[Worzel]

This post by Martine has really touched me this evening.

Just look at the solidarity and at what we appear to have lost...

www.instagram.com =

Oh to have been a fly on the wall!

It really is sad state of affairs isn't it. I know everyone involved are grown adults but the atmosphere around the NBH newsroom must be at an all time low. Mix in the redundancies, screen testing some of the most skilled people in the most humiliating way with people vying for a small number of jobs, an on air recruitment process largely squeued to World News presenters, overstretched staff and a really bodged relaunch - just how do the BBC manage to mismanage things so, so badly?

Monday 3rd April was supposed to be the launch of the new channel, whether you call it a soft launch or not, it was where they drew the line in the sand. The fact that so many bodged things have made it to air which shouldn't have on even a basic bare-bones channel shows there's very little in the way of proper project management. Its not as if what they're doing is groundbreaking either. It's largely static presenter shots, crossing to reporters, playing packages and hitting timed junctions.

- Why have 2 separate galleries which are running the same output, one updated with revised but bodged titles/graphics/wipes and the other which hasn't been updated and is running what would be classed as 'old branding'?
- Graphics that are obscured by the ticker or are bodged
- The ticker which sometimes works, sometimes doesn't
- Why have 2 newsroom positions with people framed so tightly they could be broadcast from anywhere (with a dodgy frame rate to boot)?
- Crashing in and out of things.
- Why is the One still coming from E when the Six and Ten have moved to B?

This should have ALL been picked up in rehearsals by senior managers who are supposed to oversee these things.

It's not like this the BBC's first dive into running a 24 hour news channel or a new start up. They've run 2 separate news channels for over 20 years. How can you combine them, and running order aside, fumble it so badly?

And before anyone says I'm being unfair, this post isn't criticising those running the galleries, behind the scenes operational staff or on the front line. Goodness me, they must feel just as frustrated as we are watching it unfold. I really, really feel for them.

To me it feels like there's some internal politics and a battle going on between the big wigs (the suits and blouses) who have their 'vision' and the staff down the chain who (it looks like) have to roll out the product with little support, money, guidance and man power.

It's the latest balls up to happen under Tim Davie's watch. There must be another DCMS committee session due soon. That'll be an interesting one as several, let's just say, 'issues' have happened since his last appearance. The Alex Belfield business, Gary Lineker and now the news channels. John Nicolson in particular is going to have a field day.