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MartinDFerry

Listed below are comments made by MartinDFerry between Sunday, 26th April 2009 and Friday, 5th June 2009.

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-TheApprentice-Candidates-CandidateExpansion-JamesMcQuillan 08:24am on 05 Jun 2009 Northwich62: Would a real commercial manager for a "Global Blue Chip" company need to validate himself by boasting on a message board like this? I don't think so. What do you really do for a living?
About the BBC India Election Train 6:48pm on 06 May 2009 Greendian: Don't worry, I'm not feeling victimised! I've never been to India and am quite enjoying learning about it through this blog. It's a shame there's no reasonably-priced accommodation for journalists in a huge place like Mumbai.
As regards colonialism I can't say I'm proud of the UK's record but I would suggest that a nation with its own space programme should be able to put the past behind it and look to the future.
About the BBC India Election Train 8:44pm on 30 Apr 2009 akshayk1991: Lots of typing! Well done.
To answer your points:
1. "You ask why its important to cover the elections in india at all"
Where, exactly, did I ask this? I thought my last post was pretty clear when I said "I'm in full agreement that the BBC should report what's going on in an important region of the world." Did you perhaps misunderstand me? I'll try to make myself clearer in future.
2. "You ask why money was 'wasted' on a shiny train"
Yes Akshayk, yes I do. I also ask why Mr Biswas is staying in a hotel that is "the most luxurious in Mumbai" (that's the BBC website's quote, not mine) while trying to connect with the people. Half of Mumbai's residents live in slums apparently (according to Mr Biswas).
So my question stands, and I'd value your answer: can you justify a luxury, first class air conditioned train and a 5 star luxury hotel, given that the whole point is to connect with the electorate? Why not write back Akshayk, but keep it brief. Thanks.
Putting India's election coverage in motion 4:24pm on 28 Apr 2009 Sorry for cross-posting but on reflection this comment more appropriately posted here than elsewhere:
There's been a fair bit of controversy over the cost of this trip. Here we have the Director of the BBC World Service writing a separate blog entry to defend the expense. The specially-painted, air conditioned "first class" train is, we're assured, a cost-effective method of transporting a large BBC team around the country, functional and not overly luxurious. Mr Biswas say he'll be be "sleeping, eating and working" on the train. Why then is he now in Taj Hotel, which according to the BBC's own website is "the symbol of luxury in Mumbai" and "has spectacular ocean views, and service and infrastructure rivalling any hotel in the world"? If he doesn't want to sleep on the train which was hired especially for that purpose then fair enough, but is this extravagant choice of hotel justified, just so Mr Biswas can tell us how squalid and crowded the rest of the city is?
Mumbai is a crush 4:00pm on 28 Apr 2009 There's been a fair bit of controversy over the cost of this trip. We've had the Director of the BBC World Service writing a separate blog entry to defend the expense. The specially-painted, air conditioned "first class" train is, we're assured, a cost-effective method of transporting a large BBC team around the country, functional and not overly luxurious. Mr Biswas say he'll be be "sleeping, eating and working" on the train. Why then is he now in Taj Hotel, which according to the BBC's own website is "the symbol of luxiry in Mumbai" and "has spectacular ocean views, and service and infrastructure rivalling any hotel in the world"? If he doesn't want to sleep on the train which was hired especially for that purpose then fair enough, but is this extravagant choice of hotel justified?
Putting India's election coverage in motion 6:39pm on 27 Apr 2009 I'm grateful to Peter Horrocks for the clarifications he's posted. There's no question that the Indian elections are worthy of coverage and the the BBC will provide impartial and high quality reportage and analysis. The one aspect with which I'm still a bit uncomfortable is the repainting of the train with BBC logos. Many of the correspondents above attest to the BBC's international reputation as an excellent news agency, and I'd question whether this will be enhanced by a flashy paint job which will contrast starkly with the areas of privation though which the train will travel. I'd ask that the those involved in the planning of this exercise reflect on the need for aggressive marketing in this context next time round.
We're off! 4:48pm on 26 Apr 2009 Beyond a boundary: Thanks for those thoughtful comments, I've enjoyed our discussion. Happy to concede to your knowledge of India and its railways.
We're off! 2:54pm on 26 Apr 2009 Beyond a boundary: While I agree with the important role of the media in covering elections of global significance such as the current Indian vote, I don't accept your charge of condescension. I, for one, would be unable to justify a the cost of a specially-painted first class train to a child living in a slum. Indeed I suspect that child would be able to suggest any number of better uses for the money. Pointing out that people living in slums will have an opinion on the BBC's profligacy isn't condescension.
Into the heart of India 2:12pm on 26 Apr 2009 Beyond a Boundary: I read the article and then called it a luxury train because Mr Biswas described it as "first class" and "air conditioned". I don't think that's presumptous. Commenting on an article before you've read it properly is presumptous, you might wish to reflect on that.
Into the heart of India 10:18am on 26 Apr 2009 Rayushaun: I'm a "license fee paying grumpy". I'm happy for you if pictures of a painted train excite you. You've already seen one picture and you want "MORE PICTURES PLEASE!!". I suspect that it will look similar in other pictures but I hope you get your wish.
In answer to your question, my objection is not yo the coverage of the election but the luxury repainted train in the context of social privation. I don't recall a luxury train being repainted and driven around Thailand after the Tsunami. If the BBC had painted a train for that disaster, would you have wanted to see "MORE PICTURES" of that, too?

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