Media Brief
I'm the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s media correspondent and this is my brief selection of what's going on.
The the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ has been given a one-year deadline to drastically improve ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ One and ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Two, after its "formulaic and derivative" daytime programmes were criticised in what it calls "a damning report" by the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Trust. Jana Bennett, the director of ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Vision, gives a different interpretation: "The Trust has asked us to build on the strong performances of ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ One, Two and Four to deliver even more fresh and new content to our audiences."
ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½1 and ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½2 are too similar, while ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½4 needs to do more to raise its profile. That is the of the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Trust review of the channels.
The Mark Thompson, the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ director general, has refused to enter new negotiations with the National Union of Journalists, whose members disrupted TV and radio services last week over pension proposals.
it was a relief to have a day without Today because of the NUJ strike. "It was like finding a forgotten fiver in an old coat pocket. On Friday the nation woke up to discover ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ radio was full of nice things."
The Countryfile presenter Michaela Strachan was forced to leave the programme because she did not want to report on producing meat, the corporation's head of rural affairs told an industrial tribunal. Andrew Thorman denied claims by Miss Strachan's former colleague Miriam O'Reilly, 53, that she and other presenters were victims of ageism and sexism.
Sir Brian Barder, the former British ambassador to Ethiopia, has criticised the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ over its apology to Band Aid. listeners were misled that 95% of famine relief aid for Ethiopia was diverted to the military:
"It isn't just Band Aid to which the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ owes an apology, but the British government, other donors, charities and ordinary people who gave so generously."
Film-maker Warner Bros is to announce plans to develop a permanent UK studio base, including a visitor centre for its films such as Harry Potter. The ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ reports it will be built at Leavesden, in Hertfordshire, where production on all eight Harry Potter films took place.
Ann Widdecombe says she won't quit Strictly Come Dancing like John Sergeant. The asking if she should she stay or go?
The ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½'s newspapers review says George Bush's memoirs dominate many front pages. In an exclusive interview, he tells the Times that he does not mind what people think of him. The Guardian also has extracts.
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• ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ | Warner Bros to develop UK film base
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• ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ | Newspapers review
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