Monday, March 10, 2008

Random Rant

Dear BBC

I understand the fact that your coastline (and Scotland's, which is apparently sometimes British and most times not) is being buffeted with storms and high tides. I also understand that you love any weather-related topic that you can turn into a terror-inducing headline.

However, I think this reader quote is pushing the boundary of newsworthy:

"We have had very heavy rain and wind overnight -
Gal, Sunningdale"

Please, please can you tell me why this comment should be highlighted in a news story? Please.

Unless Gal is a prodigious 6-month old baby, or a talking goat, this comment does not warrant any further discussion, let alone highlighting. At the very least, you could've added an 'e' onto the name. I know how you pommies love your witticism, and a solid dose of nominative determination is never lost on me.

Feel free to transfer this onto a post-it note and stick it on your news room fridge:
"We have had heavy rain and wind overnight" counts as weather, not news.


ps. loved the piece on gout this morning.
Keep up the good work.

5 comments:

K.M. said...

A worthy rant, well done!!! They must have not had any baby murder stories on file, so they fell back on ol' faithful...die weer! Hold on, SKY is the baby murder channel, as so aptly pointed out by Golden Beagle. Anyway, good call!

Koekie said...

It's official - the Beeb is about horror weather stories, while Sky covers all things child-sadistic.

Anonymous said...

i'm still looking for maddie!

Koekie said...

Ah Kop, knowing what you look like with a 'tache, I wonder what you would do with Maddie if you found her...

DO NOT ANSWER THAT.

Anonymous said...

you appal me!