Local TV News

Local television news must have the largest amount of self-importance of any sector of life. Incredibly parochial. They really believe that they are the most important thing that exists. As an example, on last night's local BBC South News, the lead story (and one that took up most of the broadcast) was the fact that ITV Central local new in Abingdon was closing down.

Shock, horror, they are moving production to Southampton, and will now have to cover an area from Banbury to Winchester...

Was there really nothing else happening in the south that day? If not, then that was probably the reason that Central were closing down!

"Up to 40 people may lose their jobs". Not "40", but "up to 40". Not "will lose their jobs", but "may lose their jobs".

The BBC reporter at the gates of ITV in Abingdon was outraged and (ever so slightly) gloating... The spokesman for Central news looked very gloomy when interviewed for the BBC.

They even went through a large amount of comment and history about how ITV had started up their Angindon newsdesk and how it had been successful. But now, of course, only the BBC will be giving proper local news. I can't wait til the next cat gets rescued from a tree, whether it likes it or not.

Personally, I couldn't care less about local news, about 1 in 200 articles has any interest to me.