Media Trust and ITV news announce ‘Breaking Into News’ finalists

Posted by KimHeinz on 31 August 2011 at 08:09
Tags: People, Student Journalism

Six finalists have been announced for the ‘Breaking Into News 2011’ competition run by the Media Trust and ITV News.

The six were chosen from more than 300 entrants and will be mentored by experienced journalists from the ITV newsroom, including Richard Pallot and Charlene White, to develop their ideas into a news report, with the final piece considered for inclusion on the ITV News.

ITV News managing editor Robin Elias said:

Our six finalists have excellent ideas which we’ve started developing into pieces of news television.

The aim was to identify talent who wouldn’t normally find a way into somewhere like ITN. ‘Breaking Into News’ has opened that door for them.

(more…)

Report: Murdochs to be questioned under oath, phone-hacking inquiry could be broadcast live

Posted by KimHeinz on 30 August 2011 at 11:22
Tags: Freedom of Information, Journalism, Law

Rupert and James Murdoch are to be questioned under oath at the High Court as part of Lord Justice Leveson’s inquiry into the News of the World phone-hacking scandal, according to The Daily Telegraph.

The paper claimed the inquiry will kick off at the end of next month with a series of seminars for senior journalists and “other interested parties” looking into “the law, ethics of journalism and the ‘practice and pressures of investigative journalism’.

They will also look at “how press regulation will protect the integrity, freedom and independence of the press, while ensuring the highest standards”.

(more…)

BBC pays out £32.5m in ‘flexibility’ payments to staff

Posted by KimHeinz on 30 August 2011 at 10:15
Tags: BBC, Broadcast

The BBC pays out £32.5m a year to more than 8,000 staff considered to work “unpredictable” hours because they only get two weeks’ notice of their shift patterns.

The majority of staff are believed to be based in the BBC’s news teams, according to an article in The Daily Telegraph.

The payments are referred to as “flexibility allowance” and mean that staff at the corporation “can pocket an extra 10 per cent of their salary as a bonus if they are notified of their precise hours of work 14 days in advance, while those signed up to receive one week’s warning of their shifts receive an extra 20 per cent”, the paper claimed.

(more…)