FREELANCER, Adeline Amar, reviews the media stories in today’s newspapers…
Today, we have a mixed coverage of media stories in the press.
The Scottish Daily Mail, for instance, follows up on a court order – reported in yesterday’s Media in the Press – that a “world-famous sportsman” be allowed to keep his name secret after having allegedly had an affair with two women while in a long-term relationship. Says the paper (page 10), the case is only one of many where sports stars have “‘[bought] ’legal gagging orders”, which lists (without identifying names) other sports celebrities said to have obtained similar ‘gagging orders’.
Meanwhile, The Herald comments on yesterday’s confirmation that former News of the World editor, Andy Coulson, has resigned from his role as Prime Minister, David Cameron’s communications director (page 6). Coulson announced his resignation 11 days ago because of the “drip-drip of claims about illegal eavesdropping” during his time at the NoTW (page 6). A replacement has yet to be announced.
Elsewhere in the news, the Archdiocese of Glasgow has joined Twitter and Facebook, following Pope Benedict XVI’s recent invitation to church members to join social media, stating “this network is an integral part of human life” (The Herald, page 11). Adds The Herald, The Archdiocese is using both social networking platforms to promote stories ranging from naming a new school to an anti-abortionists’ meeting at Loch Lomond.
TV presenter, Fern Britton, is back on daytime TV, this time for Channel 4 (The Herald, page 3). Britton had left her ITV1 show, This Morning, two years ago after 10 years; her new 5pm show is simply to be called ‘Fern’. Channel 4 daytime boss, Helen Warner, is quoted by the Daily Record (page 3), saying, “For me, she is the British answer to Oprah.”
Changes to the BBC radio schedule: Mark Radcliffe and Stuart Maconie’s ‘popular’ evening show has been cancelled after four years on Radio 2 (The Herald, page 13). Radcliffe and Maconie are to start a new show on BBC 6 Music, with Radcliffe also starting a new, weekly one-hour show for Radio 2.
And Radio 1, DJ Jo Whiley, is reported leaving Radio 1 after 17 years, for a new programme on Radio 2, starting in April. Whiley already presents the In Concert series for Radio 2, notes the Scottish Daily Express (page 3).
Finally, the BBC have apologised after Newsnight’s Jeremy Paxman used the ‘c-word’ on air, mispronouncing “cuts”. The BBC’s official apology called the incident “an unfortunate slip of the tongue” (Scottish Daily Express, page 19).