Posts Tagged ‘Add new tag’

Tempted by nuggets of wisdom from the panel (and those really good muesli yoghurts), it was standing room only for the Gorkana breakfast briefing with ITN  on Friday morning. With a cup of coffee in one hand and a mini pain au chocolat in the other, here is what I learnt from the line up below:

Toby Castle, Head of Home News, ITV News
Ed Fraser, Online Editor, Channel 4 News
Julie Hulme, Home Editor, Channel 4 News

Overview
ITV
• ITV is the largest commercial channel in the UK – news bulletins go out at 1.30pm, 6.30om and 10pm
• The bulletins are carefully tailored to the core audiences at each time (e.g. elderly/mums at 1.30pm), reaching 8 million people a day (who are predominantly aged 16-34)

Channel 4
• The audience is mainly ABC1, with a large ethnic minority audience also
• Focus on analysis – aimed at people who want to know why

Channel 4 online
• Channel 4 online describes itself as a ‘beating heart of original journalism’ - breaking exclusive stories
• Almost all correspondents are on Twitter and tweet a lot
• 850,000 unique users/month

Extra Information – planning and spokespeople
ITV
• Has two planners who are responsible for planning the next day’s news
• These planners are open to ideas - their sources include press releases, PA, their specialist correspondents
• 3.15 – meeting to run through next day
• The Head of Planning deals with longer term planning – often under pressure – short window of opportunity
• Planners suggest a running order of approximately 7 stories (to fill 26 minutes of air time) to the Head of Home News
• It is easier to get on the lunchtime news than the 10pm bulletin…
• Availability of spokespeople to get to offices is key:

o Grays Inn Road (HQ)
o 4, Millbank
o Regional offices as alternative

• Midnight embargoes don’t work for them – 5-7pm is better (else by 10pm news slot the story has already been covered many times over – MUST be a new angle/approach at this stage)
• Foreign News – There is one foreign news planner. Content tends to be more ‘breaking news’ than features

Channel 4
• Head of Home News and deputy are responsible for planning bigger features and films
• Contact the programme Editor planner for shorter lead time ideas (the day before)
• Pitch to the specialist correspondents – they then pitch to the editor on your behalf (if they consider the news to be a genuine development/news item in their field)
• In unsure, email the Producer directly – rigorous with filing and will keep contacts (suggested spokespeople etc)
• Have two ‘guest bookers’ – don’t want to speak to the same people all the time. Proposed spokesperson must be available on the phone for an involved conversation beforehand

o Approach the relevant specialist team
o On the day – email the ‘guest booker’
o The correspondents are happy to meet and greet spokespeople

• Runs lots of foreign news. There are three foreign news correspondents based in London – you should let them know if you have someone/a client on the ground who may have access to somewhere that they do not – will be much appreciated!

Channel 4 online
• Focus on depth and analysis – adding value and an angle that can’t be found elsewhere
• Agenda determined by listening to Radio 4, then Radio 5, reading press releases, looking at what’s trending on Twitter/most read online stories
• Cover 30-35 stories – 8-10 in depth
• Don’t like B-roll footage – they have a quality threshold and would rather film it themselves

Question
What does the future look like? With constant online news updates, will there still be a need for the regular fixed bulletins?
- There is likely to be a convergence, but currently the figures do not support a move away from bulletins
- All news outlets are thinking about the future –not wanting to be left behind
- ITV recently tried a web chat during a programme – 32,000 people engaging and writing messages during the programme – not that many considering the total number of people viewing, but nonetheless a substantial figure
- The constant news will enhance brand loyalty – will force news outlets to keep raising the bar – must offer something that 24hour online news does not
- This brand will increasingly depend on key individuals, who have become a brand in themselves – people will want to hear their opinions/analysis

Top Tips for PRs

• Pick up the phone! Come with everything – research, available spokesperson, and a strong human case study and you will “walk onto the lunchtime news”

• Many Channel 4 News correspondents are on Twitter - @fraserec4 – “message me and I will engage”

• Remember it’s NEWS – think about whether your story is genuinely newsworthy and not just fluff

• Remember that all news channels are competitive – they are all trying to make a distinctive news programme and will want exclusive content

The Government will offer free personal care in their own homes for those with the “highest needs”. This could benefit up to 350,000 people.

Legislation will be brought in to halve the current deficit and increase financial regulation

Commitment to ensure 0.7% of GDP for International Development

The Government will seek to abolish child poverty by 2020.

There will be a bill to continue the reform of the House of Lords

Other issues include:

Measures to deal with anti-Social behaviour

A Bill to enhance digital communications

A Bill to enshrine education guarantees

An Energy Bill to support carbon capture and storage

High Speed Rail Bill

Flood protection measures

Devolving more power to Wales

Legislation to ban cluster munitions

No real surprises contained in the Speech. More details will be provided on the content of the speech and on the Speech debate in the House of Commons later this afternoon.

Jason Stamper wrote a great piece this morning about what Obama’s presidency means for the science and technology world. For anyone working in these industries, these are exciting times. As Barack Obama himself says:

“America risks being left behind in the global economy: Revolutionary advances in information technology, biotechnology, nanotechnology and other fields are reshaping the global economy. Without renewed efforts, the United States risks losing leadership in science, technology and innovation.”

And what of his plans to hire a CTO of the U.S.A?

That’s quite a job title and one that is going to actually be filled early next year, if Obama’s election pledges are to be believed.

To quote the man of the moment, he plans to appoint America’s first CTO to “ensure that our government and all its agencies have the right infrastructure, policies and services for the 21st century. The CTO will ensure the safety of our networks and will lead an interagency effort, working with chief technology and chief information officers of each of the federal agencies, to ensure that they use best-in-class technologies and share best practices.”

Worthy sentiments I’m sure you’ll agree and probably not that much of a surprise. Of the two main presidential candidates, Obama was far more tech-savvy than McCain, even going so far as to use Twitter, the micro-blogging service to reach out to potential voters, whilst McCain was virtually tech-illiterate, confessing to not even using email and barely being online. I’m certainly not going to claim ‘it was tech wot won it’ but the difference between the two men on that issue was stark and only served to highlight Obama’s youth, freshness and enthusiasm.

Obama has said that ‘the Bush Administration has been one of the most secretive, closed administrations in American history’ and the appointment of a CTO will certainly help to address that. Transparency in government and policy is always welcome and Obama plans to use technology ‘to reform government and improve the exchange of information between the federal government and citizens.’

We’ll have to watch this space to see exactly how the CTO and tech-friendly approach works out but the early signs are encouraging and it can only be a good thing for the whole industry to have a US President as savvy and pro-tech as Barack Obama. If you’re interested in hearing what he is up to why not follow him on Twitter? He can be found here @BarackObama