riverScrap

Has British Airways become a no-frills brand?

It won't surprise you that BA News, the internal newspaper "For the people of British Airways," is anything but shy about banging its namesake's drum.

This obvious fact was underscored in a typically fawning recent issue, which heralded the dawn of the flag carrier's new TV campaign. But tucked away on the inside pages was a titbit of information which BA conspicuously kept out of its public press releases.

Amid the usual marketing fanfare, Abigail Comber, BA Manager for Brand, Proposition and Insight, let slip her admiration for the campaign's foresight, noting that it had deliberately avoided "making brand promises". And just a few short weeks on, boy can't you see why?

A young person's take on 'thriving local papers'

This week's Economist carried an interesting article about the recession-busting success of a select few local newspapers in Britain. It caught my eye not because of the familiar incisiveness of its meandering, but more-regrettably due to the bone-headed idiocy of its logic.

"For all the woes of local newspapers across Britain, there are those that thrive," the curious little piece informed us, holding up the New Milton Advertiser as one such powerhouse of micro-news. "These papers ... are successful because they retain the best characteristics of their past," it sagely went on. "They cover the local news and politics which matter to people."

And lo, what front page scoop was selected from this sheet's archives as a prime example of such perspicacity? Why, none other than the earth-shattering story which no self-respecting resident of New Milton will ever forget: OVERGRAZING FEAR AS PRICE OF FOREST PONIES SET TO FALL.

British media too quick to write Brown's obituary

While the past 48 hours have undeniably been a low-point in Gordon Brown's career, they've also served as a timely reminder of just how shallow, dim-witted and self-serving our beloved media can be.

It is no exaggeration to say that James Purnell's dramatic resignation on Thursday night left Mr Brown in a precarious situation. Having the fastest-rising star in your Cabinet jump ship and openly call for your resignation would be sure to unnerve even the sturdiest of PMs.

But while many believed that the vultures circling above included other senior figures, it now appears the flock was largely restricted to the usual band of suspects: opportunistic Tories, hackneyed Labour backbenchers, and – of course – our shamelessly trigger-happy press.

NUJ abandons objectivity over BNP row

While the media was busy today ranting about an inconsequential decision to invite Nick Griffin, leader of the British National Party (BNP), to Buckingham Palace, a far more pressing debate over the advertising rights of extremist groups has gripped the blogosphere.

It emerged yesterday that several websites run by regional newspaper publisher Newsquest have carried banner advertisements for the BNP, which is attempting to raise its profile ahead of the European elections on June 4.

What is troubling is that the ads, which appeared on the online editions of otherwise innocuous papers such as The Bromsgrove Advertiser, have provoked an outcry from the reputedly objective National Union of Journalists (NUJ).

Fox News producer arrested for child porn, again

A political producer working for the conservative Fox News network has been charged with possession of child pornography, it has emerged.

Aaron Bruns, 29, spearheaded much of the channel's coverage of Hillary Clinton's 2008 presidential campaign. He is now being held in a Washington DC jail, after police found several child porn images at his home.

The incident will be particularly embarrassing for network-owner Rupert Murdoch as Mr Bruns already had a child porn arrest to his name. Fox prides itself on its tough stance against online predators.

BBC boycott 'raised awareness of Gaza appeal'

The BBC has been accused of hypocrisy after its refusal to air a humanitarian appeal for the Gaza Strip dramatically boosted the campaign's prime-time TV exposure.

Britain's state broadcaster declined to air the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) appeal, citing a commitment to impartiality. It was subsequently joined in its boycott by rival Sky News.

But according to airtime figures collated by riverScrap.com, the move actually resulted in all four of the UK's main terrestrial networks devoting additional DEC coverage to their prime-time news schedules.

Fox News airs racist slur against Barack Obama

American cable TV network Fox News has found itself at the centre of yet another political storm - this time over the airing of racist comments targeted at Barack Obama.

In spite of its slogan Fair & Balanced, the Murdoch-owned station has long been derided for its alleged right-wing bias and unrelenting penchant for sensationalism.

But even longstanding critics of the network will be taken aback by its latest faux pas, in which editors aired remarks texted in by one Fox viewer who labelled the next president of the US a "magic negro".

Half of jailed media workers are online reporters

A disturbing new survey has revealed that 45 per cent of all media personnel who have been incarcerated are either bloggers or internet-based reporters.

Online correspondents represent the largest category of jailed journalists, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said, accounting for 56 of the 125 reporters currently locked up.

Unsurprisingly, China continues to be the world's most prolific jailer of correspondents - a dubious title that it has now held for ten consecutive years.

PM urges sensitivity over televised suicide

Prime minister Gordon Brown has weighed in on the debate about Sky TV's broadcasting of an assisted suicide.

The network is due to air documentary Right To Die this evening (December 10), in which it will screen the last living moments of 59-year-old motor neurone sufferer Craig Ewert.

Euthanasia charity Dignitas assisted the former university lecturer's suicide, but Sky's decision to broadcast the precise moment of his death has stirred up intense controversy about media boundaries.

CNN moves to undercut AP wire service

CNN has confirmed that it is moving into the wire news sector, offering credit crunched newspapers an alternative to The Associated Press (AP).

The broadcast network has been operating a trial version of its own wire service for the past month, with plans afoot to extend the range of national and international coverage it provides.

Industry leader AP - a not-for-profit organisation collectively owned by its 1,400 member papers - has run into criticism of late for charging what some say are unreasonably high subscriber fees.