A trip to the US is always good for UK radio ears, reminding us just how rich and diverse our broadcasting is. There's innovative stuff coming from America of course but it's mostly to be found on the internet and on the increasingly popular digital networks. Here in New York the most curious offering is Imus in the Morning, a breakfast talk show hosted by the splenetic veteran Don Imus for WFAN-AM. In a 'bi-media' initiative which would have pleased John Birt the show is also transmitted by MSNBC TV where we see Imus with his trademark cowboy hat and stethescope-style headphones willfully ignoring the camera as it it flits around the studio showing us various plasma screens and the backs of peoples heads. Meanwhile the director cuts up 'relevant' video clips: a call from St Louis complaining about the War On Terror? Here's some shots of angry Iraquis for you.
It reminded of me of a particularly batty idea which came out of the bi-media years at the BBC. When Matthew Bannister and I were setting up GLR we were told to take the soundtrack of Newsroom South-East, the regional TV opt-out. But what will we do about the captions? Well, came the answer, you could read them out. What, while an interviewee is talking? Oh, how about you split your stereo signal and do a commentary on the pictures in one channel while the soundtrack continues in the other? Not so much Greater London Radio as Barking FM.
I was sorry to read that Paul Walters has died. He saw off the Birt purge of the late nineties by resolutely pretending that it wasn't happening. Not one for strategy papers or awaydays, Pauly got on with inventing what we now call user generated content, the letters and then emails which became the lifeblood of Terry's show. A true pioneer.
Y'all have a nice day
