Media Training update w/c 21st October

Good morning. It’s Monday 21st October.

“Getting in the media is the best way to get something through to a politician, absolutely.”

Professor Tim Leunig 

Year Of The Expert takes a detour this week on account of an interview given by Professor Tim Leunig on BBC 5Live. It takes us right back to Part 1 – why bother engaging with the media. We think it’s worth 3 minutes of your time, particularly if you’re an expert yet to be convinced of the benefits of media engagement. 

LISTEN HERE

“When it comes to media freedom, all the warning lights are flashing.”

Tim Davie

BBC DG Tim Davie’s speech to the Future Resilience Forum included this line:

“The BBC World Service is a priceless global asset. The former UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, once described it as possibly “Britain’s greatest gift to the world”. But the truth is, the World Service is now operating under intolerable pressures.”

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“Yes, but…” Part 1…

“HARDtalk was never just another news show. A brilliant team of producers and researchers is being disbanded just as BBC DG Tim Davie is trying to persuade the British Govt that the journalism of the BBC World Service is such a vital expression of democratic soft power that the taxpayer must fund it.”

Presenter Stephen Sackur reacts to the news that HARDtalk is being axed, amid cuts across BBC News

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“Yes, but…” Part 2…

Davie went on the Today Programme ahead of his speech and was inevitably asked about the fallout from Huw Edwards’ conviction. Nick Robinson asked him about the power of on air ‘talent’:

“I don’t think anyone is indispensable…we often refer to people like yourself as ‘talent’ – I’d like to ban that word…Everyone should be treated equally, regardless of rank…We’re sorting this culture.” 

The final word on Talent goes to Libby Purves in The Times (herself a former Today programme producer then presenter):

“If the culture changes, good. Let the affronted talent ease its vanity with Clive Myrie-type £10k dinner speeches. If the T-word itself gets banned, still better. It is widely hated by gifted, anxious programme makers who see their production money eroding and their intern runners living on Greggs pasties and student debt. “Got no budget,” they mourn. “Effing talent’s had it all.””

The week ahead:

Monday: Employment Rights Bill debated for the first time in the Commons

UN Biodiversity Conference (COP-16) opens

Tuesday: World Economic Outlook published 

Wednesday: Inquest into the death of Brianna Ghey

Thursday: Prime Minister Keir Starmer and King Charles in Samoa for CHOGM

Friday: Lionesses play Germany 

Sunday: Israel holds National Remembrance Day for October 7 attacks

Snap election in Japan 

The boss of the Institute for Fiscal Studies Paul Johnson is stepping down next year.

He’s a superb communicator. Never shies away from economic complexity, yet roots his numbers in the audience’s world. 

Reliable. Friendly. Generous with his time and expertise. Understands the impact media engagement can have.

Newsrooms and audiences will miss him.

A rare foray into sport for this week’s Monday Media Briefing…

“Gareth Southgate was not a naturally confident public speaker, but gradually honed his act until he perfected the art of saying nothing very wisely.”

Jonathan Liew’s excellent article about communication in elite sport.

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“The analysis on why he died, written by the people who caused him such pain, who themselves have so little understanding, is at best ironic and at worse an insult.”

Former Sun Editor David Yelland on the Mail’s coverage of Liam Payne’s death:

Footnotes:

On this day: Tragedy hit the Welsh village of Aberfan as a coal slag tip engulfed a school burying at least 130 people and injuring many more on this day in 1966.

Quiz: Not sitting this week

Weather: 13 degrees in Edinburgh, 16 degrees in Exeter, 2 degrees in Edmonton, Canada.

Coffee? Inside Edge is in London, Birmingham and Pontypridd this week

Mutts: In warmer times…

Be part of the MMB. Thoughts on this week’s content, or interviews you’ve seen, heard, or (best of all) done. We’re @insideedgemedia or just reply to this email. 

Have a brilliant week.

All at Inside Edge