Minister, you have six seconds to make your case
James Forsyth 11:26amSkimming the interview with David Blunkett in G2 on the Tube on the way home last night, this grabbed my attention:
When you think about it, this does chime with the difference between TV news reports from the ‘80s and now. It certainly make you realise just how much a well crafted political message has to pack into a few words."In my time in politics, the soundbite on television has fallen from 25 seconds to six."
PS Fraser is up in Glasgow East today, so check back later on for his report on what is going on up there.
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adrian drummond
July 8th, 2008 12:15pm Report this commentTwenty years ago, 'hard' news would dominate a news bulletin. Now 'soft/sensational/celebrity' news is king of the air waves leaving a reduced time slot for a political story with soundbites being pruned back. Another factor is attention span. Some people find it difficult to remain focused on anything longer than 10 seconds.
On a more personal note, I'd like to add that politicians are seldom worth listening to anyway.
mart
July 8th, 2008 2:08pm Report this commentThere is more to it than this.
For example, compare the approach, and the output, of Channel 4 News, the BBC, and Sky News. Not all do the same thing in the same way.
The six-second soundbite is indeed a feature of the main pieces of BBC news output. But there is some variety even within the BBC.
What we really need is a broadcaster who will bias towards the right of British politics, to counteract the left bias of the BBC. Alternatively the BBC could be made to give over more of its airtime to right-leaning programmes, to balance out the left-leaning ones (which is almost all of them, these days).
EyeSee
July 8th, 2008 3:51pm Report this commentPity the poor politician. Seriously though it is unfortunate that at the same time politicians have lost any hint of morality, the press can't be bothered to challenge them (no access if you do, see?). So, an important question is asked by the Breakfast presenter, a Minister talks a load of bilge water in response and that is accepted and we move on. We are very badly served. Naturally, this must mean they need larger salaries, MP's and BBC execs all.
Dave
July 8th, 2008 7:31pm Report this commentSix seconds is a bit too long for a part time MP and Newspaper columinist and TV presentor
Fergus Pickering
July 9th, 2008 9:18am Report this commentI read recently that in 1931 the BBC refused Churchill and Lloyd george air time in a series they were doing broadcasting the views of notable politicians. It's true (I suppose) that Lloyd George was pretty old, but no lder than Tony Benn. So the Beeb, from the egg, as it were, was political and 'progressive'. Naw. You have to shut down at least half of it. It can't change. That's the way it is.
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