A round-up of the week’s stories and observations.
- TUE 26TH SEP (10PM)
Preview of BBC South East Today’s new set - WED 27TH SEP (9AM)
Ofcom confirms it’s investigating GB News Fox/Wootton broadcast - WED 27TH SEP (3PM)
New Ideal World promo confirming launch date - THU 28TH SEP (11.55AM)
BBC publishes new social media rules for presenters - THU 28TH SEP (3PM)
Ofcom confirms investigation into Dan Wootton programme - THU 28TH SEP (10.40PM)
BBC News at Ten catches yet another Newsnight focus check - FRI 29TH SEP (5.15PM)
National Union of Journalists to ballot for national BBC strike - FRI 29TH SEP (11.55PM)
Bizarre scenes during GB News paper review - SAT 30TH SEP (8.50PM)
New BBC trail board displaying all service logos
Tuesday 26th September
10pm Preview of BBC South East Today’s new set
Presenter Miranda Schunke posted this image of the new BBC South East Today set on Twitter.
The new set will appear on air for the first time tomorrow.
Wednesday 27th September
9am Ofcom confirms it’s investigating GB News Fox/Wootton broadcast
Ofcom has confirmed this morning that it’s investigating comments made by Laurence Fox on Dan Wootton’s GB News programme last night.
During last night’s live broadcast, Fox made sexist remarks about journalist Ava Evans, asking what “self-respecting man” would “climb into bed” with her,
“We can confirm we’ve received a number of complaints about comments made by Laurence Fox on GB News last night.
“We are assessing these complaints against our broadcast rules and will publish the outcome as quickly as possible.”
UPDATE (9.45AM): statement from GB News: “GB News has formally suspended Laurence Fox while we continue our investigation into comments he made on the channel last night. Mr Fox’s suspension is effective immediately and he has been taken off air. We will be apologising formally to Ms Evans today.”
UPDATE (3.45PM): statement from GB News: “GB News has suspended Dan Wootton following comments made on his programme by Laurence Fox last night. This follows our decision earlier today to formally suspend Mr Fox. We are conducting a full investigation.”
3pm New Ideal World promo confirming launch date
Following the news last week that the Ideal World brand and Freeview channel number was bought by TJC, Ideal World is back on the air from 6am on Friday.
A trail promoting the channel’s return has been airing since lunchtime:
Thursday 28th September
11.55am BBC publishes new social media rules for presenters
Former ITN boss John Hardie has published his review of BBC social media guidelines for presenters.
The new report says high-profile presenters should be allowed to express views on issues and policies but stop short of political campaigning.
The review was triggered by a row over social media posts by Gary Lineker.
Reacting to the new rules earlier today, Lineker said they were “all very sensible”.
Presenters of news and current affairs programming are already subject to stricter impartiality rules relating to their use of social media.
The new rules apply to presenters of flagship programming outside of news and current affairs, who will have “a particular responsibility to respect the BBC’s impartiality, because of their profile on the BBC”.
EXTERNAL LINK: New rules for BBC flagship presenters after social media row.
3pm Ofcom confirms investigation into Dan Wootton programme
Ofcom has launched an investigation into GB News under its rules on offence, after receiving around 7,300 complaints about Tuesday’s edition of Tonight with Dan Wootton.
EXTERNAL LINK: Ofcom opens investigation into GB News under our rules on offence.
10.40pm BBC News at Ten catches yet another Newsnight focus check
It happens quite a lot – and again tonight, the BBC News at Ten managed to catch a focus check when trailing Newsnight, just ahead of the throw to the regional news.
Friday 29th September
5.15pm National Union of Journalists to ballot for national BBC strike
Following the threat of compulsory redundancies at the BBC, the National Union of Journalists has announced that it will ballot all BBC members for industrial action.
The union claims that members in the World Service, the BBC News channel and across local TV/radio/online services in England are facing compulsory redundancy.
EXTERNAL LINK: NUJ starts formal ballot for industrial action over compulsory redundancies at the BBC.
11.55pm Bizarre scenes during GB News paper review
A couple of items that caught our attention on GB News this evening.
A monologue by presenter Mark Dolan included these remarks: “We’ve been Ofcom-regulated since day one and will assist fully in relation to any complaints made.
“Following broadcasting rules is of critical importance to the credibility of this place and any other broadcaster.”
We’ll leave that there, without any further comment.
Later, in a mocking treatment of a Daily Mail headline (which suggested the channel was descending into mayhem), a gentleman (Josh Howie?) stormed the set. He ran around, shouting and throwing paper in the air, with a tie tied around his head.
Saturday 30th September
8.50pm New BBC trail board displaying all service logos
A new BBC Weather promotion includes a new format endboard showing all the BBC service logos together.
RELATED ARTICLE: Timeline: 2023 Week 38.
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Acknowledgements