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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Paxman fears for Newsnight future | Paxman fears for Newsnight future |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Presenter Jeremy Paxman has questioned whether his Newsnight programme will survive if the BBC proceeds with threatened cutbacks. | Presenter Jeremy Paxman has questioned whether his Newsnight programme will survive if the BBC proceeds with threatened cutbacks. |
| He said it was "something of a mystery" to him how there could be "a budget crisis in an organisation with an assured income of £3.5bn". | He said it was "something of a mystery" to him how there could be "a budget crisis in an organisation with an assured income of £3.5bn". |
| Recent deceptions uncovered across the industry had been handled in a "preposterous" way, he said. | Recent deceptions uncovered across the industry had been handled in a "preposterous" way, he said. |
| Paxman was speaking during a lecture at the Edinburgh TV Festival. | Paxman was speaking during a lecture at the Edinburgh TV Festival. |
| The journalist added that too many senior executives were "less concerned with content and a lot more concerned with bottom lines".'Preposterous spectacle' | |
| Paxman referred to issues such as phone-in quizzes which viewers were unable to win and scenes that had been edited to distort reality. | |
| "We've had the preposterous spectacle of some of the most senior figures in broadcasting running around like maiden aunts who've walked in on some teenage party, affecting shock and disbelief at what they've heard," Paxman said. | "We've had the preposterous spectacle of some of the most senior figures in broadcasting running around like maiden aunts who've walked in on some teenage party, affecting shock and disbelief at what they've heard," Paxman said. |
| I find it pretty hard to believe some of the television bosses when they say they had no idea what was going on | I find it pretty hard to believe some of the television bosses when they say they had no idea what was going on |
| "It simply won't wash for senior figures in the industry to blame our troubles on an influx of untrained young people." | "It simply won't wash for senior figures in the industry to blame our troubles on an influx of untrained young people." |
| Paxman said Newsnight, broadcast on weekday evenings on BBC Two, could no longer "make the films we once made" after its budget fell by 15%. | Paxman said Newsnight, broadcast on weekday evenings on BBC Two, could no longer "make the films we once made" after its budget fell by 15%. |
| "We have lost producers, researchers and reporters," he told an audience during the James MacTaggart Memorial Lecture. | "We have lost producers, researchers and reporters," he told an audience during the James MacTaggart Memorial Lecture. |
| "Now we're told we're likely to have to make more cuts, at least a further 20% over five years. | "Now we're told we're likely to have to make more cuts, at least a further 20% over five years. |
| Paxman also criticised coverage of hotel heiress Paris Hilton | Paxman also criticised coverage of hotel heiress Paris Hilton |
| "It is unsustainable and I cannot see how the programme can survive in anything like its current form if the cuts are implemented." | "It is unsustainable and I cannot see how the programme can survive in anything like its current form if the cuts are implemented." |
| He described efforts "to get a single, important film transmitted last week" which had meant "surviving a sustained barrage of astonishingly aggressive lawyers' letters" as well as pressure from a PR company. | |
| "You can't do that if you're replacing grizzled output editors with people on work experience, no matter how enthusiastic they might be." | "You can't do that if you're replacing grizzled output editors with people on work experience, no matter how enthusiastic they might be." |
| He said there were too many people in the TV industry "whose answer to the question 'what is television for?' is to say 'to make money'." | He said there were too many people in the TV industry "whose answer to the question 'what is television for?' is to say 'to make money'." |
| 'Media circus' | 'Media circus' |
| Paxman also questioned the judgements of news editors in deciding upon the significance of stories. | Paxman also questioned the judgements of news editors in deciding upon the significance of stories. |
| "The problem is that news is determined not by its importance but by its availability," he said. | "The problem is that news is determined not by its importance but by its availability," he said. |
| "How else can we explain the decision to interrupt reporting of floods in Britain to go live to America breathlessly, to cover Paris Hilton's release from jail? | "How else can we explain the decision to interrupt reporting of floods in Britain to go live to America breathlessly, to cover Paris Hilton's release from jail? |
| "Sorry - who? Why? What relevance is this to any of us?" | "Sorry - who? Why? What relevance is this to any of us?" |
| He also referred to a media "circus" which had gathered in southern Portugal following the disappearance of British girl Madeleine McCann, saying "everyone was there because everyone else was there". | He also referred to a media "circus" which had gathered in southern Portugal following the disappearance of British girl Madeleine McCann, saying "everyone was there because everyone else was there". |
| "At times like this, when the television hurricane hits a story, it too often sucks good sense and consideration out of the brains of those involved." | "At times like this, when the television hurricane hits a story, it too often sucks good sense and consideration out of the brains of those involved." |