Media
Jack Straw lays into BBC newsreaders
Published Friday, May 19 2006, 10:34 BST | By Dave West | 6 comments
Jack Straw has said BBC newsreaders are paid too much and should present the news from a desk.
The Leader of the House of Commons made the comments in response to an MP's questions about the quality of the corporation's news output.
Referring to new presentation methods former Labour minister Chris Mullin said: "the tabloid virus is beginning to infect BBC television news."
"Have you noticed that newscasters increasingly no longer read news to camera, but they walk around the studio like a couple of ham actors emoting?," he asked. "I think it is called news with attitude.
"Do you agree with me that if the BBC can't do better than this it is going to have difficulty justifying its licence fee?"
Straw agreed with most of Mullin' points. He commented: "On the issue of whether newscasters should prance around studios or actually sit at a desk and read the news, which is what it seems to me they are paid for – and too much – personally I prefer the latter to the former."
The Leader of the House of Commons made the comments in response to an MP's questions about the quality of the corporation's news output.
Referring to new presentation methods former Labour minister Chris Mullin said: "the tabloid virus is beginning to infect BBC television news."
"Have you noticed that newscasters increasingly no longer read news to camera, but they walk around the studio like a couple of ham actors emoting?," he asked. "I think it is called news with attitude.
"Do you agree with me that if the BBC can't do better than this it is going to have difficulty justifying its licence fee?"
Straw agreed with most of Mullin' points. He commented: "On the issue of whether newscasters should prance around studios or actually sit at a desk and read the news, which is what it seems to me they are paid for – and too much – personally I prefer the latter to the former."
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6 Comments
Your Responses
Sean, Liverpool, on May 30th, 2006
I largely agree with Straw and Mullin. How the newsreaders justify the multi-million pound contracts I don't know. It's not as if they have to collect the news stories or write the introductions to the reports; their only remit should be to clearly read from the autocue. Yet, it seems, the BBC producers are trying to chase their independent competitors' tabloid style news programmes, which regularly add sensational headlines to news stories that often need no introduction at all.
I largely agree with Straw and Mullin. How the newsreaders justify the multi-million pound contracts I don't know. It's not as if they have to collect the news stories or write the introductions to the reports; their only remit should be to clearly read from the autocue. Yet, it seems, the BBC producers are trying to chase their independent competitors' tabloid style news programmes, which regularly add sensational headlines to news stories that often need no introduction at all.
Gary Paterson, Scotland, on May 22nd, 2006
The BBC are one of the best known news broadcasters in the world next to CNN. Just because they are walking around the studio in front of a big interactive wall that doesn't change anything. It's called improvement. It's funny to hear Jack Straw talking about the BBC when he should be focusing on more important issues than moaning about whether someone sits down or stands up.
The BBC are one of the best known news broadcasters in the world next to CNN. Just because they are walking around the studio in front of a big interactive wall that doesn't change anything. It's called improvement. It's funny to hear Jack Straw talking about the BBC when he should be focusing on more important issues than moaning about whether someone sits down or stands up.
Paul, Walthamstow, on May 21st, 2006
Surely Straw & his cabinet colleagues have got better things to do! Whenever this Government hits a rocky patch they hit out at the media - usually the BBC. Criticising the BBC's news presentation appears to be higher up the political agenda than sorting out the mess the Government has got itself into.
Surely Straw & his cabinet colleagues have got better things to do! Whenever this Government hits a rocky patch they hit out at the media - usually the BBC. Criticising the BBC's news presentation appears to be higher up the political agenda than sorting out the mess the Government has got itself into.
John Whitney, London, on May 19th, 2006
What silly comments! The reshuffle has clearly left them them with little to do but back bite on trivial issues regarding television presentation. All major networks use the walking around and newsreading method,so wheres the critisism of ITV news and SKY?
What silly comments! The reshuffle has clearly left them them with little to do but back bite on trivial issues regarding television presentation. All major networks use the walking around and newsreading method,so wheres the critisism of ITV news and SKY?
Dave, Bromley, on May 19th, 2006
Perhaps Jack Straw should stick to leading his own squalid bunch before criticising the BBC.
Perhaps Jack Straw should stick to leading his own squalid bunch before criticising the BBC.
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The BBC Newsreaders are just fine, especially the ladies. The silly old f**** should stick to trying to sort out his own shoddy buch of half wits and poor actors in the House of Commons.