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Today FM half hour bulletin

  • 17-08-2009 4:57pm
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 141 ✭✭


    I’m wondering if someone can educate me on the rationale for the Today FM half hourly news headline bulletins, or if you could give me your views so I can understand the approach and quell my irritation at the way they go about it……

    Rather than a full news report, these are the half hourly headlines that I’ve noticed mainly during drive time stage in the day. The news reader gives us a headline with no real background info. Now, its not the lack of background info that bugs the hell out of me, it’s the manner in which they’re delivered. Examples as follows

    News bulletin:
    “A plane operated by Trans-Sea Airlines has crashed into the Irish Sea. (details, details, details….)
    Ted Murphy has been appointed head of a new board of enquiry on spending in turf suppliers. (details, details, details….)
    The European Central Bank have released images of the planned €1000 note due later this year, (details, details, details….)
    Cork United FC have been relegated to the 2nd division in the Irish football league, (details, details, details….)
    I’m Shiobhan McNice, that was the news”


    Vs

    Half hour headlines:
    “A Trans-Sea plane crashes into the Irish sea, Ted Murphy is appointed head of Turf enquiry, European Bank releases images of new €1000 note, and Cork FC are relegated to division two. Full details in half an hour”

    Its all about the tense in which its delivered.
    Why not "A plane has crashed in the Irish Sea, Ted Murphy has been appointed head of so and so, and Euro bank has released images of a new euro note. Full details in half an hour"
    On the half hour, they report what is happening right now….. or what is happening shortly when they read us the proper news.

    It bugs the **** out of me, but I’m not certain why. I get a mental picture of the news reader in front of the mic looking out the window describing what they can see.
    Can anyone justify this Today FM approach or explain the grammatical or journalistic rationale?????????


Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,222 ✭✭✭robbie_998


    im sorry for trolling or what ever but i always wanted to know why it wasent tonight fm when it was night time rather than today fm.

    again really sorry.. im not a troller and im curious :)

    mods please pm me if any problems...

    cheers :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 141 ✭✭johndoc


    Bump.

    So nobody is willing to have a stab at the OP query?
    This is not a troll (thanks r-998). I would like to know the basis for the approach though. Much like say marketing, is it a 'technique' or 'method' that the broadcasters are under the impression the listener appreciates?????


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,222 ✭✭✭robbie_998


    sorry it was just a thought i has for years in my head and never thought of asking it. :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,641 ✭✭✭✭Elmo


    johndoc wrote: »
    Bump.

    So nobody is willing to have a stab at the OP query?
    This is not a troll (thanks r-998). I would like to know the basis for the approach though. Much like say marketing, is it a 'technique' or 'method' that the broadcasters are under the impression the listener appreciates?????

    Under the terms of their licence TodayFM are required to have a certain amount of News and Current Affairs, these half hour headlines can be passed of as this. FM104 count Adrian Kennedy as part of their requirement (he is hard hitting current affairs) and local stations outside dublin use the death notices as part of their requirements.

    It cann't be called marketing since the listener isn't about to change channel just because they are not sure when the news is going to be on.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,641 ✭✭✭✭Elmo


    robbie_998 wrote: »
    sorry it was just a thought i has for years in my head and never thought of asking it. :)

    They todayFM/tonightFM is a marketing ploy to make you think it is day time. :)

    Perhaps they should rename it Today/Tonight/Whenever FM. Or simple Whenever FM.


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  • Moderators Posts: 6,900 ✭✭✭Spocker


    I always though there was a different focus to each bulletin?

    Top of the hour = News in detail + sports headlines
    Bottom of the hour = News headlines + sports in detail


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 141 ✭✭johndoc


    Elmo wrote: »
    FM104 count Adrian Kennedy as part of their requirement (he is hard hitting current affairs) and local stations outside dublin use the death notices as part of their requirements.
    Thanks Elmo, hadn't thought about. Today FM would surely be streets ahead of the like of FM104 when you factor in The Last Word each week day, and the Sunday Business Show and The Sunday Supplement.

    My real query though, and rather than the focus on news or sport, is the what I find bizarre use of the 'current tense' when reading out these half hour bulletins
    johndoc wrote: »
    “A Trans-Sea plane crashes into the Irish sea, Ted Murphy is appointed head of Turf enquiry, European Bank releases images of new €1000 note, and Cork FC are relegated to division two. Full details in half an hour”

    Vs

    "A plane has crashed in the Irish Sea, Ted Murphy has been appointed head of so and so, and Euro bank has released images of a new euro note. Full details in half an hour"

    Did the producer do a course to update his skills and pick up a novel idea thats emerged in journalistic thinking??


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,641 ✭✭✭✭Elmo


    johndoc wrote: »
    Thanks Elmo, hadn't thought about. Today FM would surely be streets ahead of the like of FM104 when you factor in The Last Word each week day, and the Sunday Business Show and The Sunday Supplement.

    Yes they are and they would have more regulations placed on them by the BCI for News and Current Affairs, and they are a national service.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 692 ✭✭✭CUCINA


    I usually listen to Matt Coopper on the "The Last Word" on the way home and what I find a bit grating lately is when Matt introduces the newsreader on the half-hour...she ALWAYS starts with a long drawn out "thaaanks Mahhht"!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,641 ✭✭✭✭Elmo


    CUCINA wrote: »
    I usually listen to Matt Coopper on the "The Last Word" on the way home and what I find a bit grating lately is when Matt introduces the newsreader on the half-hour...she ALWAYS starts with a long drawn out "thaaanks Mahhht"!

    Why does Matt Copper need it during his show?


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  • Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators, Regional South East Moderators Posts: 28,536 Mod ✭✭✭✭Cabaal


    Elmo wrote: »
    Why does Matt Copper need it during his show?

    Because other news events can happen and if somebody wants the news they can simply listen to the headlines instead of three hours of Matt :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,641 ✭✭✭✭Elmo


    Cabaal wrote: »
    Because other news events can happen and if somebody wants the news they can simply listen to the headlines instead of three hours of Matt :)

    But why the half hour reports, I am sure people can wait for the hour.


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