Last night’s Radio 5 Live debate at Manchester Central about football’s financial mess was a good example of the kind of outreach we can expect to see more of from the BBC in the run up to the Media City opening.
That it came on the day when the BBC opened a potential Pandora’s Box of proposed cutbacks to its output was merely coincidental. But in such a tense political atmosphere there was definitely a public relations sense of making the most out of an out-of-London opportunity .
I was invited by the BBC’s Economics and Business Editor Jeremy Hillman and met him and a number of London-based BBC journalists and production people who’ll work from Salford Quays when the BBC moves five departments including 5 Live up next year. The excellent Tony Livesey R5 Live show is already coming from the city four nights a week.
Some of the people we met are currently house hunting up here, which makes them a rare breed in the current market. They pointed out that, while they were moving happily, there were huge logistic and emotional difficulties for many - not only moving house, but uprooting their children, as well as the responsibilities they have for elderly parents.
The number of relocators is nearly 50%, I believe, which is higher than the usual. Manchester sentiment has been scathing towards those who have opted not to move or have spoken out about their doubts over it, but perhaps Northern opinion-formers should not be too quick to criticise without knowing the personal circumstances of individuals.
The Green Room was full of media people - including Nick Jaspan of How Do and editor of Northwest Tonight Cerys Griffiths, and I was chuffed to be chatting to a presenter who I identified clearly just by his voice to be Mark Pougatch. He excused himself from our chat - because he had to go off and present the show.
There is always a buzz about being at an event broadcast live, with the floor manager whipping up applause and counting down to being on-air.
The debate itself was enlightening and a bit more civil than I expected, with fan passion from the floor generally good-humoured. There was a general consensus around the notion of the ’specialness’ of football and the need for better regulation, but whether that should be self-administered or the role of an independent body, there was no agreement.
If nothing else, the discussion showed for the umpteenth time the silky skills of PFA boss Gordon Taylor, who dips and swerves his way round would-be crunching tackles about player pay with the verve of a Cesc Fabregas and occasionally delivering an incisive thrust worthy of classic Ian Rush. You’d expect nothing less from the best-paid union boss in the UK, and very possibly in the world…
Tags: How-Do, Media City, Northwest Tonight, public relations, R5 Live, Radio 5 Live
