News Coverage Local elections coverage May 2022

[HarryB]

Jo Coburn presenting BBC News from 9am, coverage simulcast on BBC Two in studio E.

[Brekkie]

The newsroom hoop must be in a particularly bad state, the touchscreen shot on Reeta is very close on the screen itself.

I thought we might at least see a pan to the weather balcony when Huw crosses to Rita.

I think we can safely say general election coverage from E is pretty much off the cards. It doesn't look great. Laura Kuensberg's camera position looks off to me.

Would be good if they constructed a set in the newsroom itself behind E. That could actually look pretty good.

Yes, though in front of it rather than behind so the main background is unaffected. I do think the NBH newsroom used effectively could give the traditional Election set vibes. Obviously local elections have always been a smaller scale but in their current guises Studio E probably the least appropriate choice. Millbank surely better for a simpler election programme with guests.

Those touchscreen graphics are pretty awful, very basic.

They always are and always have been on virtually all channels. They add very little for the viewer and the CSO presentations they've largely replaced were generally easier to read.

[UTVLifer]

[DTV]

They always are and always have been on virtually all channels.  They add very little for the viewer and the CSO presentations they've largely replaced were generally easier to read.

Sorry, this might be one of the biggest loads of nonsense I have ever read on this forum. Sure the use of a touchscreen is unnecessary, but the graphics themselves are far easier to read than those awful, awful VR graphics they used to use with Jeremy Vine - they were such an abomination against the principles of data visualisation that I have literally seen them used in introductory information design classes as an example of how not to do things.

The problem with the touchsreen segments, other than them being able to without the touch element, is that they are too rushed and don't spend enough time analysing the data. Though the balance has got better in recent years, I still want more analysis and much fewer 'interviews' with politicians and surrogates where they just spout the same three talking points for hours on end.

[Stuart]

Sure the use of a touchscreen is unnecessary, but the graphics themselves are far easier to read than those awful, awful VR graphics they used to use with Jeremy Vine - they were such an abomination against the principles of data visualisation that I have literally seen them used in introductory information design classes as an example of how not to do things.

I agree. The balcony screen graphics were nice and clear; but please just give the presenter the 'weather clicker'.

Someone has to clean all those unnecessary smudges off that screen tomorrow.

[aaron_scotland]

[scottishtv]

One would assume that if LauraK is on all night tonight,  Chris Mason may pick things up tomorrow.

Chris is hosting the Radio 4/5 Live and BBC local radio programme with Naga Munchetty through the night, so there may be a lull in between English councils reporting and then Scottish ones starting to come in, followed by NI?

We have our answer.  Vicky Young picking up the baton for the afternoon programme.

[william]

Sure the use of a touchscreen is unnecessary, but the graphics themselves are far easier to read than those awful, awful VR graphics they used to use with Jeremy Vine - they were such an abomination against the principles of data visualisation that I have literally seen them used in introductory information design classes as an example of how not to do things.

I agree. The balcony screen graphics were nice and clear; but please just give the presenter the 'weather clicker'.

Someone has to clean all those unnecessary smudges off that screen tomorrow.

For a while now I've thought what they really ought to do is build software that can be largely controlled with arrow keys, so you select a constituency using the up and down, and move through the graphs with left and right, and then give the presenter a bluetooth remote a bit like this.  Having to reach out and press the middle of the screen at the right pressure always looks a bit too awkward and takes a bit too long for me, plus your presenter has to turn and look at the screen and press it every time then turn back and look at the camera.

Get the impression from behind the scenes photos the BBC have significantly fewer staff this time round. Much prefer studio E to the "dungeon" - like grey of previous years though - I don't see the point of them spending a lot of time and VR-effort into making something that looks (imo) worse - and at least NBH looks busy (a lot of times the newsroom feels  deserted). Not a fan of the 'Arthur' theme.

[UTVLifer]

Given the potential significance of the result in NI, it's irritating that the BBC One/NC programme with Huw has just missed 2 declarations from NI in a row.

Turned over to Sky News' coverage as the BBC has reverted to form - with talking heads and touchscreen analysis seeming taking precedence over declarations

[AJB39]

'

Given the potential significance of the result in NI, it's irritating that the BBC One/NC programme with Huw has just missed 2 declarations from NI in a row.

Turned over to Sky News' coverage as the BBC has reverted to form - with talking heads and touchscreen analysis seeming taking precedence over declarations

BBC1 NI’s coverage of the assembly election hasn’t shown a single declaration so far. Host Mark Carruthers was asked why they hadn’t shown any declarations on air by one of the politicians and he said that they don’t show declarations during proportional representation elections. On a number of occasions they’ve been interviewing pundits and journalists while results have been declared in the background. I agree with you and I personally wish they would show declarations. It’s important to see democracy in action.

[UTVLifer]

'

Given the potential significance of the result in NI, it's irritating that the BBC One/NC programme with Huw has just missed 2 declarations from NI in a row.

Turned over to Sky News' coverage as the BBC has reverted to form - with talking heads and touchscreen analysis seeming taking precedence over declarations

BBC1 NI’s coverage of the assembly election hasn’t shown a single declaration so far. Host Mark Carruthers was asked why they hadn’t shown any declarations on air by one of the politicians and he said that they don’t show declarations during proportional representation elections. On a number of occasions they’ve been interviewing pundits and journalists while results have been declared in the background. I agree with you and I personally wish they would show declarations. It’s important to see democracy in action.

I'm not in NI so I've not been watching the coverage but it's honestly a joke to hear that BBC1 NI haven't shown a single declaration - although the network BBC1 and NC special didn't show many declarations, they did cover a few

[Stuart]

The NI Studio does look rather nice after they'd hoovered/mopped the floor, and put all the lights on . . .  

[Newsroom]

I’m sorry, but who it who said BBC Cardiff Central had very few choices in terms of set up. It’s outstanding. That building is not dark and soulless, it’s completely versatile. The BBC Wales Today special is knocking it out of the park.

[scottishtv]

Dare I ask if local TV covered the local elections anywhere?

Unfortunately I missed this evening's 8 minutes of news on That's TV Scotland. Their last tweet was 10 days ago, and the website is now a series of links to other news websites.

[AJB39]

According to the iPlayer listings, the election coverage continues tomorrow evening on the BBC NC, 7 - 10pm, although I doubt it'll be anchored by Huw Edwards as it says in the programme description.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/guide/bbcnews/20220506

Makes sense as more results will be coming in from Scotland, Wales and especially Northern Ireland throughout the evening.

If I remember correctly Huw Edwards hosted last years election coverage right up until 10pm on the News Channel so I wouldn’t rule it out again this year.

But last year the programme didn't start until the Friday morning, rather than going through the night as it will this year. Though, presenters have done quite long shifts for elections before - I seem to recall that Dimbleby in 2010 stayed up for an ungodly amount of time with little rest.

Huw Edwards is still presenting the Elections coverage on the News Channel this evening.