Beat it ?

The BBC has an advert that runs during it's news programmes. In it we are shown reporters working around the world. There's loads of sexy technology and people in bullet proof jackets typing on laptops. The thrust of the piece is that the Beeb has reporters around the world so they are on the spot when a big story breaks. It's one in the eye for ITN who rely on teh interweb and pray for news that requires no more than a zone 5 underground pass.

If this is the case however, how come every time there is a big story, within a couple of days a "star" reporter and presumably crew, are piled onto a plane and sent out to do the standing in the street performing links role ?

Can we assume that although there are reporters out in all these locations, the truth is they are a bunch of donkeys who can't be allowed on screen ?

Take the current big story, no not all that Iranian stuff or war in Afghanistan, no the BIG story about Mikey Jackson being dead. Now this happened in the USA. I would have though that in a country that big and that important, one of the local reporters could have been trusted to look after things. After all, once you get past the "Michael Jackson is dead" bit, the rest is just filming vox-pops with fans blubbering. Yes there are a lot of them but to be honest to get past a day the story needs to be stretched very thin. Anyway, I see that the Beeb has decided that the local team are rubbish, and the only person who can cover this huge event properly is the woman from Newsnight. To be fair, I think ITV have thought the same but then they might not have anyone based in the states and anyway, all their newsreaders look the same to me.

If I were one of these brave BBC reporters from the trail I'd be more than a bit cheesed off by this. While they dodge bullets and get some local knowledge, as soon as the big story breaks and there is the chance for some glory, an overpaid autocutie will be parachuted in to front things.