Radio Stuff
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Money Talks
It’s often said that it’s vulgar to talk about money. Although those saying that are usually among the chattering classes who have more money than sense. But a few seconds of radio this past week made me quickly want to go and check on my bank balance, since I’m clearly being paid too much. BBC…
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A Matter of Trust
In all of the fallout from the BBC’s Delivering Quality First programme, a lot of focus has been placed on BBC Local Radio. And rightly so, in my opinion. Much is said of the fact that is costs some £143m a year to run – far more than some of the BBC’s networks. But, of…
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What’s The Alternative?
It’s not very often that the words “Jon Gaunt” and “common sense” are mentioned in the same breath. Seriously, the man’s credibility as a broadcaster has been called into question in recent years. And that’s putting it mildly. The shock jock has shocked so much that he can’t get a job these days. Yet in…
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Mutiny On The Auntie
I should start this installation of my blog by stating that these are my own views and not necessarily those of the BBC. Or are they? Earlier this week I wrote about the importance of “grass roots” campaigning if the BBC’s proposed cuts to Local Radio are to be reversed, or at least limited. I…
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Delivering Confusion First?
So – it’s a week or so since the BBC announced its programme of cuts, ambitiously entitled Delivering Quality First. And perhaps the most noticeable aspect of the exercise – which will see 2000 staff lose their jobs – is that nobody appear to be “up in arms”. At least for now. That may change…
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Leaner, Fitter…. Better?
The sky didn’t quite fall in. The world didn’t quite end. But yesterday in my BBC office there was a sombre mood as we learned the harsh reality of how the cuts will affect us. Although the phrase I heard most often was “it could have been a lot worse”. That’s going to ring a…
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D-Day For Local Radio
Tomorrow’s a big day for BBC staff. We’ll find out the results of the long awaited DQF programme. DQF stands for Delivering Quality First, but likes its predecessor “Creative Futures” it actually stands for cuts. And some of the biggest the BBC has ever seen. The Corporation is looking to save 16% over the next four years,…
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Gagging For It
The relationship between journalists and politicians has always been a two way street. Each needs the other in order to put across their message or to hold decision makers to account. And on the whole it works very well – as long as each has an understanding of the others’ limitations. Yet the relationship becomes…
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Pushing The Boundaries
There was a time when, if you wanted to be on the wireless, you were fairly limited in your options. If you weren’t lucky enough to get a gig on your local BBC or ILR station, it was pretty much a narrow choice between hospital/student radio or – if you wer really lucky – a Restricted Service…
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Talk Is Cheap – Use It Wisely
The term “freedom of speech” is often trotted out by various people with various agendas. The right to have your say has never been easier thanks to the explosion of social media. And as we have seen in recent times, Twitter and Facebook have given a voice to many who previously may have found it hard to have…
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