The news looks more like a travel programme these days. Since when has it been so vitally important for news presenters to be at the heart of the action? Isn’t that the reporter’s job?
Watching Brexit coverage (again), I see all the major news bulletins have got their presenters there, just in case they miss anything urgent. I later see Emily Maitlis, the Newsnight presenter, having to present the entire programme from there in the cold and wearing gloves. Even BBC’s Radio 4, The World Tonight’s Ritula Shah, is there. Is it strictly necessary?
What does it add for the viewer? Listener? Does it make more exciting viewing or are just hyping things up? What happened to detachment? Personally I think it’s quite bonkers. Leave the presenter in the studio and let the reporters do what they do.