get on iPlayer and call up Newswatch from last Saturday morning.

As has been the case on this NG they too received serious criticism by the bucketload (although only showed two 'slightly miffed' comments,) but then went on to interview James Harding, the new Director of News. I have never seen such a condescending, arrogant, not-interested sidestep response ever - and that includes all of the previous News editorial/management that they have interviewed before.

One can't help but wonder what his attitude would have been if the centre of London was being hit by 90mph+ winds? On this occasion it was outside the M25 so of no real interest - or at least that was how I read between the lines.

[Bill Wright]

Bill

[Woody]

Unusual, the Indy being independent.

Must say I enjoyed the comments though!

[Bill Wright]

BBC news director James Harding said,

"The decision-making is one around the significance of Nelson Mandela. Nobody needs a lecture on his importance but we are probably talking about the most important statesman, the most significant statesman, of the last 100 years, a man who defined freedom, justice, reconciliation, forgiveness."

Mandela the most important statesman of the last 100 years? Bollocks, total bollocks. What about Churchill for a start?

Bill

[Ian Jackson]

In message , Bill Wright writes

Don't mention the war!

[alan]

Successfully lead a coalition during the WWII but politically f***d up every thing he touched outside of those years.

[Bill Wright]

He was considerably more inspirational than Mr Mandela, and he saved you from living under a Nazi dictatorship. What did Mr Mandela do for you?

Bill