ITV damned
28/07/06 09:22 Media
issues Permalink
Let's accept for the
moment that the Guardian has never had much of a
liking for ITV. The news coverage from ITN has a
right-wing slant which will be anathema to such a
famously liberal (with a lower-case 'l') paper. It
doesn't have the lofty detachment the BBC can afford
because of its state-subsidised status.
Nevertheless, predicting the downfall of the channel could be argued as a bit extreme - until you look at the recent output. Philip Schofield's new show canned after a single episode. Love Island, give me strength...
ITV could, just about, pull it around except for one thing. It's announced big cuts in drama. The BBC's star is firmly in the ascendant precisely because of drama - Doctor Who, the forthcoming Robin Hood, Life on Mars, the more realistic stuff like Sorted, The Street - it's finding that people actually like well-written and well-produced stories and they'll watch in numbers.
ITV - which gave us The Sweeney, Jeremy Brett's Sherlock Holmes, Brideshead Revisited and the Jewel in the Crown, has instead pinned its hopes on formats that are by now proven disasters or cheap dramas with stars the BBC has already nurtured and established (which kind of reasserts the BBC's mastery over the television craft). I can't honestly see a way back. I hope to be proven wrong.
Nevertheless, predicting the downfall of the channel could be argued as a bit extreme - until you look at the recent output. Philip Schofield's new show canned after a single episode. Love Island, give me strength...
ITV could, just about, pull it around except for one thing. It's announced big cuts in drama. The BBC's star is firmly in the ascendant precisely because of drama - Doctor Who, the forthcoming Robin Hood, Life on Mars, the more realistic stuff like Sorted, The Street - it's finding that people actually like well-written and well-produced stories and they'll watch in numbers.
ITV - which gave us The Sweeney, Jeremy Brett's Sherlock Holmes, Brideshead Revisited and the Jewel in the Crown, has instead pinned its hopes on formats that are by now proven disasters or cheap dramas with stars the BBC has already nurtured and established (which kind of reasserts the BBC's mastery over the television craft). I can't honestly see a way back. I hope to be proven wrong.
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Stephen Lawrence
27/07/06 09:25 Media
issues Permalink
Let me say first that I
have no idea whether or not the men accused of
murdering Stephen Lawrence are guilty or not. The
consensus seems to be that they are; the courts
decided otherwise some time ago.
As I say, I have no idea. But I do feel, pretty strongly, that if there's new evidence then the place for it is at New Scotland Yard, or indeed Stephen Lawrence House rather than a TV programme. I have no doubt that the current incarnation of the Met will take the allegations very seriously - they'll also have to take into account that they came from a self-confessed bent copper - and investigate anything new that arises.
But the accused lawyers, should they come to trial again under the double jeopardy rules. will have a pretty cast-iron case saying that the men can't get a fair trial because the media has convinced everyone of their guilt in advance. I'm not entirely sure how that helps.
As I say, I have no idea. But I do feel, pretty strongly, that if there's new evidence then the place for it is at New Scotland Yard, or indeed Stephen Lawrence House rather than a TV programme. I have no doubt that the current incarnation of the Met will take the allegations very seriously - they'll also have to take into account that they came from a self-confessed bent copper - and investigate anything new that arises.
But the accused lawyers, should they come to trial again under the double jeopardy rules. will have a pretty cast-iron case saying that the men can't get a fair trial because the media has convinced everyone of their guilt in advance. I'm not entirely sure how that helps.
How to get your film season advertised for free on
the BBC
24/07/06 13:18 Coffee machine moments
Permalink
Easy - you frame it as
a poll and the BBC does something like
this. I imagine most of these movies
will be turning up on Film4 anytime now...
Define 'frustration'
19/07/06 11:12 Coffee machine moments
Permalink
I've just had one of
those ordinary things happen to me that are
nonetheless truly annoying.
A few weeks ago I was offered an interview with a minor celebrity - emphasis on the 'minor' but never mind. She's setting up in business and it sounded vaguely sellable. So I sent out a few mails and didn't give it much more thought.
Then yesterday the features editor of a national paper gets back to me with a 'yes please'. It was for the main features section and this might have opened a new market for me - might have opened up all sorts of new markets, you never know. The word rate was superb. I was what we call in the trade 'motivated' - which isn't a bad thing in this heat.
Only, when I get back to the PRs, they tell me that the same paper's business section already has a piece going in. So I get back to my commissioning editor - and there's no criticism, he couldn't possibly have known about it - and understandably his view is that the pre-existing interview in the same paper kills the piece stone dead.
One of those things, certainly, but damn. Damn, damn, damn.
A few weeks ago I was offered an interview with a minor celebrity - emphasis on the 'minor' but never mind. She's setting up in business and it sounded vaguely sellable. So I sent out a few mails and didn't give it much more thought.
Then yesterday the features editor of a national paper gets back to me with a 'yes please'. It was for the main features section and this might have opened a new market for me - might have opened up all sorts of new markets, you never know. The word rate was superb. I was what we call in the trade 'motivated' - which isn't a bad thing in this heat.
Only, when I get back to the PRs, they tell me that the same paper's business section already has a piece going in. So I get back to my commissioning editor - and there's no criticism, he couldn't possibly have known about it - and understandably his view is that the pre-existing interview in the same paper kills the piece stone dead.
One of those things, certainly, but damn. Damn, damn, damn.
Part-time for a while
17/07/06 11:09 Coffee machine moments
Permalink
It's that summer
holiday time again - from the schools' point of view
anyway. Charlotte is off, so she's in her room
'tidying up' for a while as I finish some bits and
pieces of work. Her version of tidying up seems to
involve jumping up and down on her bed quite a bit,
but I digress.
This leaves me sort of part-time until September. This could be quite a giggle, going part time and seeing whether anyone can actually see a difference; given the school run you could argue I've been doing it for a while already.
If I find I'm more engaged whilst working shorter hours and my money actually goes up, I'll be doing more of this...
This leaves me sort of part-time until September. This could be quite a giggle, going part time and seeing whether anyone can actually see a difference; given the school run you could argue I've been doing it for a while already.
If I find I'm more engaged whilst working shorter hours and my money actually goes up, I'll be doing more of this...
Not quite a run for your money
15/07/06 14:20 Coffee machine moments
Permalink
Damn.
So I get up this morning all raring to go for the Sport Relief mile. The child-minding had fallen through so I was going to have to take my daughter, but no matter. It was going to be fine.
Then she was tired. But that was OK, we could walk.
Then she started straining to put her trainers on. How long, we asked, have they been too tight? Quite a long time, was the answer. OK, we thought, the school plimsoles came back yesterday - but these, too, were on the small side, it turned out. And she was flagging even whilst putting them on.
So rather absurdly I'm sitting here having raised £215 (many thanks to all who donated) without having run a mile. I promise, promise, promise I'll do one, even if it's on the treadmill at the gym.
But if anyone spends all of Monday mailing me about how it went today, don't be surprised if I sound a little frustrated.
So I get up this morning all raring to go for the Sport Relief mile. The child-minding had fallen through so I was going to have to take my daughter, but no matter. It was going to be fine.
Then she was tired. But that was OK, we could walk.
Then she started straining to put her trainers on. How long, we asked, have they been too tight? Quite a long time, was the answer. OK, we thought, the school plimsoles came back yesterday - but these, too, were on the small side, it turned out. And she was flagging even whilst putting them on.
So rather absurdly I'm sitting here having raised £215 (many thanks to all who donated) without having run a mile. I promise, promise, promise I'll do one, even if it's on the treadmill at the gym.
But if anyone spends all of Monday mailing me about how it went today, don't be surprised if I sound a little frustrated.
Internet Providers and copyright
The kerfuffle over
Internet Service Providers being held liable for
people pirating music is an entertaining bit of dirt
- here's the latest
- but if anyone
wants to test it in the courts I'd be very
surprised if they got anywhere.
Yes, an ISP's infrastructure allows someone to exchange copyright-protected files illegally, but then most of that network moves over BT's cabling in the UK. Is anyone asking BT to remove their cabling from the offenders' houses? I think not. And if the ISPs are responsible for someone downloading music they shouldn't then so, surely, is the manufacturer of the computer on which they're doing it. Plus the shop that sold it to them.
ISPs are a soft target but they're not responsible for someone pirating items using their systems. What'll be next, photocopier manufacturers sued for similar copyright breaches?
Yes, an ISP's infrastructure allows someone to exchange copyright-protected files illegally, but then most of that network moves over BT's cabling in the UK. Is anyone asking BT to remove their cabling from the offenders' houses? I think not. And if the ISPs are responsible for someone downloading music they shouldn't then so, surely, is the manufacturer of the computer on which they're doing it. Plus the shop that sold it to them.
ISPs are a soft target but they're not responsible for someone pirating items using their systems. What'll be next, photocopier manufacturers sued for similar copyright breaches?
Someone shoot ITV and put it out of its misery
11/07/06 17:32 Media
issues Permalink
Incredible.
Last year ITV made itself look completely stupid with a show called 'Celebrity Love Island'. The premise was that a load of single celebrities went to an island, sunbathed, and, er, not a lot else happened.
Unbelievably they've brought it back but to make things really relevant and down to earth - yes, that's irony - they've reduced the celebrity content. That is to say they've taken the word out of the title so when you don't recognise any of the celebs, you don't mind so much.
And what do you know, it's a ratings disaster again. 3.2 million for a first episode.
Anyone with the least idea why they thought this tosh might be more popular a second time around is more than welcome to get in touch.
Last year ITV made itself look completely stupid with a show called 'Celebrity Love Island'. The premise was that a load of single celebrities went to an island, sunbathed, and, er, not a lot else happened.
Unbelievably they've brought it back but to make things really relevant and down to earth - yes, that's irony - they've reduced the celebrity content. That is to say they've taken the word out of the title so when you don't recognise any of the celebs, you don't mind so much.
And what do you know, it's a ratings disaster again. 3.2 million for a first episode.
Anyone with the least idea why they thought this tosh might be more popular a second time around is more than welcome to get in touch.
A phone call
10/07/06 14:41 Coffee machine moments
Permalink
If you ever want proof
that some people just don't listen, here's a summary
of a phone call I received today.
"Hello, Mr. Clapperton? It's PC World Business. You have an account with us and haven't bought anything for ages - we'd like to know whether it was the service, the products, or what we can do to help."
"Oh, er, right. Actually I'm a freelance journalist. About four years ago the Guardian asked me to do a bit of mystery shopping and pretend to be a businessperson, and to write about how I was treated. I wrote it up and that was that, really."
"Oh, OK. So, are you in a position to buy something now?"
Duh...
"Hello, Mr. Clapperton? It's PC World Business. You have an account with us and haven't bought anything for ages - we'd like to know whether it was the service, the products, or what we can do to help."
"Oh, er, right. Actually I'm a freelance journalist. About four years ago the Guardian asked me to do a bit of mystery shopping and pretend to be a businessperson, and to write about how I was treated. I wrote it up and that was that, really."
"Oh, OK. So, are you in a position to buy something now?"
Duh...
Saddest headline on a press release
06/07/06 13:33 Coffee machine moments
Permalink