Media Brief
I'm the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳'s media correspondent and this is my brief selection of what's going on.
The the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ has been given a one-year deadline to drastically improve ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ One and ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Two, after its "formulaic and derivative" daytime programmes were criticised in what it calls "a damning report" by the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Trust. Jana Bennett, the director of ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Vision, gives a different interpretation: "The Trust has asked us to build on the strong performances of ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ One, Two and Four to deliver even more fresh and new content to our audiences."
³ÉÈËÂÛ̳1 and ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳2 are too similar, while ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳4 needs to do more to raise its profile. That is the of the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Trust review of the channels.
The Mark Thompson, the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ director general, has refused to enter new negotiations with the National Union of Journalists, whose members disrupted TV and radio services last week over pension proposals.
it was a relief to have a day without Today because of the NUJ strike. "It was like finding a forgotten fiver in an old coat pocket. On Friday the nation woke up to discover ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ radio was full of nice things."
The Countryfile presenter Michaela Strachan was forced to leave the programme because she did not want to report on producing meat, the corporation's head of rural affairs told an industrial tribunal. Andrew Thorman denied claims by Miss Strachan's former colleague Miriam O'Reilly, 53, that she and other presenters were victims of ageism and sexism.
Sir Brian Barder, the former British ambassador to Ethiopia, has criticised the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ over its apology to Band Aid. listeners were misled that 95% of famine relief aid for Ethiopia was diverted to the military:
"It isn't just Band Aid to which the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ owes an apology, but the British government, other donors, charities and ordinary people who gave so generously."
Film-maker Warner Bros is to announce plans to develop a permanent UK studio base, including a visitor centre for its films such as Harry Potter. The ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ reports it will be built at Leavesden, in Hertfordshire, where production on all eight Harry Potter films took place.
Ann Widdecombe says she won't quit Strictly Come Dancing like John Sergeant. The asking if she should she stay or go?
The ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳'s newspapers review says George Bush's memoirs dominate many front pages. In an exclusive interview, he tells the Times that he does not mind what people think of him. The Guardian also has extracts.
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• ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ | Warner Bros to develop UK film base
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• ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ | Newspapers review
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