MediaWatch's eyebrows shot up on Wednesday night when ITN led its 10.30pm bulletin with the news that Princes William and Harry were so disgusted with the paparazzi pictures of their late mother that they might allow them to be published.
The Princes story came on a day when every UK news outlet was leading on the dramatic developments in the "Suffolk Strangler" case. It was perhaps a strange choice for a "tabloid TV" news programme, given the possible emergence of Britain's worst serial killer for some time. But then, the reporter involved, Tom Bradby, knows Prince William rather well, as emerged in the mobile telephone tapping case involving Clive Goodman, the Royals correspondent of the News Of The World.
Home affairs Scottish columnist Ruaridh Nicoll has been promoted to comment editor of the Observer. The downside is that he will have to spend Wednesday to Saturday immersed in the daily stresses of the Big Smoke.
But that might well be a blessing for Nicoll, whose wife Alison Watt is the artist-in-residence at the National Gallery in London. Apparently, the couple have a natty love nest near Fleet Street.
Yule do us It may be almost Christmas, the time when few businesses are thinking about hiring, but two PR agencies are recruiting amidst the mince pies. Media House is seeking to recruit a PR consultant and Crimson Edge an account manager with knowledge of the business to business, travel and leisure sectors.
arthur crowned MediaWatch was delighted to hear that a former resident of this bailiwick will soon be gracing our television screens. Arthur MacMillan, who was latterly Scotland on Sunday's education correspondent, has won The Terry Lloyd Memorial Bursary.
The rising star from Newton Stewart is due to head east in the new year to join news agency Agence France-Presse in Hong Kong. Arthur will now delay his departure from our shores to take up the six-week sojourn at ITN. The bursary was set up by the National Union of Journalists and ITN. Lloyd, who was killed in southern Iraq aged 50, in March 2003, was one of ITN's most experienced war zone correspondents.
christmas greetin' MediaWatch is always delighted to receive Christmas greetings and all the denizens of our bunker thank you warmly for them.
One charming one that caught our eye was the e-card from the press office of the Financial Services Authority. It features a snowman, robin and merry Christmas sign devised by 10-year old Maisha Hahan, of Globe Primary School in the London borough of Tower Hamlets.
It was a nice idea, well-executed. It was just a pity about the message above the e-card, the standard one carried in all FSA emails: "Your attention is drawn to the warning notice at the end of this message."
We understand why a regulator normally needs to carry this disclaimer on its epistles but was it really necessary on a Christmas card, guys?
hello mr mackenzie Our favourite quote of the week comes from the resurrected Press Gazette's exclusive front page story that Granada TV is considering doing a Gordon Ramsay-type programme with legendary former Fleet Street editor Kelvin MacKenzie. The quote (itself resurrected from an earlier edition) covers the Mackenzie confession that he was "an unreasonable bastard" as editor. He said: "I worked very hard to be unreasonable - I went to evening classes." It showed, Kelvin.
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