21/07/2012 Newswatch

This is the last Newswatch of the series and the last before you know

what. Just a week to go and we are already seen traffic gridlock, a

security nightmare and it is still raining.

Since the start of last week the revelation that G4S has been unable

to meet the demand for security has BBC reaction on the whole is, let's

ignore all that and not inflate the problems of one dodgy security

contract. For on Monday, as competitors

started arriving from all over the world. The an American athlete

spent four hours on a coach and got lost on the way to London. The next

day there was more bad news with the announcement that more than

half the football tickets had been respond to those views I am joined

by the senior editor of the BBC News Channel. Mind-boggling

negativity, is that what you see it as. In a word, No. It is not our

job to rubbish the Games. It is not our job to be a cheerleader for the

Games. We do not sit around and say to one another, let's dig really

deep. These are actual events. If they happened. It is arguably news.

But how to get the tone and proportion right? It is what you

take away from the massive coverage. We have been covering the positive

side. We have been talking about the preparations that have been

going well. Of the stadiums and the venues are ready and fabulous. We

have been looking ahead to the British medal hopefuls. We have

been talking to the volunteers. We have been examining why we are so

good at sitting down sports. And the torch relay is something that

has captured a mood. Is there is sense that before events actually

happen you are looking for stories? In June we had some Polish ladies

complaining about exaggerated coverage of racism in Poland. To a

great extent there was not any problem with racism in the event.

Is the same thing happening now? Before an event takes place you are

going to talk about what goes well and what goes not well. Going back

to the Olympics if you have a contract to serve security for the

Games and two Pixar to say you cannot supply the staff promised,

that is not just news, but big news. How do you balance Olympic

coverage? We are the Olympic broadcaster. We have a fantastic

amount of coverage. We have invested a lot into the stuff that

will be on television. The sport is going to be just fantastic. The

news will cover the sport and also the issues. If there are no

problems with security on day one and then we will report that. When

all the athletes arrived earlier in the week, yes, one of the viewers

complained that one of the coaches got lost. But apparently it was

smooth sailing. It was pretty easy. It was a piece of cake. Our support

to -- report to use security with a smile. I thought that was a

balanced piece of journalism. you very much indeed. The next

Newswatch will appear in September. It will be from a new studio in

central London. We have been broadcasting here for eight years.

Numerous viewers have had heavier say about BBC News. A good

opportunity to look back on some of the points we have been making on

the programme. I am reporting from Croydon. A lot

of BBC correspondents bring us from locations that have little

relevance to the situation. Another issue for me is whether effect some

reports. I recently saw a reporter standing near Scotland Yard. I

don't remember what she was talking about because I was too interested

in whether her umbrella would turn inside out.

Back in 2004, when you were objected strongly to report some

fighting in a post-war Iraq. The only people you talk about are

the terrorists and people fighting them. It is not what I expect from

the BBC. I thought it was an opportunity for

the BBC to have a shake-up. Once you hit 50 or thereabouts you

are invisible. That is something that has to change.

The relaunch of a business programme prompted this exchange.

The format was so completely changed. To see someone making a

dress was absolutely extraordinarily. I thought the

programme was awful. I am going to admit that for the first programme

the making of close thing was an item that went wrong. -- clothes.

BBC senior executive admitting that something was wrong! This panel has

been an issue. Welcome to Question Time. I am not

opposed to any other parties. They should be unquestioned time. But

the BNP is fundamentally different. His racism acceptable? If it has

enough votes to have to get that question.

Newswatch had a field day with the royal wedding. He seems proud and

relaxed. Watch the body language and looks and gestures between them.

Kate Middleton will need to tread softly when making her designer

choices. The British fashion industry has spread their dreams

under her feet. Last year the website pick up a story from the

Israeli press that a stray dog had been condemned to death by a Jewish

rabbinical court. The story turned out to be inaccurate. It is

disappointing to think the BBC has a herd mentality. Just because

somebody else publishes it, they publish it. It is disappointing to

think that when it is an unusual sounding story that you would not

spend five minutes fact-checking it. Within five minutes you would find

out that it was totally made up. Fabricated, unsubstantiated. It is

an American pop star, not some latter-day Messiah. I thought to we

had a day and a moment. It was as if it was a national event. It was

not. How on earth will you cover a national event? I think it was a

bad mistake. I think London is a world centre, not just an English

or UK centre. Breakfast should be located in London. Long-term it

will affect the quality of the programme.

The accusation debt is too much sport and especially football on

the news has been common over the years. Here is one dealer at the

time of the last World Cup. Here it is inescapable. It is everywhere

you look. Do we have to have pundits discussing the flexibility

or temperament of the ball? The England goalkeeper made a bit of a

pig's ear of a safe earlier in the week. He does not want to be

reminded of it. Thank you to all of those who have contributed to the

programme. We hope you will continue to do so. This is my last

chair. Newswatch will get a new presenter. It has been a privilege

and a pleasure to hear your views. Please carry on sharing your