Thursday, 18 September 2008
GAZZA SCOOP
On Thursday (Sept 18th) lunchtime, IRN was first to report Paul Gascoigne's latest brush with authority. The former England footballer had been arrested again - this time, on suspicion of causing criminal damage. We sent the story to our stations a full 15 minutes ahead of Sky TV. At 1300, we ran copy. There was no mention of Gazza on Sky News Radio - who played catch-up an hour later.
OLYMPIC HERO PARTIES WITH IRN
IRN staff got a golden surprise at the ITN Summer Party at the Cafe de Paris in central London.
They found themselves rubbing shoulders with one of Team GB's Olympic stars - Gold medal-winning sailor Ben Ainslie. Stick to the sailing Ben, and leave the shameless dancefloor antics to us....
They found themselves rubbing shoulders with one of Team GB's Olympic stars - Gold medal-winning sailor Ben Ainslie. Stick to the sailing Ben, and leave the shameless dancefloor antics to us....
CREDIT CRUNCHED
"Chaos! Chaos right now! Twenty-five-thousand people are out of work." - WABC presenter John Batchelor speaking to IRN from New York city earlier this week. He was talking, of course, about the Lehman Brothers. The investment giant's collapse has sent shockwaves around the financial world - and the unfolding crisis has been at the heart of IRN's coverage.
We broke the story to UK commercial radio listeners at 1900 on Sunday. Sky News Radio had nothing on the story until an hour later. Throughout Monday breakfast, we then delivered fresh reaction and analysis in QUALITY every hour, as details about UK job losses emerged. We brought you voxes of Lehman workers in London, President Bush, plus a raft of City experts and distraught employees.
Then came the Lloyds TSB-HBOS take-over. On Wednesday, as the story brewed, IRN sent out a total of 55 money stories, including 35 different clips. We also processed bespoke audio on HBOS for our Scottish clients.
We broke the story to UK commercial radio listeners at 1900 on Sunday. Sky News Radio had nothing on the story until an hour later. Throughout Monday breakfast, we then delivered fresh reaction and analysis in QUALITY every hour, as details about UK job losses emerged. We brought you voxes of Lehman workers in London, President Bush, plus a raft of City experts and distraught employees.
Then came the Lloyds TSB-HBOS take-over. On Wednesday, as the story brewed, IRN sent out a total of 55 money stories, including 35 different clips. We also processed bespoke audio on HBOS for our Scottish clients.
CHANNEL TUNNEL FIRE
When news broke of a fire in the channel tunnel on Thursday 11th September, IRN's team of journalists snapped into action to make sure client stations had all the details and the best audio - first.
We know News Editors around the country expect us to deliver both quality - and quantity - on the big stories.
In the 1700 bulletin, IRN ran a CNN reporter, a rail industry expert and a spokesman from the Freight Transport Association. In the Sky News Radio bulletin, listeners heard an in-house voicer and a poor quality phono cut of rail expert Christian Wolmar.
We know News Editors around the country expect us to deliver both quality - and quantity - on the big stories.
In the 1700 bulletin, IRN ran a CNN reporter, a rail industry expert and a spokesman from the Freight Transport Association. In the Sky News Radio bulletin, listeners heard an in-house voicer and a poor quality phono cut of rail expert Christian Wolmar.
Thursday, 11 September 2008
NOEL LOOKS BACK IN ANGER
Oasis star Noel Gallagher was pushed offstage during a V Festival gig in Toronto this week. He needed hospital treatment. This is how the story was covered:
Radio One - copy
Sky News Radio - copy
IRN - Audio with a radio reporter who was at the gig. Audio with a photographer who had a front row view of the scrap.
Radio One - copy
Sky News Radio - copy
IRN - Audio with a radio reporter who was at the gig. Audio with a photographer who had a front row view of the scrap.
QUALITY COVERAGE ON FAKE SCHOOLBOY STORY
Every day, IRN's reporters make direct phone contact with commerical radio newsrooms around the UK. We feel it's vital we're in touch with your agenda. A good example of why this really works is the case of the fake schoolboy in Portsmouth.
On Tuesday, 22-year-old James Chester was jailed for having sex with a thirteen-year-old, having posed as a young teenager. We already knew there was big interest in the story - so when it broke we made it a priority to bring you the best audio first.
At 1400, on IRN you heard the victim's mother - her voice disguised. Sky News Radio ran copy. Thanks to the news team at Wave, we then got hold of the police. Later we spoke to a child welfare expert. All our audio was in QUALITY.
Between 1400 and 1800 we sent out five clips. Radio 2 ran no more than copy all day, and the daytime TV news programmes didn't run the story at all.
On Tuesday, 22-year-old James Chester was jailed for having sex with a thirteen-year-old, having posed as a young teenager. We already knew there was big interest in the story - so when it broke we made it a priority to bring you the best audio first.
At 1400, on IRN you heard the victim's mother - her voice disguised. Sky News Radio ran copy. Thanks to the news team at Wave, we then got hold of the police. Later we spoke to a child welfare expert. All our audio was in QUALITY.
Between 1400 and 1800 we sent out five clips. Radio 2 ran no more than copy all day, and the daytime TV news programmes didn't run the story at all.
IRN FIRST ON TEEN STAB CHARGE
IRN was first to report a murder charge - following the latest teen stabbing in London.
Shaquille Smith was murdered in Hackney at the end of August. On Friday 5th September, the IRN news desk sent out copy about a man being charged at 0952. PA followed a few minutes later, Sky News TV took six minutes longer. Sky News Radio did not have the story at 1000.
Shaquille Smith was murdered in Hackney at the end of August. On Friday 5th September, the IRN news desk sent out copy about a man being charged at 0952. PA followed a few minutes later, Sky News TV took six minutes longer. Sky News Radio did not have the story at 1000.
Thursday, 4 September 2008
KEEGAN - A NOT SO BLACK AND WHITE SITUATION
Would he stay or would he go? The rumour mill got the better of several broadcasters this week when speculation about Kevin Keegan's future at Newcastle reached fever pitch. But IRN's sport journos kept their cool. As others reported his definite exit, IRN waited for full confirmation from St James' Park.
In the interim, we brought you audio from players, voxes and the supporters club. At 1846 on Tuesday IRN was first to snap the news Keegan had not been sacked. We then brought you voxes of confused fans. Sky News Radio ran copy at 1900, before deciding to put the story top several hours later.
Finally, on Thursday evening, after more than two days of talks, we learnt King Kev had quit Tyneside. Confirmation - at last - came from the League Managers Association. We snapped the news at1846 and text alerted. At 1900, we ran an "as live"with one of our sports reporters, Sky News Radio led with copy. We then brought you voxes and former player Warren Barton for 2000. Sky News Radio ran poor quality phono with Mick Quinn.
In the interim, we brought you audio from players, voxes and the supporters club. At 1846 on Tuesday IRN was first to snap the news Keegan had not been sacked. We then brought you voxes of confused fans. Sky News Radio ran copy at 1900, before deciding to put the story top several hours later.
Finally, on Thursday evening, after more than two days of talks, we learnt King Kev had quit Tyneside. Confirmation - at last - came from the League Managers Association. We snapped the news at1846 and text alerted. At 1900, we ran an "as live"with one of our sports reporters, Sky News Radio led with copy. We then brought you voxes and former player Warren Barton for 2000. Sky News Radio ran poor quality phono with Mick Quinn.
"HELLO, IT'S JACQUI SMITH HERE..."
Thanks to IRN's Political Editor Georgie Russell and her Westminster contacts, the Home Secretary now has the IRN news desk on speed dial.
This week, she called us up to personally tell us about her new booklet for parents on how to spot whether a child's joined a gang.
It was a key story for IRN's client stations during Tuesday breakfast time.
Sky News Radio did not run the story until 1600 - more than TEN HOURS after IRN.
WASHINGTON GUNMAN - ANOTHER IRN FIRST
A gunman went on the rampage in Washington state this week - shooting dead six people. It broke in the wee small hours of Wednesday but the IRN news team didn't miss a beat. At 0400, IRN had copy, Radio 2 ran copy, Sky News Radio did not run the story. Later IRN got hold of the county sheriff and the police.
MAN CITY MEGA DEAL
At IRN, we know the value of football news in commercial radio. So when details of Man City's last minute swoop for Robinho broke, this is how we compared on an hourly basis with Sky News Radio:
At 0100, IRN led with reax from the Manchester City supporters group. Sky ran copy.
At 0200, on IRN you heard City boss Mark Hughes, on Sky just copy again.
At 0300, IRN used more from the supporters group, on Sky News Radio you would have heard copy.
Sky News Radio only began leading with the footie sale of the century at 0700 - SIX HOURS after IRN.
WELL DONE to newsreader/reporter Steve Holden who was at the helm of this overnight shift.
At 0100, IRN led with reax from the Manchester City supporters group. Sky ran copy.
At 0200, on IRN you heard City boss Mark Hughes, on Sky just copy again.
At 0300, IRN used more from the supporters group, on Sky News Radio you would have heard copy.
Sky News Radio only began leading with the footie sale of the century at 0700 - SIX HOURS after IRN.
WELL DONE to newsreader/reporter Steve Holden who was at the helm of this overnight shift.
CURBS YOUR ENTHUSIASM
Alan Curbishley's shock exit from West Ham caught many by surprise this week. Not IRN - we snapped the news at 1356 on Wednesday - ahead of PA. Later we brought stations EXCLUSIVE audio with Paolo Di Canio, who told us first he wants the vacant job.
MATERIAL GIRL ON THE RED CARPET
IRN scored a radio scoop this week when Madonna made a surprise appearance at the premiere of husband Guy Ritchie's new film RocknRolla. Our IRN showbiz team were among the first to spot the Queen of Pop and Sarah Mills filed a report from Leicester Square, fresh for the 2000 bulletin. Sky News Radio didn't have the story for another hour.
The following day we got up close and personal with Guy himself - and he was more than happy to talk about the rumours about his marriage. He told IRN "I'm not sure it does affect me, I'm here to do a job and that's make a movie, then promote it. I'm not sure if I'm paying too much attention to whether it's based on my personal life."
The following day we got up close and personal with Guy himself - and he was more than happy to talk about the rumours about his marriage. He told IRN "I'm not sure it does affect me, I'm here to do a job and that's make a movie, then promote it. I'm not sure if I'm paying too much attention to whether it's based on my personal life."
IRN IN THE EYE OF THE STORM
It didn't quite turn out to be the "storm of the century", but Hurricane Gustav did put the wind up the Republicans for 24 hours. IRN followed the twists and turns of events in both Louisiana and Minnesota.
When Gustav finally hit land on Monday, IRN got hold of ITN's James Mates, with the latest from windswept New Orleans. In the same bulletin (1600) we also spoke to a British pub landlord on the phone from the deserted city. Despite evacuation orders, James Lewis was still pulling pints at the Crown and Anchor.
Meanwhile, Sky News Radio ran copy in second, and only began leading with Gustav again the following hour.
Across the country at the Republican convention in St Paul, Sarah Palin's been making waves. John McCain's staunchly right-wing running mate has become the most talked-about woman in the US. When it emerged her unmarried teen daughter's pregnant, IRN ran clips of US political pundits, then Barack Obama, and voxes for Tuesday breakfast.
Sky News Radio dropped the story, after running it twice overnight.
When Gustav finally hit land on Monday, IRN got hold of ITN's James Mates, with the latest from windswept New Orleans. In the same bulletin (1600) we also spoke to a British pub landlord on the phone from the deserted city. Despite evacuation orders, James Lewis was still pulling pints at the Crown and Anchor.
Meanwhile, Sky News Radio ran copy in second, and only began leading with Gustav again the following hour.
Across the country at the Republican convention in St Paul, Sarah Palin's been making waves. John McCain's staunchly right-wing running mate has become the most talked-about woman in the US. When it emerged her unmarried teen daughter's pregnant, IRN ran clips of US political pundits, then Barack Obama, and voxes for Tuesday breakfast.
Sky News Radio dropped the story, after running it twice overnight.
HOME ALONE IN LEEDS
On Monday, news broke of police investigating the case of three children - found living alone at an address in the Burley area of Leeds. Plaudits must go to the news team at Radio Aire who got to the heart of the story by voxing neighbours. IRN used this audio at 1700, when Sky News Radio didn't run the story. An hour later, they'd picked up our lead and got hold of a local resident.
Monday, 1 September 2008
TALKING ABOUT MIRREN
We all know the talkability factor's crucial when it comes to putting together radio news our listeners can really relate to. So when Dame Helen Mirren spoke out about her cocaine use and controversial views on date rape (splashed over all the newspapers), IRN responded with reaction to take the debate on. We turned around cuts from two women's groups between breakfast and lunch. If you had been listening to Sky News Radio you would not have heard the story at all.
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