The Planning Diary - Week of May 10th
Comms and PR people. This newsletter gets you to the heart of the ITV Newsroom and my planning agenda. Feel free to pitch to me!
It’s been another strong news week (when is it ever quiet?) with some cracking stories around.
Breaking news this morning with the Tories victory in Hartlepool means that it looks like it will be a miserable weekend for Labour. Still waiting for the results to start coming in from Scotland but a strong SNP performance clearly reignites the quest for independence. And the astonishing scenes in Jersey yesterday of the fishing flotilla made for amazing television but point to another frustration which is part of the Brexit fallout.
Next week promises some news goodies too with the next stage of the roadmap being confirmed by government on Monday. The Brits take place on Tuesday which will hopefully deliver those showbiz moments that we have missed so much over the past year. And to cap it off, Lex Greensill and David Cameron appear (albeit separately) in front of the Treasury Committee at different points next week which will make for compelling viewing.
I’m interested in all of the above but so much more so keep reading.
Waiting Times
Next Thursday the latest data about NHS waiting times will be released. The figures cover the month of March, a month where hospitals were still dealing with huge numbers of patients from the latest Covid wave.
I’m interested in exploring how the back log is being dealt with? Who has been most badly affected?
Is there a sector within the health system which has been affected more acutely than others?
Feel free to email me: carol.jordan@itn.co.uk
Humans Needed!
Every step in the roadmap is an important one but with two households expected to be allowed to meet indoors from the 17th, plus the restrictions on numbers for funerals etc, I think there’s scope for some strong human interest stories. At ITV News we try to keep people at the heart of all our stories so I am looking for families who will finally have relatives or friends visiting indoors. Or anyone who’s planning a wedding or christening? Are you one of the lucky people with a precious ticket for the Brits? If so, get in touch.
Maybe there are people who are still not able to open their businesses? Or those who still don’t feel safe to mix in restaurants and bars?
And as for those lucky people jetting off on holidays, I would love to hear from them and follow their journey, though not literally unfortunately.
India Aid
The scenes from India have been utterly heart-breaking and the Covid rates are just so difficult to comprehend. However, I know that there are some inspirational people here who have been rallying together and helping to finance, procure and send aid and equipment out to India.
As ever, I always like to ensure our coverage is balanced and I would love to hear from anyone who knows of or is part of any aid effort in the UK which is trying to help those in India.
The Planning Diary
Monday: Govt to confirm next step in roadmap will go ahead on May 17th.
Tuesday: Treasury Committee evidence session on Greensill Capital (virtual). Lex Greensill appears.
Thursday: Wales reviews lockdown restrictions
Thursday: Northern Ireland reviews COVID-19 lockdown
Thursday: Quarterly crime stats
Thursday: Centre for UK Prosperity launches its UK Prosperity Index.
Insider’s Tip!
Flag the Red Lines.
When your guest or expert is offered to a broadcast news outlet, particularly if they are high profile, it’s essential to spell out to a planning or programme team exactly what they are willing to talk about. If you are not crystal clear about the talking points involved, you could end up with a very awkward broadcast moment (especially if it’s live) and a deeply unhappy client.
In the nicest terms, journalists love to break a fresh line on an issue and even if your client is appearing on a different issue, if a presenter thinks they have enough expertise to comment on a related or different topic, they might throw that question.
In the pitching process, it’s essential for Comms/PR teams to flag any red lines with regard to your client and subject matter. It protects everyone’s reputations on all sides.
That’s it for this week.
I’m always happy to get any feedback on the format and content of this newsletter.
Is there anything else that you would like to see?
If so, email me on carol.jordan@itn.co.uk or message me on Linked In.
Carol x