Broadcasting the Coronation of King Charles III is about more than just feeding images back to viewers. The day is about us, the people, and ITN’s role is to follow the narrative as it unfolds, conveying all aspects of the public's experience as well as interpreting details of the ceremony on the day.
There’s a weekend call-up for the Dad’s Army of “BBC crisis” pundits. “Linekergate” is the 60th on the Wikipedia list of “BBC controversies”, and Mark Damazer, Richard Ayre, Roger Mosey, Roger Bolton and I are on parade across the nation’s various air-waves untangling “another fine mess”.
The BBC’s football pundits and most of the commentators have walked out over the suspension of Gary Lineker for allegedly breaching the BBC guidelines on tweeting.
War in Europe, economic instability and non-stop turbulence at Westminster, not to mention the impact of climate change – running a news organisation in 2023 is not for the faint-hearted. Yet Rachel Corp, CEO of ITN since last September, seems remarkably relaxed. And that’s without adding to the mix the challenge that mainstream media faces from digital giants.
He was appointed editor of ITN when News at Ten was widely regarded as the benchmark for a mainstream news programme and of a higher quality than its BBC rival. In 1977, Lord Annan’s seminal committee on UK broadcasting, which led to the creation of Channel 4, opined: “We subscribe to the generally held view that ITN has the edge over BBC news.”
If you want to hear a convincing argument that traditional TV news remains in rude health, despite the onward march of digital services, speak to Michael Jermey, ITV’s director of news and current affairs. He is the executive overseeing the launch of ITV’s extended, hour-long early evening news.
You could almost feel jaws dropping when it was announced last month that the pioneering Deborah Turness had been appointed the new head of BBC News. Turness, 54, had only recently got her feet under the table as ITN’s third CEO in as many years. Why would she give up this plum position – ideally suited to her skills at the company where she originally made her name – to take on the multiple challenges of running BBC News?
RTS award-winning camera operator Mark Davey gives his top tips on news camera work at the RTS Student Masterclasses 2021.
It was typical of Geoff’s energy and resilience that, until the very end, he was still campaigning for the charity Cure Leukaemia. He was diagnosed with the disease four years ago.
ITN CEO Deborah Turness said Geoff “led from the front, with guts and raw energy. His enthusiasm was limitless because he just loved his job.
“He came to work every day with a big smile on his face. He was a force of nature and loved nothing more than to be at the heart of the barely controlled chaos of a breaking news story. He was fizzing with ideas, a human dynamo always ready for action.”
BBC Director General Tim Davie looks back on his first year in post and at what the future holds in conversation with new ITN CEO Deborah Turness.
Reporting from the last rebel-controlled enclave of Idlib, Al Halabi skilfully navigates fragile alliances and the constant threat of danger to show the world the human suffering and tragic loss that has become a daily reality.
He tells us about building trustful relationships with his contributors, retaining mental strength amid the horrors of war, and finding hope in the unrelenting determination of Syrian children.
Describe your journey to becoming a journalist in Syria?
