20/09/2013 Newswatch

option that is left. More in the coming hours. Now it is time for

Newswatch. Hello and welcome to Newswatch with me, at Samira Ahmed.

A cultural landmark where they of serious treatment, the launch of

Grand Theft Auto 5 puts their attitude of video games under the

spotlight. Coverage of the Scottish independence debate means an

English backlash. I am worried the BBC will flood us with pot is

essentially a Scottish issue. What is he holding in his hands? —— what

is essentially. It is the latest in a franchise which has already sold

5 had its release on Tuesday. 5 had its release on Tuesday.

Midnight and crowds rushed to get their hands on what could well be

the biggest selling entertainment product of all time. It is not an

album or a movie but a game that fans have been desperate to play. I

have been here since a 5 o'clock this morning. I am a bit tired but

I am looking forward to I am looking forward to getting my

hands on the game. It is a violent, 18 rated game with extraordinary

graphics and a cinematic sweep. Ed graphics and a cinematic sweep. Ed

from Cardiff graphics and a cinematic sweep. Ed

Others believe the media has been slow to take seriously what they

This tweet came in. To discuss how the BBC covers video

games like this, I am joined by Rory Cellan—Jones himself. We know

that video—game coverage does that video—game coverage does

divide the audience. Some think it is irrelevant and for others it is

a normal part of leisure activity. How do you construct coverage? It

is difficult. The coverage has changed the stub years ago I found

it difficult to get on a story about video games that was not

about violence, not about a threat to children's well—being. Nowadays

it is slightly easier to get it is slightly easier to get

coverage of the game — a game such as Grand Theft Auto as the major

business and cultural event. When you think about that launch this

week, it did turn out to be the biggest, single entertainment

important business story and, important business story and,

according to a lot of the Games to viewers who are now becoming a more

established breed, it was a cultural high point in the history

of games. —— games reviewers. One concern is the business side of it,

of games. —— games reviewers. One a lot of these games are 18

certificate and buries a lot of violence and quite misogynistic

violence. I was keen to put in the content. —— there is a lot of

violence. I was keen to put in the script this

game and should not be played by game and should not

into add coverage. There is a concern with the business side that

the big launches like the Apple launch, the BBC news coverage could

just be part of the PR. I get that concern from editors all the time.

Every time the new technology story they're

just another product launch. I just

point back to events like the point back to events like the

launch of the launch of the first iPhone in 2007.

It was a major turning point in It was a major turning point in the

whole industry. It changed the way we live and brought about a whole

new way of using the internet on the move. It would have been a

mistake just to mistake just to say that is a

product Lord and we must not cover it. We have to be choosy and have

decide which of them are actually turning points in the way we use

them. I can remember a few years ago a lot of news coverage of

them. I can remember a few years things like Second Life. That has

died with her trace. When should we be covering some of these emerging

technologies? You only have to look back at Old episodes of tomorrow's

world. Some of them are part of every day lives and part of them

never took off. Sometimes I go, while, that really is going to

change our lives! Sometimes I am completely wrong. I think it is

worth trying to push to try to get more of those stories on to our

coverage. Why is it sometimes hard? Are some editors old fashioned

and entertainment? There is a lack and entertainment? There is a lack

of a newspaper. Wearable technology is the next big thing. Where to

the news? —— Where do I get? It is the news? —— Where do I get? It is

quite difficult to get them past editors. I am only interested in

what is happening what is happening today. A need to

show an event they can build a story around. —— I need. Thank you.

Do let us know your story around. —— I need. Thank you.

or on any aspect of how to contact us at the end of

the programme. —— details. There was a Panorama special broadcast

this week. It was apparent concerns against South African police over

Shrien Dewani. Reports were shown on BBC news before it went out.

Panorama has discovered that statements from three key witnesses

who have all struck deals with the South African state in return for

their testimony appeared to their testimony appeared to

contradict the actual records like lists of ankles and CCTV in the

police files. It gives accounts of police files. It gives accounts of

calls that did not happen and video evidence to disprove this. The

family has said it is trial by television. Some Euros agreed. ——

viewers. programme from Glasgow about

coverage of the build up to the referendum on Scottish independence.

Wednesday marked a year to the vote and the arguments for and against

the With a year to go it was a good time

to do some reports. My worry is that somebody living south of the border

who has got absolutely no way of influencing the outcome of the

election, I am worried that the BBC election, I am worried that the BBC

are going to flood us with are going to flood us with is

essentially Scottish issues. We present is often feel the need to

hold onto things for a sense of security. Back—up scripts come a pen

or often a computer tablet. The choice of one news presenter has

become an Internet sensation. Welcome to BBC News. Plans were

privately run drunk tanks. White matter in his hands was nothing more

high—tech billy refilled pack of paper. The spokesman confirmed that

he had picked the paper instead of a tablet. An easy mistake to take? It

live and upped Twitter. Thank you for your comments this

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