Featured Post

What a Journalist Isn't

I'm sick and tired of the abuse journalists are getting at the moment. They don't deserve it, at least real journalists don't - ...

20 October 2014

Time to Scrap the Radio Bulletin?

I always enjoy David Lloyd's radio blog, so I was delighted this week when he turned his attention to something I'd like to think I know something about - radio news.

The gist of his piece, which you can read in full here, is that the news bulletin has outlived its usefulness.

In a era when news breaks on Twitter it's rare to actually hear something for the first time at the head of a bull. Today's sad announcement of the death of the actress Lynda Bellingham is a good example. Social media had it (via PA) a good ten minutes ahead of the 'flash' on my bedside radio. That's not untypical.

Bulletin order can appear arbitrary; listeners have differing priorities and (in many cases) very different priorities to journalists. Far from being a switch on point, David quotes research from Peter Neigel in Denmark that suggests the news fanfare can be a major switch off; it's the klaxon reminding listeners it's time to get on with their lives.

All interesting stuff, and food for thought for any thinking newsperson. It got me thinking.

12 October 2014

Pride in Radio

Last night my friend Hirsty did a remarkable, brave thing. 'He' walked in to Stephen Nolan's Five Live radio studio as Simon. She came out as Stephanie.


It was a powerful, compelling piece of radio and it was so appropriate that Hirsty chose to share a life changing moment in a live moment on the air. She's appeared so often more at ease, more comfortable, on the radio than off it. From today she should also be more comfortable in her own skin.

That's not, however, the reason for this piece. If I was surprised, yes, and captivated by the announcement I was overwhelmed by the reaction that followed.  The radio family spoke.