The presenters use an autocue which they read their lines from. They do, however, also hold a script in their hands in case there is a technological difficulty and the autocue does not function. The outside reporters do not hold a script or use autocue, they must instead memorise their lines.
At the start of the programme there are opening title graphics played. There are shots of people doing everyday things such as walking the dog whilst the title music is played. The fact that everyday tasks are shown creates the idea that the programme is part of your everyday life and that its main focus is its audience. There is then the title graphics, which is a simple computer generated title and background.
The studio presenter sits behind a desk to present the programme for the duration of the broadcast. The desk is not completely clear; there are papers and stationary giving a more informal feel to the programme.
The presenter is a white male named Gordon Burns. He is in his fifties and is smartly dressed in a black suit and tie. He has a northern accent and is from the north-west region. He doesn’t seem to be from an upper-class background and appears to be quite down to earth and friendly. When reading the news he speaks clearly but makes the news sound interesting, however, between the stories he speaks with a conversational tone and is friendly towards the audience and the other presenters.
The weather forecaster is Diane Oxberry. She is young, in her early thirties, and attractive. She also has a local accent and is obviously local. She is wearing a smart burgundy skirt and jacket and looks more fashionable than the other presenters. When she is presenting the weather she speaks clearly, but seems a little bit uncertain about what she is saying.
I think that by choosing to have an older, more mature presenter to present with a younger, more attractive presenter is supposed to add ‘chemistry’ between the two but also widens the target audience and gives the show some variety.
There are several outside reporters who present individual reports. There is Abbey Jones, who is live at the postal strike. She is in her late twenties and is wearing casual, winter clothing. She has a friendly tone of voice. The reporter who is presenting the story about a young man receiving the George Cross is a middle aged white man, in his late thirties. He has a local accent and is dressed in fairly casual clothes. Philip Bromwell is next outside reporter we see. He is in his thirties and is casually dressed. He also has a regional accent but speaks with a more formal tone. The final reporter is in an art gallery. She is in her thirties and isn’t wearing very smart clothes. She doesn’t have a distinctive accent but it is likely that she is also local.
Most of the headlines and stories are about local events and stories from the region. The reports focus on this rather than telling us about the story. Things like ‘Critics say it’s a real coop for Manchester’ and ‘we are all very proud to be in the area’ are often said and there is a real sense of local pride in the programme.
The first story is about the postal strike. Gordon Burns gives a brief outline of the story and then cuts to Abbey Jones who is ‘live’ at the scene. Although she is live at the scene of the strike, there isn’t really anything happening where she is. Sending a reporter to the scene of the story makes the audience believe that they are in the middle of the action, even if there isn’t any action. Abbey Jones emphasizes the fact that the postal strike has ‘moved north’ and is in this region.
There is a pre-recorded report in which Abbey speaks over. We see pictures of the postal workers and then a few of them are interviewed. They are all male and have a local accent. They give their opinions on the strike before the report continues and we are shown inside the building. There is use of close up shots to emphasize that although it is a national problem, it affects individuals. It then goes back to Abbey Jones live and she ends the report. This is a national story but North West Tonight has concentrated on what is happening locally, rather than the full picture.
The next story is about a 19 year old man from Greater Manchester who receives the George Cross. This story contrasts with the previous one as it is congratulating the man, rather than the bad news about the strike. This contrast adds variety. Library pictures are used in the report of planes and ships in the Iraq war. This adds excitement and action into the report. There is then interviews with his mother, sister and neighbours. This shows that the programme likes to have a family orientated approach. They tell the reporter how they are very proud of him. The interviews take place at the army barracks, to again, give the feeling of being in the action. When the report finishes, Gordon Burns interviews the man in the studio via video-link.
There are then a few headlines before moving on to the next story concerning the hunting ban. The report talks about the huntsman’s everyday life. There is an interview at his breakfast table with all his family sitting around. This emphasizes the idea that it is a family programme and everyone is involved. It also puts across the idea that the reporter has been allowed into their home and he is part of the family, again showing that North West Tonight is part of your everyday life, which is also hinted on in the opening graphics.
The reporter then goes on to ask members of the public to ask the huntsmen questions about fox hunting. There are a wide variety of people who ask the questions as the programme is aimed at all ages. It then cuts to the huntsmen who answer, and then back to the public for more questions. We see that there is country versus city in a series questions and answers. By creating a sense of competition it makes the audience feel involved. This is something slightly different and makes the report more interesting.
The forth main headline report is about a Concorde arriving in Manchester airport for the last time. This isn’t really a very important story which would be shown on national news, however as this is a localised programme, stories which take place in and around the area have been chosen. There is a lot of local pride in this story. There is an interview with a man working at the airport who said ‘it was ours’ when asked how he felt when it arrived. The pilot says, ‘we are very proud to be in the area’. This remark adds a personal touch to the report as the pilot explains that his wife was from Stockport. The story was more about the Concorde being in Manchester rather than the fact that it was its last flight ever. There was a reporter on board the Concorde informing viewers of what was next for the Concorde. There would be a chance for members of the public to go on board and it could even be used for weddings. It was a light-hearted story full of local pride.
In the sports news, the main story is about the debt owed by Bolton Wanderers, a local team. There are interviews with the manager, chairman and members of the public in Bolton. By interviewing a wide range of people including young and old, the programme’s target audience is widened and it can also make the audience feel more involved. There is also a short story on the Grand National. They need a new sponsor and there is and interview via video-link. The interviewee is formally dressed and the language used is harder to understand than that which is used throughout the rest of the programme.
The final story is about the local artist, Turner. Some of his paintings have returned to a gallery in the North West and the reporter is at the gallery where they will be staying. There is a brief section of the report where music is playing and the various paintings are shown. It makes the paintings seem more important as the music is rather dramatic.
The language used throughout the programme is relatively easy to understand and is always spoken clearly. There is some colloquial language and slang used. For example during the weather forecast, Diane Oxberry describes the weather as ‘looking a bit iffy’. Gordon Burns, the main presenter, speaks with a conversational tone and he often comments on each story to make it less formal.
There is also a lot of exaggeration and emphasis on how well the people from the North West have done. In the story about the boy receiving the George Cross, he is described as acting ‘heroically’ rather than just bravely. This is used to make the stories more interesting to listen to and make them seem more exciting.
North West Tonight is broadcast at 6.30pm in the middle of the national news programme on BBC One. At 6.30pm most families would be sitting watching television together, therefore North West Tonight is aimed at a family audience. There is a wide variety of stories and something for everyone. Most of them have regional flavour as the programme is only broadcast in the North West. The presenters are also from the North and most from the region. This makes the audience feel that the presenters really care about the news they are sending to them because they are from the area too.
At the end of the programme, Diane sits nest to Gordon and they discuss the previous story. They speak to each other rather than the camera and it is almost as if they are having a normal conversation. They then simply say ‘goodnight’ and the programme ends.
I think that North West Tonight has succeeded in creating a news programme targeted at a large audience informing them of local news stories. The real emphasis is on the regional pride and most of the stories were positive about the area. The presenters worked well together and interaction between them made them seem more like friends than newsreaders. The whole programme is informally produced and is trying to get over the feeling of being a family programme.