Sony Gold and Silver for PM!
Gold: The Interactive Programme Award - PM, ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Radio 4
Silver: Speech Programme of the Year: PM, ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Radio 4.
Archives for April 2007
The Glass Box for Monday
Welcome to the Glass Box for a new week - the place where you can comment on what you heard on PM, interact with other listeners and get responses from the people who make the programme.
We hope this will be a useful tool for you and for us. Just click on the "comment" link. If you've never commented on the Blog before - don't worry. There's a simple registration process you only have to go through once.
Don't worry either if you didn't catch the whole programme, or were busy doing other things and not giving us your full attention. If there was something that "caught your ear" we want to hear about it.
The Glass Box is named after the booth outside the PM studio where we all discuss the programme at 18.00 every weeknight. We try to be honest and constructive. Sometimes there is criticism, and the criticised get a chance to explain themselves.
And so it should be here. The people who make PM will read the comments posted, and will sometimes respond. Please feel free to post your thoughts. There is a link to previous Glass Boxes on the right.
Also on the right, you'll find lots of other links you might like. The Furrowed Brow for example is the venue where you can start talking about anything serious: The Beach is a fun place, and there are links to Blog entries with photos, audio and links.
Sorry if you were standing by
for the 16.30 trail only to be disappointed by its non-appearance. I was recording an interview with Paul Murphy. You can decide for yourself at 5 whether it was worth our while.
Small delay
to our item on 1997-2007. A bit snowed under with other things tonight and the item is rather long. So it will have to wait for another day. Sorry
The end of the terror plot trial...and the links to July 7th
will be our main news tonight. We're busy working on our coverage.
As you'll hear, the end of the trial raises questions about whether the authorities could have done more to prevenet the London bombings on July the 7th.
The ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳'s online coverage is here, and as you'll hear on the programme, the security services are going out of their way to explain their view of things on page and one.
The Panorama Special is on ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ ONE tonight at 19.00
1997-2007
As Tony Blair prepares to mark 10 years at number 10, we've a piece tonight on some of the people who were there to greet him on Day One. How have their lives changed?
They of course have changed - as you can see from these photos. No doubt the next few days will feature footage of how Mr Blair has changed in this time.
If you have a photo of yourself from 1997 and one from this year, why not send them to pm@bbc.co.uk? Legal blurb: "By sending us your photos, you are agreeing to the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳'s normal terms and conditions which can be found here /terms/ . You are also granting us permission to host your photos on a 3rd party website, if necessary". Please mark your email TEN YEARS.
Anyway. This is how Lois Saville looked that day. No idea who she's with:
And here's how Lois looks now:
And here's how two of tonight's contributors have changed. Here's Andy Briggs from 1997 and then in 2007:
And this is Mark Allison in 1997...
and 2007
The Furrowed Brow
The place to think deep thoughts, and perhaps even express them.
If you want to talk about the content of PM, please use The Glass Box.
If you're feeling like fun and relaxation - congratulations - saunter to the Beach.
If you're just really really bored, try reading a book.
The Glass Box for Friday
Welcome to the Glass Box for Friday - the place where you can comment on what you heard on PM, interact with other listeners and get responses from the people who make the programme. If you need an example - have a look at Thursday, where the editor has spoken!
We hope this will be a useful tool for you and for us. Just click on the "comment" link. If you've never commented on the Blog before - don't worry. There's a simple registration process you only have to go through once.
Don't worry either if you didn't catch the whole programme, or were busy doing other things and not giving us your full attention. If there was something that "caught your ear" we want to hear about it.
The Glass Box is named after the booth outside the PM studio where we all discuss the programme at 18.00 every weeknight. We try to be honest and constructive. Sometimes there is criticism, and the criticised get a chance to explain themselves.
And so it should be here. The people who make PM will read the comments posted, and will sometimes respond. Please feel free to post your thoughts. There is a link to previous Glass Boxes on the right.
Also on the right, you'll find lots of other links you might like. The Furrowed Brow for example is the venue where you can start talking about anything serious: The Beach is a fun place, and there are links to Blog entries with photos, audio and links.
The written word over the spoken.
In the midst of a busy afternoon I remark: Oh! West Ham fined 5 and a half million pounds.
Colleague: Where? Under the bed?
The weather
As you may know from the Newsletter, we're planning to talk about the weather tonight - and how the warmer weather is changing behaviour.
The Met Office have just released figures showing that April is likely to be the warmest one since records began in England more than 300 years ago. The Central England Temperature observations are the world's longest running temperature series and date back to 1659. The Provisional figure for April 2007 is 11.1 °C - that's 3.2 °C above the long term average. Meterologists say in addition, the 12-month rolling period ending in April 2007 is also set to be the warmest ever. Nearly 2°C above the long term average for the period.
Here's what I want to know: whether the changing weather has changed your behaviour in any way - perhaps through caring for the environment more, or buying a new picnic basket late in March. Are you taking weekends away earlier, unleashing your summer wardrobe in April or running round the house turning everything off? If you have changed something - please use the comment link. Although we're interested in environmental measures, we're perhaps even more keen to know whether your've changed your daily habits....in the garden, leaving the window open at night etc. We may use your comment on air tonight.
As it happens, we also got this email about the weather from Alan Searle:
"If March winds and April showers bring on May flowers, what does blazing August sunshine in April bring on? I would hazard a guess that this brings on drought, crop failure and hunger.
Europe seems to have been having scorching summer weather for several weeks now which, following on from a winter (2006/2007) which never really arrived, should certainly give great cause for concern. However, although I hear people talking about vague, long-term targets for tackling global warming, the only concrete advice seems to be to tell the public to switch to energy-efficient light-bulbs. Although this is something we should do, I really can't see how this will save the planet when we are still enjoying a host of environmental no-nos such as:
1. Cheap flights and exotic holidays
2. Air-conditioned motoring comfort
3. Homes packed with energy-hungry gadgets 4. Out-of-town, car-centric living and shopping 5. Temperature-controlled working and shopping spaces 6. Rain-forests cut down to make way for cash-crops (e.g. exotic produce and cattle-feed for Europe) 7. Out-of-season fruit and veg air-freighted in from the other side of the planet.
8. ... and, of course, packaging, packaging, packaging!
If we don't start taking real action (rather than 'placebo' measures) IMMEDIATELY, then it will simply be too late. Indeed, it may already be too late!"
The Beach. Fresh and new for the weekend
What is the Beach?
It’s a place to go when the stresses of your real life need relieving. Sometimes it is fairly quiet and you might feel like you’re the only one around, but you can leave your ‘footprints’ for others to find later on. Othertimes it is the home for a real party, with constant gossip, leg-pulling, rumour, innuendo, chit-chat and weirdness. If this were a forum (and it sort of is because we post responses to each other, not just to Eddie, hence our term for ourselves 'Froggers', a combination of forum and blogger) then the beach would be the off-topic area.
It's a tropical location, no matter the time of year it's always warm and pleasant there.
Sunrises and sunsets are spectacular, the evenings balmy. It has a number of different locations; the Nick Clarke waterfront bar; the smokers corner; Fido's Run for the dog-walkers; the Naughty Step and many others.
How do you find your way around? There is no direct answer to the question. The beach is a moveable feast, literally. It will be renewed by our Lord and master Mr. Edward de Mair each Friday morning. This is because we have found in the past that when the number of posts exceeds about 600 the entire thing becomes unwieldy and unstable. A case of the beach turning to quicksand.
Froggers often leave bottles / glasses / trays of their favourite tipple on the bar for others to sample, not to mention big / small eats.
There is a herd of camels who frequent the sands, which froggers are very fond of. There are sun-loungers, so you can take it easy and catch some rays. Quite often the late-night attendees will have a barbie.
It's a fun place, with only one real rule; Be nice to each other; we are ALL chums here. New Froggers are ALWAYS welcome.
The real debate happens on the other threads. The beach is a place for banter, whimsy, relaxation and friendship, where jarring comments are not particularly welcome. There are certain very mild protocols, which you tend to pick up as you go along. So slip your shoes off, feel the sand between your toes, relax and enjoy yourself.
The Furrowed Brow
The place to talk about serious, non-PM related things of your choosing.
The Glass Box. It's Thursday. What did you think of the programme? Say so here!
Welcome to the Glass Box for Thursday - the place where you can comment on what you heard on PM, interact with other listeners and get responses from the people who make the programme. If you need an example - have a look at Wednesday, a bit further down this page.
We hope this will be a useful tool for you and for us. Just click on the "comment" link. If you've never commented on the Blog before - don't worry. There's a simple registration process you only have to go through once.
Don't worry either if you didn't catch the whole programme, or were busy doing other things and not giving us your full attention. If there was something that "caught your ear" we want to hear about it.
The Glass Box is named after the booth outside the PM studio where we all discuss the programme at 18.00 every weeknight. We try to be honest and constructive. Sometimes there is criticism, and the criticised get a chance to explain themselves.
And so it should be here. The people who make PM will read the comments posted, and will sometimes respond. Please feel free to post your thoughts. There is a link to previous Glass Boxes on the right.
Also on the right, you'll find lots of other links you might like. The Furrowed Brow for example is the venue where you can start talking about anything serious: The Beach is a fun place, and there are links to Blog entries with photos, audio and links.
Every day here is different.
I've just recorded an interview with someone, and asked, for the first time in my life...THIS question:
"Anchovy paste?"
Which ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ executive had this message, today April 26th, on his/her out of office email autoreply
"I am in Edinburgh on 4th April and wil only pick up emails intermittently. I am then out of the country until on leave until 11th April and will not be reading emails. If your query is urgent please contact..."
I mean. Really.
More Stan Fun tonight
with Rob.
"The north Caspian coast is a highly fragile environment, with miles of reed beds and wetlands and marshes. In fact the Caspian is a Sea in name only, its actually a huge lake, which became separated from the oceans in pre-historic times. Agip KCO the drilling operator has a policy of zero emissions to the water but environmentalists say the lake is just too delicate and drilling should stop immediately. The day I visited, hundreds of seals washed-up dead in another sector of the Caspian. An investigation is underway, with some environmental groups claiming a release of deadly hydrogerbn Sulphide gas may have been responsible, something the oil company's say they seriously doubt. "
"PM Contributer Asiel, her name means sweet honey. She is hoping for work and future prosperity due to the oil rush. She says oil and gas has put Kazakhstan on the map, now everyone knows about her country. In the background you can see one of the newly built Hotels part of the building boom which has tranformed parts of the oil city of Atyrau. The River Ural in the background is the boundary between Europe and Asia but in the battle for energy resources there are three key players Russia, China and the wider west. Kazakhs dislike references to the "great game" being played out for geostrategic influence in their region, but the west is hoping Kazakhstan can help solve the energy security problem if it can find export routes fully independent of Russia. For their part the Kazakhs are performing a careful balancing act, between the Russian Bear, the Chines Dragon and the energy-hungry west. "
The Wednesday Glass Box. What do YOU think of tonight's programme?
Welcome to the Glass Box for Wednesday - the place where you can comment on what you heard on PM, interact with other listeners and get responses from the people who make the programme. We hope this will be a useful tool for you and for us.
Just click on the "comment" link. If you've never commented on the Blog before - don't worry. There's a simple registration process you only have to go through once.
Don't worry either if you didn't catch the whole programme, or were busy doing other things and not giving us your full attention. If there was something that "caught your ear" we want to hear about it.
The Glass Box is named after the booth outside the PM studio where we all discuss the programme at 18.00 every weeknight. We try to be honest and constructive. Sometimes there is criticism, and the criticised get a chance to explain themselves.
And so it should be here. The people who make PM will read the comments posted, and will sometimes respond. Please feel free to post your thoughts. There is a link to previous Glass Boxes on the right.
Also on the right, you'll find lots of other links you might like. The Furrowed Brow for example is the venue where you can start talking about anything serious: The Beach is a fun place, and there are links to Blog entries with photos, audio and links.
Some time ago over a curry
with our Tokyo correspondent Chris Hogg (sadly the curry was in London, not Tokyo), I mentioned that we'd love to have something from him on the Blog. He's just sent this:
"..it was posted on the front of a pottery shop in the street next to where I live this afternoon..."
Here is Rob's report, due for broadcast tonight
Whenever Russia has a stand-off with some of its neighbours over the price of supplying oil and gas - there is nervousness across Britain and the rest of Europe - and not just because it ratchets up the price of heat for all of us.
By the end of the decade Russia will supply a third of all Europe's gas - many European countries are already completely dependent on Russia.
So what are the possible alternatives?
Well of course there's one of Russia's neighbours, Kazakhstan where the oil and gas boom is transforming the country. Could IT be an answer to Europe's worries over energy security?
Our reporter Rob Broomby has just returned from the Caspian Sea.
As it happens
we have the first of two reports in the programme tonight from Kazakhstan. Russia is expected to supply a third of all Europe's gas in just three years time and many european countries are already totally dependent on Russian supplies, so suspicions that Russia is now playing power politics with energy supplies have increased western anxieties over energy security. Add to that instability in the middle raising doubts over future oil supplies and the west has begun casting around for alternative supplies. The former Soviet republic of Kazakhstan in central asia has enormous reserves of oil and gas and is keen to exploit them, but will it be anymore secure. Rob Broomby will have more details for you at 5. Here are some of his pics and words relevant to tonight:
"The helicopter flight to Island D, 70 km off the Caspian coast requires the wearing of a full survival suit, and yes it really is as tight as it looks! Its all designed to increase the chances of survival in the freezing winter months if the helicopter were forced to ditch, luckily I was visiting in spring."
"Ian Anderson, the Offshore Installation Manager for Agip KCO's Island D. Compared to an average North Sea Oil Reservoir Kashagan is described as "massive" , he says standards are higher than in the North Sea."
"Drilling on Island D. The drill pipes themselves extend up to 5km below the sea bed and bend in a remarkable S shape to avoid geological faults. The entire rig sits on an artificial Island. The waters are shallow but in winter temperatures sink to minus 40 and two enormous ice breakers maintain evacuation routes to allow for escape in the event of a gas leak." 
I don't know about you but
Kazakhstan is one of my favourite Stans. I wish we heard more about it on the radio.
Save Vaughan Savidge
Add your name here please, using the comment link.
The Glass Box for Tuesday
Welcome to the Glass Box for Tuesday - the place where you can comment on what you heard on PM, interact with other listeners and get responses from the people who make the programme. We hope this will be a useful tool for you and for us.
Just click on the "comment" link. If you've never commented on the Blog before - don't worry. There's a simple registration process you only have to go through once.
Don't worry either if you didn't catch the whole programme, or were busy doing other things and not giving us your full attention. If there was something that "caught your ear" we want to hear about it.
The Glass Box is named after the booth outside the PM studio where we all discuss the programme at 18.00 every weeknight. We try to be honest and constructive. Sometimes there is criticism, and the criticised get a chance to explain themselves.
And so it should be here. The people who make PM will read the comments posted, and will sometimes respond. Please feel free to post your thoughts. There is a link to previous Glass Boxes on the right.
Also on the right, you'll find lots of other links you might like. The Furrowed Brow for example is the venue where you can start talking about anything serious: The Beach is a fun place, and there are links to Blog entries with photos, audio and links.
Well, Rupert is editing the programme tonight
...a fact which will send a chill through subscribers to the PM newsletter. I sent it to him shortly after 13.30 and I'm afraid he says there is some sort of - ahem - technical problem. It's the reason Rupert was banished from editing for many months.
So here is what we planned to send. Please keep your fingers crossed for us getting on the air tonight...
"Hello,
Rather tardy with you today. I'm sorry about that. There's been a small frenzy of things to do and people to interview. For example - here's the intro to an item you'll hear tonight:
"How much should you be able to rely on the police to protect your life?
Seven years ago, 25 year old Giles van Colle was due to give evidence against a former employee who was accused of theft. In the run up to the trial, Mr van Colle suffered worsening intimidation and expressed fears for his life. Despite asking the police for help, he was murdered.
His killer was jailed but Mr van Colle's parents pursued legal action against the police. A disciplinary hearing found the officer in charge, David Ridley, had failed to perform his duties properly.
Today at the court of appeal, Hertfordshire police managed to reduce an earlier award of damages by half - to 25 thousand pounds, but the court agreed that the police had acted unlawfully - under the Human Rights Act, by failing to discharge their obligation to protect Mr van Colle's life.
Afterward the judgement, Irwin and Corrine van Colle spoke to PM."
The case, as the guests point out, has wider implications, and we'll talk about those.
We're also watching the Yeltsin mourning, wall building in Iraq and the teaching of history in Britain. Were the dark ages any fun? John Reid speaks to MPs this afternoon - will he have anything to say about claims by the former Lord Chief Justice Lord Woolf that reforms to split the Home Office in two and create a new Ministry of Justice are being rushed through too quickly.
My favourite sub headline of the day from the papers: "big Bro bully's bloody battle" (the FT).
See you on the ice at 5.
Interest free till 2010!
Eric its de Woolf"
Ronnie
is, as you can see, a woman. Veronica, really but we don't call her that.
She completed the London Marathon on Sunday and soon will leave the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ after 300 years. About 200 years ago, we worked together at Five Live. She was fantastic, and for all I know, still is. Anyway she sent round some snaps from Sunday and I emailed her to ask if I could post them here. She said I could put them "wheresoever you like - as long as you credit me with having taught you all you know."
She sort of did actually. She taught me, put up with me, and once broke a wall at my house. She's the sort of person you always hope you'll work with again. But since that's unlikely now - here are the snaps. 
The lovely
Carolyn has just been over. You see, she wasn't really fired. It was nice to chat to a co-presenter for a moment or two. She's well and recovered from presenting every programme on the network last week. There was gossip, giggling, and we had a few vodkas, in honour of Mr Yelstin.
Off to the 11.00 now. Am thinking of posting pics of a ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ colleague who is leaving soon but ran the London marathon successfully - she's sent round pics as proof. Trouble is she'll kill me.
The Glass Box for Monday.
Welcome to the Glass Box - the place where you can comment on what you heard on PM, interact with other listeners and get responses from the people who make the programme. We hope this will be a useful tool for you and for us.
Just click on the "comment" link. If you've never commented on the Blog before - don't worry. There's a simple registration process you only have to go through once.
Don't worry either if you didn't catch the whole programme, or were busy doing other things and not giving us your full attention. If there was something that "caught your ear" we want to hear about it.
The Glass Box is named after the booth outside the PM studio where we all discuss the programme at 18.00 every weeknight. We try to be honest and constructive. Sometimes there is criticism, and the criticised get a chance to explain themselves.
And so it should be here. The people who make PM will read the comments posted, and will sometimes respond. Please feel free to post your thoughts. There is a link to previous Glass Boxes on the right.
Also on the right, you'll find lots of other links you might like. The Furrowed Brow for example is the venue where you can start talking about anything serious: The Beach is a fun place, and there are links to Blog entries with photos, audio and links.
A changing template
for the running order. Our Firth of Forth coverage has been scrapped. We're doing our best to get through to Russia on phone lines which are proving unreliable. We'd planned to talk too about the Challenger tank, which has been successfully attacked in Basra, but that too has fallen off the running order.
Just now done an int with a leading figure in Russia's cuirrent opposition. He puts Yeltsin in the same category as the "great" Russian leaders.
Sir Malcolm
Rifkind has just recorded an interview with us about the death of Boris Yeltsin. He intimated (though he didn't put it quite like this) that Mr Yeltsin had been expected to die years ago.
English national anthem.
On this St George's Day, we're toying with an item for the programme tonight about whether England needs an anthem of its own - as opposed to God Save The Queen which is the UK anthem. We'll try to post some tunes here later. In the meantime, although we're assured the Blog will never revert to September again, the news came too late for this item which just came in the mail....
An apology.
To the best of my knowledge, we haven't been ripping you off for years with rigged competitions. I'm sorry about this because clearly there's money to be made, and everyone who's anyone is doing it.
Obviously we are working hard to try to dream up a scam. Watch this space.
The cleaners did a "deep clean" at the weekend and everything is shiny and fresh.
The Beach
is here. Relax.
Pip removal
Have just been allowed back into the building to pick up my things and delete my files on the computer, and hand in my presenter pips before I knot my spotty handkerchief on a stick and head off into the middle distance.
It's been great knowing you. I love you all....
All I can say is I hang my head in shame for not fulfilling my Glass Box obligations. Can you ever forgive me?
sequin
The Glass Box for Friday
for your comments on tonight's programme. Please ignore the previous Glass Box for Friday!
Stopping again. Newark North gate.
1630. Actually, it occurs to me all this nonsense has pushed the Glass Box for Friday down, if not off the page. I will start a new Glass Box for Friday here, and get on with my work...
Have spent a little time
with photoshop, which it turns out I have on my laptop.
Not sure if this will work
but this is a pic I took with my phone then bluetoothed to the laptop. Thanks for suggestion Jonnie.
Nope...the software won't let me upload as I don't have a pic manager on this computer. Keep getting error message. Mind you we've just arrived at Grantham. 1618
Slowing down
1555: stopping somewhere.
1556:Oh it's Peterborough.
1556: I can see Queensgate shopping centre. A large mural.
Beautiful country now
1544: Quite a bit of oil seed rape.
1545: Big country house on the left
1545: Just rushed through a station. Very blurry sign. Began with H and ended in N.
Bit bored
on train to Leeds for Any Questions. Have decided to keep a Window Log of things I can see.
1539: pylons...long row of them
1540:trees. The man opposite has his back to the engine and is squinting in the bright sunshine at his paper. Why doesn't he pull the shades?
1540: Houses. Where is this?
1541: bit of factory stuff. Ooh. Tickets please.
Hello - it's Carrie here
Eddie's right. BE NICE! And what is this glass box anyway? Is it somewhere I can lie down? Someone fill me in. Now you may not watch News 24. But if you do, you'll know that I've already been slaving away today. Competing with Carolyn for the model worker badge. Up since 5am. On air since 8.30. And what I bring to PM as a result is very nice hair and make up. Pm is physically two floors down from News 24. But I haven't made a judgement about whether the same applies to editorial values. No time to chat. By ten past five you may be wishing Eddie was back but I'll thank you to keep such opinions to yourselves, at least until Monday.
Please welcome Carrie Gracie to PM tonight.
She will be your host from 5pm. Be nice.
(Ahem) Thursday's Glass Box
Apologies for the non appearance of the Glass Box last night - it may be too late but here it is anyway.
As a direct result of her error, Carolyn has been fired and will never appear on Radio 4 again. Or indeed on any airwave. Anywhere. That's how seriously we take this terrible error.
The Furrowed Brow
The place for serious talk about serious things.
It's wonderful
news that the September problem has finally been fixed. And so soon after we reverted to September by choice yesterday....:o)
Good to see too the link for Alan Johnston on the blog, though of course many froggers already followed the link we posted the other week. If you didn't then...please do so now.
Now all we need is an explanation for the links below each thread...
Have a good one CQ.
Time Lords and Ladies
Oh, if only Ed were here to give you this news.
We apparently have the September problem solved. Oh yes. The powers that be say they have talked to the people who maintain the blog who say they have found the glitch and sorted it. We have been "assured" that the problem is solved - we will now have to wait until September for it to be September. Though for heaven's sake do let us know if you see any signs of it happenng again. Just continue to use the "Oh Look, September Again" email address - giving time, date and circumstance.
Sparky Mark was of course closely monitoring the situation yesterday from his perch on Brighton Beach. I thought his face was glowing with delight this morning, but in fact he fell asleep on his side on the sand (near the pier and by Harry Ramsden's fish and chip emporium - you may have spotted him). He's tried to counteract the effect by wearing a bright stripey shirt - it's not working.
Sunburn tips, anyone?
Thanks by the way for your concern about my working patterns. You are very kind. I've certainly had a funny mixture this week - lates, earlies, days - because it's such a busy period at the moment. But I'm happy and healthy - honest.
How are you enjoying the Glass Box experience? It'll be my first time today!
all the best,
sequin
For reasons
we at PM don't understand, the Blog regularly returns to September. Listeners have been very good natured about this but sometimes, and this is one of those times, I get a bit fed up that your contributions, and our efforts to engage with you, end up being sent in a time machine. So I'm going to pause the blog in time here, and will return when someone - anyone - can assure me that we won't waste your time in future.
As a treat, I've gone back to the PM of 18 Sept 2006 so you can enjoy some of the stories that were making news then.
OPENING:
One of the men accused of plotting a bombing campaign in Britain refuses to give more evidence. The jury was sent home. We'll hear from the court.
Also tonight: Sir Menzies Campbell's first conference as leader of the Liberal Democrats
[
NAME: CAMPBELL opener
NUMBER: 12274
IN WORDS: I am what I am
OUT WORDS: ...British people
DURATION: 0'14''
An historic agreement on Gibraltar - we'll ask the Europe minister Geoff Hoon what it means for sovereignty.
Later: the neighbours at war over whether to accept a windfall from developers who want to knock down their street.
And, anyone fancy an English? Claims that the new Immigration Act could endanger our Indian restaurants.
[
NAME: OPENING Indian
NUMBER: 12238
IN WORDS: He is one person
OUT WORDS: the bread
DURATION: 0'13''
With the PM news, Charles Carroll.
LEAD STORY:
Let's go to the Old Bailey to hear more details of how the jury at the trial of seven men accused of plotting a bombing campaign in Britain was sent home today.
Jane Peel was in the court:
[GOTO AUDIO
NAME: Jane Peel]
GEOFF HOON INT:
The elephant in the room, sovereignty, is still there, and politicians from Spain, Britain and Gibraltar have not been talking about it.
What they have been discussing, for several months, are the practicalities of life on the Rock: the use of the airport, border traffic, the rights of Spanish pensioners and telecommunications. It's the first time all three parties have reached agreement about Gibraltar.
Britain's Europe Minister Geoff Hoon was involved in the discussions. I asked hime what was the significance of today's agreement:
[
NAME: GIBRALTAR Hoon
NUMBER: 12223
IN WORDS: I think what is
OUT WORDS: when they get there
DURATION: 3'12''
CLOSING:
This weekend ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Radio 4 continues it's series of plays based on "BETRAYAL"… Here's Neil Nunes with more…
[GOTO AUDIO
NAME: RADIO 4 TRAIL
NUMBER: EX CON
IN WORDS: It's the story of two rebellious students ...
OUT WORDS: ... by Julian Mitchell - the feature length Saturday Play at 2.30.
DURATION:0'35"] approx
(voicer: fictional version of Guy Burgess)
Later tonight as part of Radio 4's Iran Season, the world tonight will have a special report on being young in Iran. Join Clare Balderson at 10 O'Clock.
There's more on our website: bbc.co.uk/pm
Our editor tonight was Mark Frankel. Studio production was by Fiona Leach
This is PM. I'm Eddie Mair. Back tomorrow night at 5. Have a good evening.
[Notes:BIG BEN 59' 33"]
Tuesday's Glass Box
Welcome to the Glass Box - the place where you can comment on what you heard on PM, interact with other listeners and get responses from the people who make the programme. We hope this will be a useful tool for you and for us.
Just click on the "comment" link. If you've never commented on the Blog before - don't worry. There's a simple registration process you only have to go through once.
Don't worry either if you didn't catch the whole programme, or were busy doing other things and not giving us your full attention. If there was something that "caught your ear" we want to hear about it.
The Glass Box is named after the booth outside the PM studio where we all discuss the programme at 18.00 every weeknight. We try to be honest and constructive. Sometimes there is criticism, and the criticised get a chance to explain themselves.
And so it should be here. The people who make PM will read the comments posted, and will sometimes respond. Please feel free to post your thoughts. There is a link to previous Glass Boxes on the right.
Also on the right, you'll find lots of other links you might like. The Furrowed Brow for example is the venue where you can start talking about anything serious: The Beach is a fun place, and there are links to Blog entries with photos, audio and links.
The newsletter only
just started arriving because today's editor (the classy bloke from earlier) FORGOT to send it. I will mention no names. We're expecting a news conference on the shootings in Virginia any moment, and we're looking at the story of an 81 year old who's been jailed for breaching her asbo - already a talking point on the Blog. Roger Sawyer.
I should have
paid more attention to the outcome of the quiz so I could report back, shouldn't I? I think it all revolved around whether saying "toilet" was common - all to do with the Kate Middleton stuff. Don't expect to hear any of that between 5 and 6.
The programme's already looking busy. We expect more information to come out of Virginia, and there are worries here about how high inflation might go. We're looking too at whether schoolchildren should be forced to watch Al Gore - plus Susan Watts from Newsnight is going to join us with a story which shocked several people in our office.
From noon we'll be glued to Tony Blair's monthly news conference.
Tonight's editors
are busy doing a quiz in today's Telegraph about "What Class are you?" Not a word to the bosses.
The Glass Box for Monday
Speak out on the programme tonight...
Big Sis
kindly anticipates this week's location for Any Questions...
Peculiar things
seem to be happening with the PM newsletter. Today's seemed to arrive in double quick time - but one from last week is missing.
I mention in today's newsletter that we "make it into The Sun today. The paper's Whip column points out that we goofed on Friday, and no-one noticed. Sure enough, I've just checked back and the script was indeed written:
"The Foreign Office says it will be looking closely at remarks made by the Russian tycoon, Boris Berezovsky, in which he apparently calls for President Yeltsin to be forced from office.""
But Izzy Time has emailed to say:
"I rather think that if you look at Friday's glass box you will note that the goof was noticed and commented upon, forthwith."
We can't get anything right.
We are NOT starting THIS debate again.
Dear PM
Having discovered the History Page of your web site, I was intrigued to hear the signature tunes many of which I remember from childhood. Particularly the 1996 version, which I would listen to in the car on the way home from work. It would always signal the end of work and the beginning of evening!
Why oh Why did you drop it 10 years ago during the mourning for Princess Diana and not bring it back? There are very few signature tunes left with radio news and it would be good to have them to break up some dismal news headlines.
Great show none the less!!
Mark Bee
Beccles, Suffolk.
We are thinking of
our colleague Alan Johnston, about whom there are worrying reports. I hope they're not accurate and that he returns safely.
The Beach
Created out of doors, in warm sunshine.
Friday's Glass Box
Welcome to the Glass Box - the place where you can comment on what you heard on PM, interact with other listeners and get responses from the people who make the programme. We hope this will be a useful tool for you and for us.
Just click on the "comment" link. If you've never commented on the Blog before - don't worry. There's a simple registration process you only have to go through once.
Don't worry either if you didn't catch the whole programme, or were busy doing other things and not giving us your full attention. If there was something that "caught your ear" we want to hear about it.
The Glass Box is named after the booth outside the PM studio where we all discuss the programme at 18.00 every weeknight. We try to be honest and constructive. Sometimes there is criticism, and the criticised get a chance to explain themselves.
And so it should be here. The people who make PM will read the comments posted, and will sometimes respond. Please feel free to post your thoughts. There is a link to previous Glass Boxes on the right.
Also on the right, you'll find lots of other links you might like. The Furrowed Brow for example is the venue where you can start talking about anything serious: The Beach is a fun place, and there are links to Blog entries with photos, audio and links.
Red Square
is on the programme tonight. , isn't it?
Maybe it's a Friday blockage
but the PM Newsletter was sent around noon, and seems lost somewhere.
It said:
"Hello,
At this stage our attention is focussed on the Norwegian anchor handling tug which capsized in the Atlantic last night. During the morning we've learned that a 15-year-old boy is feared to among five crewmen missing.
But we may also have a look at the man who said he wants to overthrow President Putin in a violent revolution.
We've reports from Iraq and from Pakistan.
We're toying with the idea of talking about temperatures. Some of the papers are talking of temperatures this weekend in the 70s....others talk of the soaring 20s. What kind of person are you? Do you prefer F or C?"
Since then I've interviewed a man about getting sperm from bone marrow, and am about to talk to a chap about red square in the sky. I know.
Annasee writes:
"Here is one of our six tadpoles, a product of the infamous Middlewood Way Frog Brothel whose picture you so kindly displayed a while ago. Since there have been so many requests (ie 1) for a picture of the tadpoles/ froglets, I thought you might like this. They are going to a new home with a pond on Monday, and we’ll be sad to see them go.
Curiously
I did something on the programme last night I don't think I've ever done. I forgot the 17.15 headlines. I am blaming the fog in my head but the truth is poor Chris sat there waiting to read them. I had been told when they were required. But somehow I breezed from one live item to the next - completely oblivious. By the time I realised we were closer to the 17.30 headlines than I normally am to the bongs so we let it go.
But as a treat for blog readers everywhere, here are the headlines as they were written. Try to imagine Chris reading them:
"A suicide bomber has breached security at one of the most heavily guarded locations in Baghdad -- the building used by the Iraqi Parliament. He entered a canteen used by Iraqi MPs and detonated a vest packed with explosives. A US military spokesman said at least eight people were killed.
The ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ has linked up with Sky News, CNN and Al-Jazeera for a simultaneous broadcast from Gaza, calling on kidnappers to release its correspondent there, Alan Johnston.
A 66 year-old woman who was sacked from her job, a day before she would have been entitled to eleven months pay, has won her claim for age discrimination."
The Furrowed Brow
This is the place to raise serious issues that are on your mind.
For fun - head to The Beach..
To talk about the most recent edition of PM - slope into The Glass Box.
For anything else, please press the hash key, or 9 to return to the main menu.
The Glass Box
Welcome to the Glass Box - the place where you can comment on what you heard on PM, interact with other listeners and get responses from the people who make the programme. We hope this will be a useful tool for you and for us.
Just click on the "comment" link. If you've never commented on the Blog before - don't worry. There's a simple registration process you only have to go through once.
Don't worry either if you didn't catch the whole programme, or were busy doing other things and not giving us your full attention. If there was something that "caught your ear" we want to hear about it.
The Glass Box is named after the booth outside the PM studio where we all discuss the programme at 18.00 every weeknight. We try to be honest and constructive. Sometimes there is criticism, and the criticised get a chance to explain themselves.
And so it should be here. The people who make PM will read the comments posted, and will sometimes respond. Please feel free to post your thoughts. There is a link to previous Glass Boxes on the right.
Also on the right, you'll find lots of other links you might like. The Furrowed Brow for example is the venue where you can start talking about anything serious: The Beach is a fun place, and there are links to Blog entries with photos, audio and links.
We're going to launch
The Glass Box on the world tonight. Not on The World Tonight, but on PM.
We'll have an interview with the PM editor, Peter something, and the doors will be open for business.
The feedback we've had in recent days suggests some listeners have been a bit irritated by the on-air references to The Glass Box. We've mentioned it in the run up to its launch to make non-froggers aware of the resource. Once it's up and running we'll stop boring people with it on the programme. But it would be daft to set up something like this, which we think will be really useful, and not let people know about it. Also, we know that people don't listen every day, or for the whole programme, so we wanted to get the message out with more than once mention.
So stand by for the big launch. It won't be big at all of course and as launches go it will be pretty small beer. But you have to talk these things up, don't you?
Following our item about King Alfred and
his cakes/bread on Tuesday night, Big Sis sends this:
"I thought you might like to see our lovely windows, depicting the story of King Alfred. The first window shows Mrs. Alfred, in a high dudgeon (and looking a bit like Judy, imho!), the next shows scattered cakes, along with some geese (a reference to another part of the Alfred story, as you may know) and the third shows the King himself.
These windows were commissioned by the previous owners of our Welsh hideout, and are a lovely feature which provides a lot of fun."
Meaningless statistic.
We are 14 comments away from 33333.
Speaking after
a hot toddy (papa can you hear me?) can I just say that with the benefit of hindsight, the buck stops with me.
I'm sorry I lack foresight but what can you do?
Ed if off sick. Boo. So I'm afraid you've got me again, and not, I have to say at my very freshest! My alarm went off this morning at 3.15 and I came in to present Today. All fine. Then Ed's call - and the PM team's attempt to spare me a 15 hour working day came up against the problem that most people are away on holiday. They asked me so nicely - lots of puppy dog eyes etc - how could I say no?
So I've been home, lay on my bed for an hour and have come back in. Now Fiona Leach is about to talk me through the programme plans, which incidentally include an interview with a sculptor who has erected a glass box on the Isle of Tiree.
Will try to stay coherent.
sequin
The Glass Box
will launch soon.
Tonight on the programme, we'll be talking about it a bit.
I'll be saying:
"Very soon on PM we'll introduce a brand new way for you to tell us what you think of the programme. And you'll not only be able to say what you think, you can discuss the programme with other listeners and with the people who make the programme.
The idea is that for the first time you'll have a regular opportunity to comment, praise and criticise what you hear on PM, and engage the programme makers in a public forum.
It'll all take place on the PM blog where we've already tried it out, and everyone seems to have found it quite useful - listeners and producers and editors.
As I say it'll be on the PM blog and it'll be called The Glass Box. So called because every night after the programme we retire to the Glass Box just outside the studio to discuss the programme. For us, the Glass Box is a place to discuss what worked and what didn't. Where we went wrong, and what we could have done better. It's never rude or personal, but we use it as a tool to try to make the programme better.
To whet your appetite for the Glass Box on the Blog - here's what some of the PM production team think of the real glass box, beginning with our programme editor, Peter Rippon."
And then we'll play this.
In response to Izzy's
perfectly reasonable request...we've added a link with the email address to contact when the Blog goes to September again...
Seen
?
I don't pretend to understand this
but Marc says that in future when the Blog goes to September (as it has just done), it would help if you could email the following address:
ohlookseptemberagain@hotmail.com
We're not kidding.
The Glass Box is coming soon
and appearing here later will be a little piece we've put together about it.
But in the blogging spirit, we are also looking for other feature ideas to put on the radio. Is there a famous glass box/cube in art/sculpture? Where is Britain's biggest greenhouse? Should people in glass houses throw stones? The more lateral the better. We can send along a reporter or get someone on the end of a phone.
And once you've done that, could you fill tonight's programme for us?
Apologies for having to
take some time off. I had a very very very serious. Luckily, the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ has relaxed its normally strict rules and allowed me to tell my story. How I stared death in the face. How it was all just so awful.
What am I bid?
café olé
Wish I could join the easter bunnies on the beach .
Instead , here in the hotbed of newsmaking and newsgathering that is PM , we're considering a story about a species of owl that tries to sound macho by lowering the pitch of its hoot. You can find more about that
Thanks for your comments on Friday by the way - seems Sir Max was not widely popular though, Aperitif (6) I hope you stuck with us. Have you changed your views now that some of the 15 have sold their stories to the press? Sorry not to oblige with something on Northern Ireland Big Sis (12) but glad you all managed to hear Roberto on the listeners' slot . More of the same to come, I'm sure.
I gave up coffee for Lent. That would explain the extraordinary headaches I sustained for about a week. I don't know whether I should dare to go back on it now.... but is there life without coffee?
Marc, the new Lissa, has just taught me how to put acute accents on letters on this blog. He's got a fascinating list of tricks. You'll never guess what you get if you press Alt+0165....
sequin
The Easter Beach
Please - keep all eggs sand-free.
Flopsy and Mopsy
While Ed goes egg hunting with the Easter bunnies I'm in his comfy chair. As he said, if you have any story ideas for the programme please let us know. It's strange today, although we are now expecting a news conference by the 15 released service personnel, otherwise Jeremy's Editorial story basket is looking a little empty. Help. I wonder what you think about the comments now emerging about their conduct in Iran, should they have defied their captors more? Did they commit a terrible faux pas by carrying those bags of Iranian gifts off the plane once they'd arrived in Britain. What would you have done in their position?
Is it very very wrong to take a bite out of your egg before Easter Sunday?
best wishes,
Sequin
Got a story?
Something else which came up in our post-programme discussion last night (see Glass Box below) was how we get story ideas from listeners. You might remember I've done a few on-air appeals from time to time, and we've had good responses. A few times listeners have emailed in with story ideas and in one recent case the item that resulted was a lead story.
So this is just a reminder that if there's something going on you think we should know about...something that might be worthy of wider investigation, just drop us an email. It may be a sensitive topic and you can be assured we will treat your details in confidence. The best address is pm@bbc.co.uk - just mark your email "story idea" or some such.
Now where did I put that egg...
In the Glass Box
last night we had a long - very very long - chat about the Glass Box that will appear here soon. Everyone was very animated and full of ideas.
Sometime next week on the programme (and it will be available here) there will be a package that's been put together about what the "real" glass box is and what it means to the people who make the programme. It's intended to be one of a series of ideas to instill in non-froggers what the glass box on the blog will be. We're chewing over other ideas for introducing the concept to people.
In the "real" box last night there was talk of videotaping our meetings, inviting listeners in, or even just having them on a conference call to take part in the 1800 discussions. Those may or may not happen. Our first priority is establishing the fact that there is a place for PM listeners to say what they think, discuss it with other listeners and to have their comments read and responded to by programme makers. One of the topics that came up last night was whether interest/pressure groups might try to hijack it. That's always a possibility. But we won't be distracted from trying what we think is a good idea - involving our listeners in the programme in the most meaningful way we've been able to so far.
The Furrowed Brow
The serious place for serious conversation about whatever you want. It can get heated in here so please, wear something light.
We're aware by the way
of the new linky type buttons which have appeared at the bottom of every post. You know full well I am not equipped to explain what they are and why they're there, but I've asked a grown up and I may be able to post something before nightfall.
Our lead story has changed again. At this moment we're going 7/7, Iraq, Iran. But it's three hours to TX.
Just done
a sombre and sobering interview with a British military spokesman in Basra. Four of his men have been killed in a roadside bomb/ambush. You'll hear part of it tonight. He speaks about what happened, about Iran, and the 15 Navy people who're now on their way to a military base in Devon. There were some happy pictures of them coming in just now from Heathrow, but we thought they looked less cheery than yesterday.
The newsletter has arrived, it seems.
Just been having a
mini-meeting about The Glass Box. As you know we've tinkered around with it as an occasional concept, but with the idea of making it a fixture here on the blog. We're working on ways of introducing it on the programme, to give people an idea how it works.
We're planning a montage of voices - editors, producers, reporters - as they talk about what the "real" glass box means for the editorial process. We may also broadcast, or put on the blog, a recording from part of a "real" glass box session, for illustration purposes.
It's been genuinely useful to read people's comments about the programmes - and even in the absence of a regular presence here on the Blog, people are using it as a forum for criticism and observation. We love it.
And the trouble now of course is
that I can't get the Benny Hill theme out of my head.
Iran and the (soon to be) freed Britons
What do you think?
OK. Enough sniping about the lack of a newsletter.
We did SEND it around 1225. This is what it said:
"Hello.
We are standing by for a news conference by the President of Iran. I would type out his name but - well you know I would only copy and paste it.
We'll look at CCTV cameras that shout at you. There is a piece about child sex trafficking in Cambodia which made one of our producers cry when he heard it. You can hear it for yourself on the programme - we will also try to post it on the Blog this afternoon.
Plus: Moira Stuart, Bob Woolmer and Benny Hill. It's not a discussion.
See you on the ice at 5.
Not for sale in Florida.
Eric Ahmadinejad
(yes, I did)"
Cambodia
This piece will appear in the programme tonight.:
"There are many parts of the world were men women and children continue to be exploited and abused against their will. In Cambodia thousands of underage boys and girls end up in the sex industry - an industry which attracts paedophile sex tourists from all over the world.
For PM, our Asia correspondent, Andrew Harding, went to Phnom Penh where he followed the work of the International Justice Mission, an organisation who send people undercover to rescue victims of the child sex trade."
Hillary Benn will not be appearing on the programme.
His department agreed to our request for an interview about cluster bombs in Lebanon and Darfur. Then, half an hour before the interview was due to take place, his department said it would not happen as promised due to an:
"unavoidable meeting in his diary".
Once again, that's
"unavoidable meeting in his diary".
Busy preparing for recorded interviews
with Hillary Benn and the Government's respect co-ordinator Louise Casey. And now we hear the Britons in Iran are to be freed. Hold on to your wigs and keys.
What's your favourite song with
September in the title?
All that talk of fast trains last night
inspired Adrian Denning:
"Come to Nice and see what the city is doing to address its traffic problems. A brand new tramway system that shames our own lack of investment into public transport. They are taking the opportunity at the same time to spruce up the city and build 27 kilometres of public cycleways. Forget the TGV; we could learn a lot from the French on slower forms of transport."
And there are pics!
We are standing by
for a news conference by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the President of Iran. At the moment it's our lead story. He has a , you know.
Are you interested in this?
Benjamin Gotts wants your .
"I am a PhD student from the Sociology Department at the University of Aberdeen. I am carrying out a study to find out about the nature of online news work, particularly the social forces that are reshaping the public's relationship to news media and the ways in which news work and news-workers are affected by technological change.
Drawing on previous arguments that weblogs or 'blogs' are a new 'postmodern' form of journalism, I am looking to understand how ordinary citizens, empowered by digital technologies that connect throughout the globe, are contributing to and participating in their own kind of news and the way this is fed back into the presentation of news in the media.
In order to do this, I need to undertake online interviews with bloggers about their motivations for posting items, their expectations of the outcome and their general opinions about the impact of blogging on the democratisation of news programmes. Of course, not all bloggers chose to leave contact details, therefore I am writing to seek your permission to post a message on your website, outlining my study and requesting interested readers to contact me for interview purposes.
The questionnaire includes a variety of questions regarding attitudes towards 'civic journalism,' the relationship between journalists and audiences, and the quality and value of online content and discussion. The purpose of this questionnaire is to further our knowledge of the extent to which journalistic norms and practices are being applied to online media, the extent to which online journalists are adopting non-traditional approaches, and extent to which journalistic practices are used by bloggers who may never have set foot in a newsroom"
I think my favourite song with Blue in the title
indeed it IS the title, is "Blue" by Sarah Vaughan and Barry Manilow. What's yours?
Blue Blog
again. Or are my eyes going?
I've now spoken
to a chap who WAS on the very very high speed train in France that did 574.7 kph. He's a big cheese at Eurostar. I asked what he thought of British trains and you know, he didn't snigger at all.
Alan Johnston
is still in our thoughts of course. I added my name to a list of hundreds in the Guardian on Monday. If you'd like to join in - is where to do it.
Chris Evans'
people have just been on looking for a number for the female gondolier we had on last night.
Obviously we passed it on with one digit wrong...
Glass Box...
Don't want to speak too soon as we're not off the air yet...but that wasn't as bad as it could have been!
You don't know how bad it could have been - you heard it as it was. Thoughts? Criticisms?
1647 and
a Government interview we were hoping for has fallen through because the minister's department is refusing to allow it to take place on a mobile phone. Another interviewee scheduled for a live has pulled out at the last minute, and a recording I should be doing now for our lead story is delayed as the radio car hasn't got to the guest yet.
It could be a bumpy ride...
I had a lovely
chat a few minutes ago with the female gondolier who's now working the canals of Venice. I mentioned it in the newsletter and look:
Stewart writes: "Sorry neither are women but here are two gondoliers doing some work ferrying Venetians across the grand canal and not fleecing tourists. This was Easter 2005 so not that recent. Enjoy."
And you know what, Stewart? It may be out of date and not really relevant...but isn't that what PM's all about?
(And thanks to Vyle for her tip: I brightened the photo from the first posting)
This is a bit linktastic
but there's this link which takes you to the wise words of the PM editor, Peter Rippon. His in turn is just full of links, rather than any content. But there it is.
is an update on someone who I feel is an old friend of the show.
Beautiful day here in London. The sun may be in my eyes later. Might have to swap seats.
Fifi writes:
The little black cat
"Froggers have been contacting me constantly since Tuesday, on the Beach and by email, while I've been trying to save a small feral cat apparently poisoned. Encouraging, suggesting, advising, sending good wishes.... they've all been wonderful, and I would like it placed on record that I could not have got through this horrible week without their support. 'Blackie' is not yet out of the woods. He's still having trouble eating, and is very weak. But I think now he will make it, as long as nothing else goes wrong. He's drinking milk and trying to eat some tinned catfood ... which he's dared to steal from our Daisy's dish just inside the kitchen door!
Caring and supporting; it's what we do.
Fifi"
The Beach
is here.
Relax.
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