BBC News Radar - a river of news

I like the 'river of news' idea of the News Radar (see current beta version), where news junkies can get their fix in real-time of the latest news. check boxes to select certain areas to follow might be a good idea, but then if you want a specific subject, you would go to that section anyway.

The original publication time and last update time are good features - this information should appear in this way on the actual story page itself.

On the design/layout: page width is far too wide (which I assume would have a sidebar in a finished release) which is partly why the feint grey section text appears visually adrift of the headline/abstract.

The power of the media and delayed outrage

So Russell Brand has fallen on his sword for his ill-judged prank call to Andrew Sachs.

I suppose following the delayed outrage of tens of thousands (there were 2 to the BBc in the first week after the broadcast), most of which I wager didn't and never listen to his show and may well not even have heard the broadcast until a week after the event.

The prank itself is not really an issue, that is Brand's style - Ross may well regret joining in - but Channel 4's Fonejacker may well be jealous at the amount of coverage Brand's single call is getting!

But the Beeb broadcast the show despite Sachs not giving the green-light to use the content, and they must face up to that.

But the whirlwind of media and political bandwagon-jumping and finger-wagging is rather sad and tired, talks of a drop in standards of comedy and broadcasting.

We must not stifle creativity - that's not to ignore the fact that some ideas fall flat and backfire - even within a seemingly restricted public service broadcaster.

What does BBC Local mean for regional press?

There is already some good debate going on about the BBC's new attempt to widen its local video-based coverage across the UK.

Andrew Grant-Adamson writes:

It is worth going back to the source material and looking at BBC’s proposal. Done properly, the scheme could help make local independent news websites more viable. Most of the local content would be made available for embedding (with BBC branding) in both commercial and not-for-profit sites to supplement their own coverage. The BBC also says it would link to coverage by other local news providers.

Competition isn't all bad, regional press shouldn't necessarily have the monopoly on any location, and the BBC would have to work alongside the local press titles rather than it being a blatant race to the story.

But inevitably there will be duplication of coverage, and I can guess where most people will go first given the choice, because the BBC is, well the BBC. For all its faults - and even recent mistakes - it remains one of the most respected news providers across the world.

As the regional newspaper market struggles in the current economic climate to progress its digital output and improve its web offering, the BBC would remain a well-equipped, well-trained and confident provider of local content, backed up by its enormous raft of related and supporting content.

As Roy Greenslade concludes:

There appears to be no compromise. The BBC feels it is acting logically by fulfilling its public service remit. Regional owners are also acting logically by defending their turf. In truth, both reflect the fact that none of us know what the future holds.

Will the BBC's plan help local papers, as Grant-Adamson suggests? Or will it plunge another dagger into the body of dying newspaper companies? I rather think it will be the latter. But the big question, of course, is whether that is really such a calamitous outcome.

As Greenslade rightly points out, nobody knows how the press, let alone the regional press in particular will survive over the next few years. This potentially adds an additional burden as the economic downturn and advertising slump leave businesses, aka potential advertisers and the public, aka potential newspaper buyers look to spend every penny wisely.

There are pros and cons to the BBC's plans, but if they do get the go-ahead, there should be some constructive positive discussion with the regional press titles in order to make best use of the Beeb's content and strong link-backs to existing local press's online coverage.

BBC goes 2.0 beta-style

The new beta BBC homepage ticks all the customisation and functionality boxes with its new design and widget-driven layout.

Choose what, how and where your content is displayed. Choose your location to specify content, e.g. weather.

Apparently embedded video will be part of the finished product.

The retro clock and colour palettes work really well.

The features panel to the right will by all accounts reduce in size as it does overwhelm the page somewhat.

All in all, a decent user experience and great level of user control, but not losing the BBC's straightforward delivery of content.

the changing colour palette when features are selected is eye-catching, but not wholly necessary in its delivery.

They chosen colour should at least have some relation to a section of content within the site, or be less of a visual jump on the whole page.

Richard Titus (BBC's Acting Head of User Experience) and Sam England give more in depth behind the scenes backstory and analysis.

Here's a screenshot of the current layout and general personalisation options:

BBC answers own clown question

The BBC beta homepage screams at us 'Why are clowns so scary?', but the feature image (screenshot below) pretty much explains that one.

Thanks BBC.

Personally I'm not too horrified, but I have good friends who would not appreciate that image violating their dreams!