-----Original Message----From: John Rudd
Sent: Monday, 24 May 2010 5:13 PM
To: Sashka Koloff
Subject: Re: Media Watch query
Hey Sasha,
Here's my reply to your questions ...
j
1/ Monday to Friday each week, Prime Network telecasts almost 600
news or weather headline services. We service all of regional
Western Australia, most of regional Victoria, about half of regional
NSW, the ACT and part of the Gold Coast. Groups of those headline
services must slot simultaneously into our program schedule. Plainly
it would be impossible for almost any telecaster to present all those
simultaneous services live.
Yes, I believe Prime serves the needs of all its many and varied
local communities very well. Like any news service we sometimes wish
we could have done some particular story better or differently, but
overall I believe Prime does a very good job.
Usually. in situations like the one you have queried, major overnight
news stories would be reported in Sunrise, as happened today with the
Duntroon sexual assault. The material we did put to air on the
morning you asked about dealt with events happening that day,
including a pay claim by Commonwealth public servants. It served
Canberra's community’s interests well.
2/ Yes, from Canberra, we service six viewing areas with headline
services, and each has its own dedicated reporter on the ground. The
reporters are supervised by a Producer with 10 years experience.
3/ Like
headline
contacts
Producer
any news service we can’t be everywhere, all the time. The
reporters live in their towns, and maintain their local
like journalists anywhere. Our Canberra office, where their
is based, is staffed until at least 2000 Monday to Friday.
Sashka, I hope I have answered your questions adequately.
Jr
From: Sashka Koloff
Sent: Thursday, 20 May 2010 4:34 PM
To: John Rudd
Subject: Media Watch query
Dear John,
Media Watch has been looking at news updates broadcast on the 10 May, 2010, on Prime Television
in Canberra. We would appreciate it if you would answer the following questions;
1. Prime Television’s news update at 7am on 10.5.10 in Canberra missed the biggest news
story of the morning, the execution style killing of a man in Hughes. We understand that the
story was missed because the news update had been pre-recorded on the Friday before it
was broadcast. Do you believe that the local community’s interests are being served by your
news service given that this major breaking news was missed? If so, please explain why?
2. We understand that your bureau in Canberra services six viewing areas. Given this, how do
you ensure your viewers are receiving a genuine local news service? Is there a Prime
reporter based in each of these viewing areas?
3. Given that all of your news updates are pre-recorded, hours or even days before they are
broadcast, how do you ensure that your news service is up to date and relevant to your
viewers?
Due to our production deadlines, we would very much appreciate receiving your response by C.O.B
tomorrow Friday, 21 May, 2010.
Regards,
Sashka Koloff
Journalist/ Researcher
Media Watch, ABC TV