<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<?xml-stylesheet title="XSL_formatting" type="text/xsl" href="/blogs/shared/nolsol.xsl"?>

<rss version="2.0" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">
<channel>

<title>BBC NEWS | The Editors</title>
<link>http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/</link>
<description>Welcome to The Editors, a site where we, editors from across BBC News, will share our dilemmas and issues.
Here are tips on taking part, but to join in, all you need do is add a comment.</description>
<language>en-us</language>
<copyright>Copyright 2009</copyright>
<lastBuildDate>Fri, 17 Jul 2009 08:17:41 +0000</lastBuildDate>
<generator>http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/?v=4.1</generator>
<docs>http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss</docs> 


<item>
	<title>The End of Fortress Journalism</title>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>The BBC College of Journalism has this week made available a document called the Future of Journalism. </p>

<p>It's a collection of papers discussing the changes to news in a digital age from a BBC media conference that took place late last year. </p>

<p>In The End of Fortress Journalism, I've written about how journalists are having to reassess how they work. Some people (including <a href="http://www.charliebeckett.org/?p=1560">Charlie Beckett</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/jayrosen_nyu/status/2643301581">Jay Rosen</a>, <a href="http://billdoskoch.blogware.com/blog/_archives/2009/7/15/4255604.html">Daniel Bennett</a> and <a href="http://billdoskoch.blogware.com/blog/_archives/2009/7/15/4255604.html">Bill Doskoch</a>) have been kind enough to tweet and blog about it. </p>

<p>I'd be interested to hear your views on what I've written. There's an excerpt below, and you can download the collection (<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/future_of_journalism.pdf">The Future of Journalism <small>[359Kb PDF]</small></a>).</p>

<blockquote> Most journalists have grown up with a fortress mindset. They have lived and worked in proud institutions with thick walls. Their daily knightly task has been simple: to battle journalists from other fortresses. But the fortresses are crumbling and courtly jousts with fellow journalists are no longer impressing the crowds. The end of fortress journalism is deeply unsettling for us and requires a profound change in the mindset and culture of journalism.<br>
&nbsp;<br>
Fortress journalism has been wonderful. Powerful, long-established institutions provided the perfect base for strong journalism. The major news organisations could nurture skills, underwrite risk and afford expensive journalism. The competition with other news organisations inspired great journalism and if the journalist got into trouble - legally, physically or with the authorities - the news organisation would protect and support. It has been familiar and comfortable for the journalist.<br>
&nbsp;<br>
But that world is rapidly being eroded. The themes are familiar. Economic pressures - whether in the public or private sectors - are making the costs of the fortresses unsustainable. Each week brings news of redundancies and closures. The legacy costs of buildings, printing presses, studios and all the other structural supports of the fortress are proving too costly for the revenues that can now be generated.</blockquote>

<p>If this all sounds a bit grim I can make no apology, but I do think - and mention in the paper - that there are some reasons for optimism. Do let me know what you think.<br />
</p>]]></description>
         <dc:creator>Peter Horrocks (BBC News)</dc:creator>
	<link>http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2009/07/the_end_of_fortress_journalism.html</link>
	<guid>http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2009/07/the_end_of_fortress_journalism.html</guid>
	<category>College of Journalism</category>
	<pubDate>Fri, 17 Jul 2009 08:17:41 +0000</pubDate>
</item>

<item>
	<title>Teenagers&apos; listening habits</title>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>We're told his work experience document is the talk of Wall Street, Tokyo and the City. </p>

<p><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/news/"><img alt="Radio 1 logo" src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/bbcradio1_logo226.png" width="226" height="170" /></a>Matthew Robson's spell at Morgan Stanley led to him penning a report "How Teenagers Consume Media" which makes some <a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article6703399.ece">depressing reading for those who love radio</a> and want that desire to burn brightly for future generations.  </p>

<p>In short - he's talked to 300 youngsters and come to the following conclusions: teenagers don't listen to radio, don't go to the cinema after 15, Twitter is for old folks, newspapers are toast and they don't pay for music.</p>

<p>Well, up to a point Matthew. </p>

<p>It's clearly interesting to hear from people actually in this age bracket but is this really borne out by the facts?</p>

<p>Before we think this undoubtedly thought provoking and intelligent work is on the scale of a Charlie Eppes breakthrough moment (OK, without the Maths) ... it's time for a reality check.</p>

<p>We at Newsbeat on Radio 1 and Revealed on BBC Switch - have done a great deal of hard headed research on all this. Some of it is well founded  - some of it good opinionated stuff  - but all of it is worth a second glance before it passes off as "The Truth About Teenagers".   </p>

<p>Let's take Radio. It's true than the non-visual aspects of radio is less appealing for younger teenagers than 20-somethings. That's why Radio 1 is increasingly visualised - at the moment we are running Zane Lowe and <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/chrismoyles/">Chris Moyles "in vision" live streamed</a>. </p>

<p>Radio listening among youngest teenagers is declining - but still holding up - and not every teenager is like every other teenager. For example if you want to check out new music and don't want to rely entirely on your mate's dodgy taste - Zane's show is a must.</p>

<p>But after you've established that you like Speech Debelle or stumbled across Wax Fang what next?</p>

<p>In the old days it was off down to the generic music store and parting with £11.99 for the CD. No more. Pirated tracks, Limewire and Pirate Bay have all moved into the history of file sharing - now it's good old YouTube that's the big player in the new music second listen and research stage. <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/jul/12/music-industry-illegal-downloading-streaming">After all you don't spend money on music</a>. </p>

<p>I'd agree with Matthew about Twitter: our evidence suggests teenagers Tweet less than any other group though as with the Facebook v Bebo battle of two or three years ago that may change. We're watching keenly. </p>

<p>He usually chats to male friends while battling terrorists on "Call of Duty" - social networking sites and mobile chats are for girls - and of course, cost is key for the cash strapped teenager.</p>

<p>On mobiles - some certainly have cutting edge technology but there are still plenty of basic hand-me-downs - cause of much embarrassment with friends. We are in a recession after all and not every parent has the deep pocket to fork out on the MP3 and top end web browsing experience.  </p>

<p>So - last word to the teenagers themselves who checked out Matthew's work experience for me. One said he thought that teenagers not going to the cinema was a load of rubbish ...and added: "he doesn't sound like an ordinary teenager".  </p>]]></description>
         <dc:creator>Rod McKenzie (BBC News)</dc:creator>
	<link>http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2009/07/teenagers_listening_habits.html</link>
	<guid>http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2009/07/teenagers_listening_habits.html</guid>
	<category>Radio 1</category>
	<pubDate>Wed, 15 Jul 2009 13:13:30 +0000</pubDate>
</item>

<item>
	<title>Where has the summer gone? </title>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>With low pressure remaining the dominant force of our weather this week and the heat-wave of late June now seeming a distant memory, the question many people are asking is where has the summer gone?</p>

<p><span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Position of the jet stream for settled conditions" src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/jetstream2_226.jpg" width="226" height="170" class="mt-image-right" style="float: right; margin: 0 0 20px 20px;" /></span>The latest <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/ukweather/monthly_outlook.shtml">Monthly Outlook</a> from BBC Weather shows increasing confidence that by the end of July and into early August we will see a return to warmer and more settled summer weather. </p>

<p>It is expected that the Azores high will build northwards and become more dominant. This will result in above-average levels of sunshine for the time of year and a rise in temperatures. </p>

<p>There is still a possibility of some further rainfall at times but it should be much drier than of late.</p>

<p>So why have we moved into a spell of unsettled weather with heavy showers, many of which have been thundery and accompanied by gusty, squally winds? The answer is the "jet stream".</p>

<p>The jet stream plays a fundamental role in our weather and its position can cause significant variations in our weather. </p>

<p>Over the last few days the BBC Weather team have been using the jet stream graphic to explain how this is affecting our current weather pattern. </p>

<p>BBC broadcast meteorologist John Hammond says: </p>

<blockquote>"The jet stream graphic introduces a broader meteorological context to the 'poor' weather we are experiencing.<br> 
&nbsp;<br>
The viewer is given a clear, shorthand explanation of why our summer has 'deserted us'. In essence because the jet is unusually far south its attendant wet and windy low pressure systems are being dragged across the UK.<br> 
&nbsp;<br>
Normally they should be much further north at this time of year, allowing high pressure to settle the weather down.<br> 
&nbsp;<br>
Until the jet migrates northwards again, high pressure and warm sunshine will be rare and fleeting."</blockquote>

<p>You can find out more about how jet streams were first identified and what they are  <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/features/understanding/jetstreams_uk.shtml">here on the BBC Weather site</a>.</p>

<p><span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Position of the jet stream for unsettled conditions" src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/jetstream1_226.jpg" width="226" height="170" class="mt-image-right" style="float: right; margin: 0 0 20px 20px;" /></span>During the last week the jet stream has taken a more southerly track across the Atlantic than is normal for this time of year. As a result, we are seeing a conveyor belt of low pressure systems making their way across the UK. Each of these has brought an intensification of showery activity and windy conditions with sunny spells in between. In the short term this looks likely to continue.</p>

<p>Like many of the additional graphics we use to help tell the weather story, such as the Atlantic pressure chart, the jet stream will not be used every day. However, when it helps tell the weather story and explains why we are experiencing one weather type or another then you are likely to see it used on our television broadcasts.<br />
</p>]]></description>
         <dc:creator>Richard Chapman (BBC News)</dc:creator>
	<link>http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2009/07/where_has_the_summer_gone.html</link>
	<guid>http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2009/07/where_has_the_summer_gone.html</guid>
	<category></category>
	<pubDate>Tue, 14 Jul 2009 15:26:34 +0000</pubDate>
</item>

<item>
	<title>Newsnight&apos;s Politics Pen</title>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>There has been some <a href="http://iaindale.blogspot.com/2009/07/and-this-passes-for-balance-on-bbc.html#links">predictable criticism of Newsnight's Politics Pen</a> <a href="http://conservativehome.blogs.com/centreright/2009/07/newsnights-balanced-panel-has-four-lefties-and-no-righties.html">experiment for being politically biased</a>. I would urge viewers and critics <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/8137960.stm">to at least watch it</a> before rushing to judgement. </p>

<p><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsnight"><img alt="Newsnight logo" src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/newsnight_new_logo.jpg" width="140" height="100" /></a>Politics Pen is not a finely politically calibrated panel like Question Time or Any Questions. It does not need to be because we are trying to do something different. </p>

<p>However, Sir Digby Jones never joined the Labour party and was part of the "government of all talents". <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/8123925.stm">This is what he says on our website</a>. </p>

<p>Left wing Labour luvvie? Really? Greg Dyke was a Labour donor, then a Lib Dem donor and is now working for the Tories chairing their review on creative technology. </p>

<p>Deborah Mattinson is employed by the Labour party - but her contributions to the Pen are not from a party political point of view - she is a pollster telling us what the likely public reaction would be to the ideas proposed. </p>

<p>Matthew Taylor is a former Labour strategist, but like all the panel, he understands the idea of the Pen is to make engaging TV and at the same time illuminate the issues and pressures that decision makers have to consider in choosing policy. It is not about expressing political views. </p>

<p>I note that those who accuse us of bias do not point to anything that's actually been said or happened in the Pen. Indeed the majority of those who have pitched have argued for spending cuts, hardly a left wing agenda. </p>

<p>We will be running the Politics Pen again later this year. If you have views on what you would like to cut <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/8086298.stm">do let us know</a>. We may ask you to pitch it in the Pen.</p>

<p><em>Peter Rippon is the editor of <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/default.stm">Newsnight</a>.</em></p>]]></description>
         <dc:creator>Peter Rippon (BBC News)</dc:creator>
	<link>http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2009/07/newnights_politics_pen.html</link>
	<guid>http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2009/07/newnights_politics_pen.html</guid>
	<category>Newsnight</category>
	<pubDate>Tue, 07 Jul 2009 17:48:26 +0000</pubDate>
</item>

<item>
	<title>Changes to international pages (4)</title>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Hello. Here's an update on the recent changes in access to the UK and international front pages of the website which have been the subject of several previous posts (<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2009/06/change_to_international_pages.html">10 June</a>, <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2009/06/changes_to_international_pages.html">15 June</a> and <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2009/06/changes_to_international_pages_1.html">19 June</a>) and lots of comments and queries.</p>

<p>There are two main things to say:</p>

<p>First, the project team has gone through your feedback over the past week and given replies to specific queries, which are further down this post. They have also compiled <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/help/site_versions.shtml ">a Help page of FAQs</a> which will cover many of the questions you've asked and pull all the answers together in one place.</p>

<p>Second, while we understand the annoyance and frustration many of you feel about the removal of the option to switch between UK and international versions of the site, we won't be restoring it at this point in the site's development. Why? Please read on:</p>

<p>We're working on other ways to open up the range of choices about what you can read and watch, wherever you are on the site, as part of an overall review of the site's design, including both index and story pages.</p>

<p>But, for now, after considering all the options and all your feedback, the separation of editions based on IP addresses really does still look to us like the most viable approach to a whole set of technical, design and editorial challenges which we face as we develop the website and improve it for both UK and international audiences.</p>

<p>Here are the main reasons again:</p>

<p>&bull; we have an unusual requirement when it comes to developing the BBC website: it carries advertising internationally but not in the UK, and we have to build and design for both these situations simultaneously</p>

<p>&bull; the site carries advertising internationally so that UK licence fee payers don't cover international costs</p>

<p>&bull; some content on the site is available in the UK but not internationally, notably certain rights-restricted video</p>

<p>&bull; up to now, we have had: a UK edition without ads, a UK edition with ads, an international edition with ads and an international edition without ads, all in addition to some content which is visible in the UK but not internationally</p>

<p>&bull; managing all those combinations within our existing design framework had become impractical as well as expensive and, critically, had started to affect our ability to find the best ways of improving a whole range of other things in the months ahead</p>

<p><span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="display: inline;"><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/your_money/default.stm"><img alt="UK Your Money" src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/uk_your_money226.jpg" width="226" height="170" class="mt-image-right" style="float: right; margin: 0 0 20px 20px;" /></a></span>Your frank comments over the last few weeks have given us a lot to think about. We are making some immediate changes to the international-facing site, such as the addition of specific UK content like the <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/default.stm">UK Your Money section</a> on the international business pages and a broader selection of UK and international topics to the <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/talking_point/default.stm">Have your Say pages</a>.</p>

<p>We're also investigating whether we can introduce the postcode local personalisation box onto the UK index of the international edition.</p>

<p>But although the UK and world headlines are all there on both versions of the site, we now know how much many of you miss the ability to choose which front page to look at. That's something we are taking on board as we look at how we continue to develop the site.</p>

<p>Now here are some more of your specific queries answered, and the project team which have answered them is busy working on a full FAQs page incorporating these and all the others, which will be available soon.</p>

<p>In the meantime, if you have specific questions which we haven't answered yet, please send them to this Help inbox, which the team will monitor, so that they can reply and add any new replies to the rest, and make them easy to find in one place: <a href="mailto:SiteVersionsFeedback@bbc.co.uk">SiteVersionsFeedback@bbc.co.uk</a></p>

<p><strong>Local UK content</strong></p>

<p>User <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2009/06/changes_to_international_pages_1.html#P81801324">andyrocky</a> in Denver, Colorado, wrote that the UK News page provided him with a valuable link to his old home, and wanted to see the weather and local news in Birmingham, as well as Aston Villa headlines.</p>

<p><span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="display: inline;"><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/your_money/default.stm"><img alt="UK Your Money" src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/uk_your_money226.jpg" width="226" height="170" class="mt-image-right" style="float: right; margin: 0 0 20px 20px;" /></a></span>We are still investigating whether the personalisation box, which is on the UK front page, can be added to the international version of the site. In the meantime, comprehensive local news for regions around the country is available in <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/default.stm">the UK section</a> and subsections of <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/default.stm">England</a>, <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/default.stm">Northern Ireland</a>, <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/default.stm">Scotland</a> and <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/default.stm">Wales</a>.</p> 

<p>News of Aston Villa and other English and Scottish clubs is available in the <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/default.stm">My Club section of BBC Sport</a>.</p> 

<p>The <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/weather/forecast/8">BBC Weather pages</a> allow you to search for a town in the UK by name or postcode and to set the location as a default forecast.</p>

<p><strong>UK-based users seeing the international version </strong></p>

<p>We have resolved many of the problems experienced by users in the UK using the AOL browser who were being served the wrong edition. AOL has provided the BBC with a range of proxies used by its subscribers and we now recognise those users as being UK-based.</p> 

<p>Some UK users, however, are occasionally routed via proxies outside this range. This is outside our control and appears to occur only within the AOL browser - not on other browsers. This should not mean that users outside the UK will see the UK version, which was a concern raised  <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2009/06/changes_to_international_pages_1.html#P81827220">in the 19 June post</a>. However, the routing policy used by AOL is within its control alone.</p>

<p>Some BBC News category pages are not appearing to <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2009/06/changes_to_international_pages.html#P81655674">AOL users</a> even though they can see the UK edition. We are working with AOL to determine whether this is a caching issue within the AOL browser.</p>

<p><strong>UK-based users seeing the international version at work</strong></p>

<p>Many e-mailers and <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2009/06/changes_to_international_pages_1.html#P81978453">blog</a> <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2009/06/changes_to_international_pages_1.html#P81831309">commenters</a> said that they worked for companies in the UK but were seeing the international version of the site in their offices. This is because companies route their internet traffic through servers outside the UK.</p>

<p>It is not possible for the BBC to distinguish which users within a company are based within the UK and which are outside, and although those affected will be able to access the same stories as before, employees of companies who use international servers will continue to see the international version of our news pages. Users on international proxies, which make up less than 1% of overall usage, should not be served advertising, and anyone seeing advertising in the UK should <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/feedback/bbci_adverts.shtml">contact us using this form</a>.</p>

<p><strong>Users in the UK who are used to seeing the international version</strong></p>

<p><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2009/06/changes_to_international_pages_1.html#P81837812">Some users</a> pointed out that there are many people in the UK who preferred to view the International version of the site.</p>

<p>The <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/default.stm">World News page on the UK site</a> offers a global view of international events and breaking news, as well as subsections containing news from various world regions. Users in the UK will still be able to access those, and we will continue to reflect international news as part of our overall front page coverage on the UK version of the site.</p>

<p><strong>Isle of Man</strong></p>

<p><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2009/06/changes_to_international_pages_1.html#P81816544">Ckinlay</a> wrote from the Isle Of Man that IP detection forced him to see the UK version of the site. Residents of the Isle of Man, as payers of the licence fee, are served the same content seen by the residents on the mainland.</p>

<p><strong>Blackberry users</strong></p>

<p>We are working on a solution for some Blackberry users in the UK who have been seeing the international site because of the way their devices connect to the internet. </p>

<p><strong>Pre-roll ads on video</strong></p>

<p>User <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2009/06/changes_to_international_pages_1.html#P82154540">jacksonkelsie</a> commented on the <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7875367.stm">One Minute World News</a> video summary which is available to the international audience, saying that an advertising lead of between 15 and 30 seconds defeated the point of a quick and convenient one-minute summary.</p>

<p>Pre-roll advertisements are shown on our on-demand video to fund the cost of distributing it to our international audience, but we are investigating the best way to improve the user experience around our video internationally and hope to make the advertisements less intrusive by doing things like limiting the number of times ads are shown and working with advertisers to supply shorter content.</p>

<p><strong>Why we are using GeoIP</strong></p>

<p>In order to ensure that people in the UK do not see advertising, we have to use <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geo_targeting">GeoIP</a>. Without it, we don't know where ads should be visible and where they shouldn't. The same applies to video and other rights-restricted content. </p>

<p>Generally, GeoIP is a reliable way of determining a user's country, but there are occasions where it doesn't work properly and these we have to address, case by case, with our GeoIP provider. Our interpretation of GeoIP errs on the side of caution to avoid showing ads to UK audiences.</p>

<p><em>Steve Herrmann is editor of the <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk">BBC News website</a>.</em><br></p>]]></description>
         <dc:creator>Steve Herrmann (BBC News)</dc:creator>
	<link>http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2009/07/changes_to_international_pages_2.html</link>
	<guid>http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2009/07/changes_to_international_pages_2.html</guid>
	<category>BBC News website</category>
	<pubDate>Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:23:10 +0000</pubDate>
</item>

<item>
	<title>Mexico in depth</title>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Mexico could be on the verge of being a failed state. That's the view of some observers, including a former US drugs tsar General Barry McCaffrey - who cite the increasingly violent battle between powerful drug cartels and the government which has deployed the army to fight them. </p>

<p><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/news/worldtonight/"><img alt="The World Tonight" src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/worldtonight_logo.jpg" height="100" width="140"></a>Last year alone, 6,000 people were killed in violence linked to the drugs gangs and the killing shows no sign of abating.</p>

<p>The country is beginning to resemble Colombia in the recent past, not a comparison the Mexican government would like but one many analysts and journalists are starting to make.</p>

<p>This week, The World Tonight's Robin Lustig is in Mexico to look in depth at the threat facing the country. You can follow his trip on <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/worldtonight/">Robin's World Tonight blog</a> and <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qtl3">hear his reports on Thursday and Friday on the programme</a>.</p>

<p>Mexico is one the world's biggest countries with a population of 110 million and the 13th largest economy. It's also strategically located on the southern border of the United States. So what happens there is significant for the rest of the world. </p>

<p><span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Jungapeo, Mexico" src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/jungapeo595.jpg" width="595" height="282" class="mt-image-center" style="text-align: center; display: block; margin: 0 auto 20px;" /></span></p>

<p>Yet apart from occasional reports when there is a particularly large number of deaths in the "war on drugs" and when the country was the first to be badly hit by swine flu, the country gets relatively little coverage in the British media. </p>

<p>Listeners to The World Tonight and <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/alistair_burnett/">readers of my entries on this blog</a> will know that one of the things we try to do on the programme is to cover significant global issues that are often not given much daily news coverage elsewhere. </p>

<p>It's for this reason we have followed the worsening situation in Somalia relatively closely as well as the unresolved conflicts in the western Balkans.  </p>

<p>In Mexico, we'll be looking in depth at the underlying economic crisis which makes it more difficult to deal with the drugs cartels. </p>

<p>The violence was already deterring business; but the recession in the US has caused a big drop in the money sent home to support their families by Mexicans north of the border; and the swine flu outbreak which may have killed up to 60 people has dealt a heavy blow to the country's large tourist industry. </p>

<p>We'll also ask whether the militarisation of the "war on drugs", the use of the army to deal with a law and order problem in a country with an authoritarian past, is an effective policy or risks making the violence worse. </p>

<p><em>Alistair Burnett is the editor of <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qtl3">The World Tonight</a>.</em></p>]]></description>
         <dc:creator>Alistair Burnett (BBC News)</dc:creator>
	<link>http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2009/06/mexico_in_depth.html</link>
	<guid>http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2009/06/mexico_in_depth.html</guid>
	<category>World Tonight</category>
	<pubDate>Tue, 30 Jun 2009 10:37:02 +0000</pubDate>
</item>

<item>
	<title>Michael Jackson coverage</title>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>It was late on Thursday evening London time that we first started getting reports from Los Angeles that Michael Jackson had been taken to hospital. First they were rumours, then more credible reports and finally we received confirmation that he had died. </p>

<p><span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Fans of Michael Jackson hold a candlelight vigil for the singer" src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/jacksonvigilgetty595.jpg" width="595" height="428" class="mt-image-center" style="text-align: center; display: block; margin: 0 auto 20px;" /></span>By any lights, Michael Jackson was a huge figure internationally, and BBC News went into gear to report a big breaking news story. <br />
 <br />
We've had a number of complaints about our coverage, the main charge being that we simply did too much: that his death didn't justify the prominence and scale of our reporting through Friday and into the weekend. </p>

<p>The story was certainly very prominent, with extensive reporting on our domestic and global news channels and it was the lead story on our television and radio bulletins and on the web. But this wasn't to the exclusion of other important stories domestically and internationally. Friday was also the third day of our special coverage on television and our website from Pakistan and Afghanistan.  <br />
 <br />
It is clear that Michael Jackson meant different things to different generations, both among our audiences and among our own staff. There are some who had followed him as a boy star, but there's also a large number of younger people who never saw him perform at his height but are only too aware of the controversy about his personal life and his increasingly eccentric appearance and behaviour. There was also the expectation around his comeback concerts in London. Looking at media output around the world, it was clear that his death was provoking international shock and big audience consumption. <br />
 <br />
Some stories divide audiences, and clearly there are those who aren't interested in Michael Jackson. But we have to try to serve a whole range of readers, listeners and viewers - and undoubtedly a great many of you were extremely interested. </p>

<p>The audiences to our main television bulletins were a little higher than average for a Friday evening and the statistics for our online content broke records: more than 8.2m global unique users, the second highest since Obama's election. The BBC News mobile site had its biggest-ever figures on Friday. <br />
 <br />
This was also a story which for which many users of the site wanted to access our video, particularly the live stream of the BBC News channel. Within the first hour, there were just under a million hits globally on the live streams of the News Channel and BBC World TV. Overall, a quarter of site users on Friday accessed audio or video (26%, compared to the daily average of 15%). There were over two million users of AV on the site on Friday, higher than the site's previous record (for Obama's election in November 2008). </p>

<p>We will continue to report new developments, and we'll do so in a proportionate manner where we think they are of relevance and interest to our audiences: we're anticipating covering further information about the circumstances of his death; his business and estate - and his funeral. </p>

<p>Throughout our coverage, we have been careful to sift fact from rumour and to assess Jackson's career as a musician and his impact as a creative singer and dancer, while not ignoring the more disturbing side to his life. This was a big news story - about the death of a big cultural icon - all around the world.</p>

<p><em>Mary Hockaday is head of BBC newsroom.</em></p>]]></description>
         <dc:creator>Mary Hockaday (BBC News)</dc:creator>
	<link>http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2009/06/michael_jackson_coverage.html</link>
	<guid>http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2009/06/michael_jackson_coverage.html</guid>
	<category>BBC News</category>
	<pubDate>Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:30:32 +0000</pubDate>
</item>

<item>
	<title>Responding to big stories at Radio 4</title>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>At the Radio 4 Blog, controller Mark Damazer writes about recent programmes responding to current events, namely Iran (<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00lmqhl">The Report</a> and <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00lp5jz">Uncovering Iran</a>) and MPs' expenses (<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00lh47j">Moats, Mortgages and Mayhem</a>). </p>

<p><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/radio4/2009/06/responding_to_big_stories_at_r.html">You can read more and comment at the Radio 4 Blog</a>.</p>]]></description>
         <dc:creator>Host (BBC News)</dc:creator>
	<link>http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2009/06/responding_to_big_stories_at_r.html</link>
	<guid>http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2009/06/responding_to_big_stories_at_r.html</guid>
	<category></category>
	<pubDate>Mon, 29 Jun 2009 09:20:31 +0000</pubDate>
</item>

<item>
	<title>Ludicrous allegations</title>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Some in Iran have been keen to blame foreign media for fuelling the recent protests. This has led to ludicrous allegations about the BBC which have surfaced in the Iranian media.  </p>

<p>One Iranian website reported that the BBC had paid hitmen to kill Neda Agha Soltan, the 27-year-old woman who died from a gunshot in an anti-government protest. A newspaper added the flourish that our Tehran correspondent, Jon Leyne, had personally hired the killer.</p>

<p>While I don't think that anyone takes this allegation seriously, the charge is nonetheless being reported in the Middle East. We state categorically that this extraordinary accusation is of course utterly without foundation. </p>

<p>Since then, another newspaper has reported that our Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen has been calling on Iranian people to "go on strike". This is not true either.  </p>

<p><em>Fran Unsworth is the head of Newsgathering.</em><br />
</p>]]></description>
         <dc:creator>Fran Unsworth (BBC News)</dc:creator>
	<link>http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2009/06/ludicrous_allegations.html</link>
	<guid>http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2009/06/ludicrous_allegations.html</guid>
	<category>BBC News</category>
	<pubDate>Fri, 26 Jun 2009 14:28:41 +0000</pubDate>
</item>

<item>
	<title>The first set of ears</title>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>This week <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00l36yt">Shaun Ley interviewed the prime minister on The World at One</a> about the details of a government announcement on parliamentary standards slated for later that afternoon. </p>

<p><span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="display: inline;"><img alt="World at One logo" src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/worldat1.jpg" width="140" height="100" class="mt-image-none" style="" /></span>In doing so, he may have <a href="http://iaindale.blogspot.com/2009/06/speaker-bercows-first-test.html#links">incurred the annoyance of the new Speaker John Bercow</a>, who has made a point of stressing <a href="http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm090624/debtext/90624-0004.htm#09062480000002">how important he feels it is that ministers make their announcements to Parliament first</a>, rather than touring the TV and radio studios beforehand. </p>

<p>Indeed, it was a <a href="http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm090622/debtext/90622-0002.htm">notable feature of the Speaker hustings in Parliament</a> that several of the candidates took the opportunity to criticise the practice of making announcements on the Today Programme. </p>

<p>Clearly, they are right on that last point - in the sense that all important news should of course be broken on The World at One. And our <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00l36k1">regular Wednesday panel</a> picking over Bercow's comments after Prime Ministers' Questions took the same view.</p>

<p>Nevertheless, I wondered how widely MPs' strong feelings on this are shared beyond Parliament. Given the emphasis it received in the Speaker debates, you might think this was one of the most pressing issues undermining the standing of Parliament.</p>

<p>I rather suspect that following the <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/uk_politics/2009/mps'_expenses/default.stm">extensive coverage of MPs' expenses</a> in the Telegraph and elsewhere, the public probably takes a different view. </p>

<p>As one of the Speaker candidates put it, too many ministerial statements are made to an audience of "one man and his dog, and maybe a Lobby correspondent". And you might argue that given the decreasing coverage of proceedings in Parliament in the media, politicians have a responsibility to take the story to where the audience is, at a time when more of them are listening. </p>

<p>So are you outraged by getting the details first from us, or do you too feel strongly that the first set of ears to hear the news should be those of the Speaker himself?  </p>

<p><em>Jamie Angus is editor of <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/news/wato/">The World At One</a>.</em><br />
</p>]]></description>
         <dc:creator>Jamie Angus (BBC News)</dc:creator>
	<link>http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2009/06/the_first_set_of_ears.html</link>
	<guid>http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2009/06/the_first_set_of_ears.html</guid>
	<category>The World At One</category>
	<pubDate>Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:02:44 +0000</pubDate>
</item>

<item>
	<title>The Conspiracy Files: 7/7 </title>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>The bombings on 7 July 2005, which killed 56 people and injured 784, England's worst terrorist atrocity, are the subject of one of the most difficult programmes in the Conspiracy Files series. Difficult because it is still an understandably sensitive subject for survivors and relatives of victims.</p>

<p><span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Bus in Tavistock Square destroyed by bomb, 7 July 2005" src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/busbombing282.jpg" width="226" height="282" class="mt-image-right" style="float: right; margin: 0 0 20px 20px;" /></span>But I also think it is important to investigate the conspiracy theories that continue to develop around 7 July attacks, because they play on the fears of the Muslim community and spread a highly divisive and damaging message. The programme carefully and analytically works through the allegations and the evidence to separate fact from fiction.</p>

<p>There have been three official reports into the bombings. However, a host of internet films continue to scrutinise every word and every picture for signs of a hidden truth. </p>

<p>The programme, to be shown on BBC Two at 9pm on Tuesday 30 June shows that on one occasion one sceptic was right and spotted a significant error in the Home Office narrative. The government had to apologise for suggesting in a report, nearly a year after the attacks, that the four bombers had boarded a train which had actually been cancelled. </p>

<p>However, crucially the government insists the bombers were still able to get to London on time, because they caught an earlier train, which was delayed leaving Luton.</p>

<p>Internet videos question the official account, suggesting the British government has deceived people into thinking four suicide bombers carried out the attacks. Some go even further and allege the British government was involved. </p>

<p>The latest Conspiracy Files programme films one notorious conspiracy video being played at the Birmingham Central Mosque and sees first hand how conspiracy theories have found favour among some Muslims. </p>

<p>One opinion poll by Gfk NOP for Channel 4, two years after 7 July attacks, found that around a quarter of British Muslims questioned thought the government or MI5 were involved in the bombings. </p>

<p>Rachel North, who survived the bomb on the Piccadilly line, tells the programme that the conspiracy theories need to be countered for that very reason:</p>

<blockquote>"If people in mosques think that the Government is so antagonistic towards them that they're actually willing to frame them for a monstrous crime they didn't commit what does that do to levels of trust? That is a problem for the government and for everybody in this country."</blockquote>  

<p>Brian Paddick, who was Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner at the time of 7 July 2005, argues it is important to counteract the conspiracy theories:</p>

<blockquote>"Programmes like this may be very controversial but hopefully there will be people in the police service and in the security service and in government who will realize how important conspiracy theories are. And how important it is to try and prevent further atrocities that every attempt is made to try and counteract them."</blockquote>  

<p><em>Mike Rudin is series producer of <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/conspiracy_files/">The Conspiracy Files</a>. <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/conspiracy_files/8107594.stm">The Conspiracy Files: 7/7</a> <br />
is on Tuesday 30 June at 9pm on BBC Two</em>.<br />
</p>]]></description>
         <dc:creator>Mike Rudin (BBC News)</dc:creator>
	<link>http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2009/06/the_conspiracy_files_77.html</link>
	<guid>http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2009/06/the_conspiracy_files_77.html</guid>
	<category></category>
	<pubDate>Wed, 24 Jun 2009 08:53:28 +0000</pubDate>
</item>

<item>
	<title>PM&apos;s Speakers Week</title>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>Order! Order!</p>

<p>Today marks the climax of <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/pm/2009/06/its_speaker_week_on_pm_read_lo.shtml">PM's Speaker Week</a>. Each day last week, we heard manifestos for restoring trust between governed and governors and then on Friday, our four alternative Speaker candidates debated live with each other. </p>

<p><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/pm"><img alt="The PM programme logo" src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/pm_newlogo126.gif" width="126" height="71" /></a>PM listeners, and those who comment on the blog, are never shy in letting us know what they think, so here goes an attempt to answer some of the most frequently-asked questions.</p>

<p><strong>(1) Why do an alternative Speaker competition at all? Why not just hear from the actual candidates for the actual post?</strong></p>

<p>"Yes, and" (as the managers say). We did cover the <a href="http://www.hansardsociety.org.uk/blogs/hansard_in_the_media/archive/2009/06/02/submit-your-questions-to-the-hansard-society-speaker-hustings.aspx">Hansard Society hustings</a> quite extensively on <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00kwnz3">Monday's PM</a>, hearing from each of the candidates. This has been the only public forum so far - there'll more coverage of today's hustings in the House <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00l37kw">tonight</a>. </p>

<p>But given that MPs defenestrated Michael Martin as part of their response to the crisis of trust arising from the expenses scandal, we thought that there was more than enough room to hear from people in public life with ideas about how to change things.</p>

<p><strong>(2) Why did you choose the candidates you did?</strong></p>

<p>My original brief to our excellent producer, Manveen, was simply to find people who make you want to turn the radio up when they start speaking. I'm sure with that in mind, almost everyone will disagree with our selection for at least one of our four Speakers.  </p>

<p>We approached all kinds of figures across a range of areas: in particular, we tried to persuade some prominent business types to take part, without success. </p>

<p>In the end, I was very pleased with our line up: <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/pm/2009/06/its_speaker_week_on_pm_read_ti.shtml">Tim Collins</a>, <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/pm/2009/06/its_speaker_week_on_pm_read_a.shtml">AL Kennedy</a>, <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/pm/2009/06/its_speaker_week_on_pm_read_gr.shtml">Greg Dyke</a> and <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/pm/2009/06/its_speaker_week_on_pm_read_lo.shtml">Lord Carey</a>. </p>

<p>Surely the ideas of an inspirational army colonel, a prize-winning novelist, a former DG of the BBC and a former Archbishop of Canterbury are of interest to anyone thinking about trust in the institutions of the nation?</p>

<p><strong>(3) What came out of it?</strong></p>

<p>I think it was inevitable that we had a quart-into-pint-pot difficulty, and I wish that we'd had even more time to continue <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00kwny2">the debate on Friday's show</a>. </p>

<p>But over the week, we devoted 45 minutes to a debate which dealt with Lords reform, the kind of people who become MPs, what happens to them when they make it to Parliament, how to keep MPs in touch with the concerns of their constituents, parliamentary reform and whether it's the answer to the expenses question - and much else besides.</p>

<p><strong>(4) Why did we need a phone vote?</strong></p>

<p>We were very keen to gauge to what degree our candidates were finding favour with the audience, and we thought an independently-verified phone vote was the most robust and straightforward way to do this.  </p>

<p>Several correspondents to the PM blog asked whether we (the BBC) were making any money from the competition: the short answer is "no". The competition (<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/pm/2009/06/voting_has_now_closed_in_the_e.shtml">now closed</a>) was conducted in accordance with <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/guidelines/editorialguidelines/advice/interactivity/code/">the BBC's guidance on competitions</a>.</p>

<p>In short: undoubtedly not a perfect exercise, but hopefully an enjoyable and thought-provoking one. How it compares to <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/nickrobinson/2009/06/speak_er_erm.html">the debate in SW1</a>, we'll have to see...</p>

<p><em>Joanna Carr is editor, <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/pm/">PM</a>, <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/pm/">iPM</a> and <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/news/bh/">Broadcasting House</a>.</em></p>]]></description>
         <dc:creator>Joanna Carr (BBC News)</dc:creator>
	<link>http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2009/06/pms_speakers_week.html</link>
	<guid>http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2009/06/pms_speakers_week.html</guid>
	<category>PM</category>
	<pubDate>Mon, 22 Jun 2009 17:18:32 +0000</pubDate>
</item>

<item>
	<title>Radio 1 in Afghanistan</title>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>The thing that annoys troops in Afghanistan, said the British army NCO between mouthfuls of lamb and roast potatoes, was the way the media reported deaths. "Just a line on breaking news," he said.   </p>

<p>He was answering a question which has been on my mind a lot lately. How can we better tell the story of what's happening, day in and day out, in Afghanistan?</p>

<p>We've recently spent 10 days embedded with the UK military, first at Camp Bastion and then at Lashkar Gah. We were on patrol with UK forces and with the newly-arrived American troops in the shape of the formidable US Marines.</p>

<p><span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Maj Sean Birchall and Sima Kotecha" src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/radio1_afghan595.jpg" width="595" height="317" class="mt-image-center" style="text-align: center; display: block; margin: 0 auto 20px;" /></span></p>

<p>Our team was made up of reporter Sima Kotecha and producer/cameraman Pete Emmerson. Their dispatches and video-journalism are on the website in our <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/hi/the_p_word/newsid_8096000/8096569.stm">Afghanistan diary</a>. We've also, of course, been going through feedback.</p>

<p>Moira from Arbroath was one of those who got in touch: </p>

<blockquote>"I just want to say thank you to people like Ross Kemp and Radio 1, if it wasn't for their coverage on Afghanistan, then I like a lot of other people would still be quite ignorant to what all our armed forces have to endure on a daily basis."</blockquote>

<p>Our team was left in no doubt of the relationship that many young servicemen and women have with the station. "When is Chris Moyles coming out?" was a question many asked us, and many also wanted Simon Cowell. They were keen to demonstrate that what they were doing there was more than fighting the Taliban.</p>

<p>We have a special duty to tell the story in Afghanistan comprehensively and impartially for our audience. Some are involved in the conflict, or have been, or will be. Many others are connected to the services through friends and relatives. Real people, real stories. Here's one.</p>

<p>For 33-year-old Maj Sean Birchall, "doing more than fighting the Taliban" meant building a wall around a local school near the Lashkar Gah base. With a minefield nearby and the Taliban around, he wanted to protect the boys - and the girls who wouldn't have been educated under Taliban rule - from danger.  </p>

<p><span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Maj Sean Birchall" src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/radio1_afghan226.jpg" width="226" height="170" class="mt-image-right" style="float: right; margin: 0 0 20px 20px;" /></span>It was a project that he believed in. He spoke with great enthusiasm to our team, and worried over the price - $10,000. Maj Birchall led his men from 1st Battalion Welsh Guards from the front. He was usually first to dismount from armoured convoys and was keen to talk to the Afghan National Police and to check their welfare.  </p>

<p>He looked after our team too and, when off-duty, he was interested in the techniques of radio; the sounds here, the footsteps there, the crickets which you hear in our reports.</p>

<p>On Friday, he was in the second vehicle in a patrol convoy. It was hit by a roadside bomb. Despite prompt attention from the convoy's medic, <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8111385.stm">Maj Birchall died before he could be airlifted to hospital</a>; he was four days short of his birthday. Another soldier was badly injured. </p>

<p>His loss is deeply felt by his colleagues in the Welsh Guards, by his wife Joanne and by the rest of his family. He leaves an 18-month-old son, Charlie.</p>

<p>In this case, we could do more on Radio 1 than a line on breaking news. Our bulletins this weekend featured his words and a brief obituary. But because of broadcasting restrictions imposed by the MoD, often with good reason, and because of our own concerns about our staff's health and safety, these are never easy stories to report. As so often, they can be best told first hand. </p>

<p>We've got to keep trying - and sometimes that's just about getting out there. <br />
 <br />
<em>Rod McKenzie is editor of <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/hi/default.stm">Newsbeat</a> and <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/1xtra/tx/">1Xtra News</a></em>.<br />
</p>]]></description>
         <dc:creator>Rod McKenzie (BBC News)</dc:creator>
	<link>http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2009/06/radio_1_in_afghanistan.html</link>
	<guid>http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2009/06/radio_1_in_afghanistan.html</guid>
	<category>Radio 1</category>
	<pubDate>Mon, 22 Jun 2009 12:15:08 +0000</pubDate>
</item>

<item>
	<title>What really happened</title>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>The crisis over the <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/middle_east/2009/iran/default.stm">Iranian election</a> has been our lead story for most of the week. As with all our coverage, we have been careful to report what both Ahmadinejad and Mousavi supporters are saying. Similarly, we have taken care to label the pictures we use, explaining what they are of. </p>

<p><span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="display: inline;"><img alt="BBC News story Obama refuses to 'meddle' in Iran" src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/editors_iran226.jpg" width="226" height="170" class="mt-image-right" style="float: right; margin: 0 0 20px 20px;" /></span>However, on Wednesday 17 June we made a mistake in a picture caption published on BBC News online. In the story <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/8104362.stm">Obama refuses to 'meddle' in Iran</a>, we mistakenly stated that a Getty agency picture of a pro-Ahmadinejad rally was a pro-Mousavi rally. </p>

<p>Some blogs, including <a href="http://whatreallyhappened.com/WRHARTICLES/iranprop.phpare">WhatReallyhappened.com</a>, are pointing out that the LA Times used a similar photograph which showed President Ahmadinejad waving to supporters. The Getty pictures we received did not show Mr Ahmadinejad.</p>

<p>When a reader contacted us about it, we checked our caption and corrected it. We're sorry for the mistake and have added a note explaining the correction to the story.<br />
</p>]]></description>
         <dc:creator>Steve Herrmann (BBC News)</dc:creator>
	<link>http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2009/06/what_really_happened.html</link>
	<guid>http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2009/06/what_really_happened.html</guid>
	<category>BBC News website</category>
	<pubDate>Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:58:42 +0000</pubDate>
</item>

<item>
	<title>Changes to international pages (3)</title>
	<description><![CDATA[<p>It's taken a little while to go through your comments and questions about the way we present content for audiences inside and outside the UK (see previous posts <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2009/06/change_to_international_pages.html">here</a> and <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2009/06/changes_to_international_pages.html">here</a>). Our project team has helped me by answering a number of them below.</p>

<p>On the wider issue of being able to choose access to the UK/international front pages, we're continuing to look into possible options to address the concerns that so many of you have expressed.</p>

<p>Regarding the other issues raised, then:</p>

<p><strong>Individual sections and features</strong></p>

<p><span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="display: inline;"><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/your_money/default.stm"><img alt="UK Your Money" src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/uk_your_money226.jpg" width="226" height="170" class="mt-image-right" style="float: right; margin: 0 0 20px 20px;" /></a></span>We have added a <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/your_money/default.stm">UK Your Money section</a> and a link through to the index on the <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/your_money/default.stm">international Business page</a> after listening to the feedback of <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2009/06/changes_to_international_pages.html#P81711552">Geoff K</a> <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2009/06/changes_to_international_pages.html#P81601459">and</a> <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2009/06/changes_to_international_pages.html#P81592529">others</a>. In addition, we have included <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/economy/default.stm">Economy</a> and <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/companies/default.stm">Companies</a> sections with headlines.</p> 

<p>Some of you said that you want to see UK topics in the <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/talking_point/default.stm">Have Your Say</a> section, and we will be adding more top UK debates to the international index.</p>

<p>There was some feedback about fewer Entertainment and Sport stories on the international pages. The <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/default.stm">BBC Sport pages</a> are still your main destination for all the coverage you could access before, and more UK-focused entertainment stories can be found on our <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/default.stm">international Entertainment index</a>.</p>

<p><span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="display: inline;"><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/default.stm"><img alt="UK Politics" src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/uk_politics226.jpg" width="226" height="170" class="mt-image-right" style="float: right; margin: 0 0 20px 20px;" /></a></span>We had some comments from people who could no longer find UK political coverage on the international news pages. <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/default.stm">Our political coverage from the UK</a>, and all the same stories, can be found in the UK section of the navigation bar on the left, under the UK Politics subcategory.</p>

<p>On <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2009/06/change_to_international_pages.html#P81378479">a problem raised by "mikedbrit"</a> of not being able to access video that was available before, via the audio/video section on the UK version of the site: unfortunately, we are unable to use the licence fee to fund distribution of full programmes in high-quality video to international users (we do of course offer many news clips across all sections, as well as live coverage during special events), or to sustain the existing narrowband offering that some of you may have been accessing. This means that the narrowband access - in particular to the One, Six and Ten O'Clock news bulletins - is being withdrawn.</p> 

<p><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2009/06/changes_to_international_pages.html#P81575402">"Giant_of_Nancledra"</a> raised the issue of wanting to view a live parliamentary video stream. This coverage is available <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/playlive/bbc_parliament/">via the iPlayer</a> and as such is <a href="http://iplayerhelp.external.bbc.co.uk/help/download_programmes/outsideuk">not accessible outside the UK</a>. However, we plan to later in the year launch <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2008/11/the_role_of_citizen_journalism.html">Democracy Live</a> which will offer live and on-demand video from all the main UK institutions and the European parliament. Users - both in the UK and around the world - will be able to search the video for representatives and issues that are relevant to them. These changes are not related to the editions switch we made last week.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2009/06/changes_to_international_pages.html#P81589205">"LadderEdge" asked</a> where s/he could find BBC coverage of the Digital Britain report. You can find a summary of the report and links to other BBC stories here: <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8103351.stm">At a glance: Digital Britain</a>.</p>

<p><strong>Mobile users</strong></p>

<p>We are aware that there are problems affecting Blackberry business subscribers seeing the wrong edition and we are working to try to resolve this issue. There is an ongoing issue with the Opera mini-browser which we are also investigating with our technical team.</p>

<p><strong>AOL UK subscribers</strong></p>

<p><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2009/06/changes_to_international_pages.html#P81731721">Some of you</a> who use the AOL browser are being routed through international servers and are therefore being served the international edition. We are working with AOL to resolve this issue and expect it to be fixed shortly.</p>

<p><strong>Advertising revenue</strong></p>

<p>There has been some response that this is about serving more advertising. While commercial placements were a consideration in this switch, the changes are not about directing readers to pages with more advertising or targeting adverts at expats <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2009/06/changes_to_international_pages.html#P81731070">as "BootsDaRov" suggested</a>. Adverts were displayed on the UK version of news viewed by the international audience before the change.</p>

<p><strong>Access to the UK headlines page</strong></p>

<p><span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="display: inline;"><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/default.stm"><img alt="News From The UK" src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/news_from_the_uk226.jpg" width="226" height="170" class="mt-image-right" style="float: right; margin: 0 0 20px 20px;" /></a></span>Some users, <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2009/06/changes_to_international_pages.html#P81608809">including "crosbycat"</a>, said that they were unable to click through to the UK news page. We presume that this refers to the link at the top of the <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/default.stm">News From The UK</a> headlines box, which for a short time was not clickable, but now is.</p>

<p><strong>Postcode field on the feedback form</strong></p>

<p>A small number of people found problems entering their postcode into the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/feedback/bbci_adverts.shtml">feedback form</a>. The form appears to be working correctly, but if you are still experiencing problems with this, please send an email to <a href="mailto:SiteVersionsFeedback@bbc.co.uk?subject=Postcode%20error">SiteVersionsFeedback@bbc.co.uk</a> with the subject field "Postcode error", and we will investigate further.</p>

<p>Thanks again for all your comments, and just to reiterate the beginning of this post, we're continuing to look into possible options regarding the wider issues you've discussed.</p>

<strong>Update (17:40, 3 July):</strong> There's <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2009/07/changes_to_international_pages_2.html">a new post answering some of your concerns here</a>.

<p><em>Steve Herrmann is editor of the <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk">BBC News website</a>.</em></p>

]]></description>
         <dc:creator>Steve Herrmann (BBC News)</dc:creator>
	<link>http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2009/06/changes_to_international_pages_1.html</link>
	<guid>http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2009/06/changes_to_international_pages_1.html</guid>
	<category>BBC News website</category>
	<pubDate>Fri, 19 Jun 2009 15:56:00 +0000</pubDate>
</item>


</channel>
</rss>


