BBC Television Centre; Wood Lane, London W12 TRJ
Phone: 44 (0) 181-743-8000
Editor's Note:
The BBC is, no contest, one of the toughest outlets to sell on the worth of PR since several execs told us that its reporting is far more "impartial" and less sensationalized than what is done by U.S. journalists. But we also think that BBC's size makes it difficult to penetrate: 24,000 people work for BBC and it's not easy to understand the hierarchy. Courting this media outlet will be as easy as getting an invitation to have tea with the Queen.
| SECTIONS | EDITORS | DAYS TO CONTACT/ DAYS TO AVOID | METHODS | COMMENTS |
| News/Features What's unique about BBC's news operation (that includes features as well) is that there is a centralized news room for both the radio and TV sides. Coverage touches on a wide scope of content; as expected, the nanny trial was watched closely, but there's also a huge dose of seriously slanted stuff:, i.e., the Chancellor's address last week on Britain's financial health as well as more than a microscopic view of what's happening all over the world, i.e., the Iraq/U.N. controversy. | News Editor Adrian Van Klaveren Fax: 44-(0) 181-225-7224 | No good or bad days, no good or bad times since this is a 24-hour news operation. News room editors rotate and there are about 12 different ones who manage this massive operation day in and day out. There are three main TV bulletins every day and also a fair amount of specialized programming, such as "Working Lunch," which has a financial focus and "News Night," an evening wrap-up about what's happening overseas. | There's no central e-mail BBC address so there are two options: snail mail or faxes. Faxes are best if your suggestion has an immediate thrust and mail's ideal when you need to include product samples (new software, for instance) or visuals to convey the true impact of your idea. | We could wish you good luck and leave it at that since we encountered some types that were a little on the snooty side (or maybe, as Americans, we mistook their wit for aloofness) but, nonetheless, we're going to tell you how to proceed: Don't try to masquerade hype for news and know that the tone of what these editors and correspondents put together is somewhat high-brow, not rousingly fun. You're apt to do best with market research that means something to the U.K.; strides that your business is making in the global market; or something that has a cultural edge. |
Editorial Contacts At BBC
Newsroom Main Number - 44 (0) 181-743-8000
Chief News Correspondent - Kate Adie
News Correspondents (General) - Samira Ahmed, Jeremy Cooke, Mike Donkin, Gary Duffy, George Eykyn, Peter Hunt, Valerie Jones, June Kelly, Duncan Kennedy, John McIntyre, Joe Paley, Alexis Rowell,
Emma Simpson, Jane Standley, Chris West, David Sillitoe
News/Deputy Court Correspondents - Wesley Kerr, Clarence Mitchell
U.S. Affairs Analyst - Henri Astier
Education Correspondent - Mike Baker
Sports Correspondent - Neil Bennett
Court Correspondents - Jennie Bond, Paul Reynolds
Foreign Affairs Correspondents - Ben Brown, Sue Lloyd-Roberts, David Loyn, Fergus Nicoll
Developing World Correspondent - Emily Buchanan
Social Affairs Correspondents - Andrew Burroughs, Niall Dickson, Peter Gould, Alison Holt, Christine Stewart, Carole Walker
Consumer Affairs Correspondent - Nicola Carslaw
Defense Correspondent - Tom Carver
Transport Correspondent - Rory Cellan-Jones
Transport/Aviation Correspondent - Christopher Wain
Europe Business Correspondent - Jonathan Charles
Paris Correspondents - Kevin Connolly, Stephen Jessel, Hugh Schofield
Economics Correspondents - Ed Crooks, Evan Davis, James Morgan
Business Correspondents - Peter Day, Peter Morgan, Greg Wood
Middle East Correspondent - Lyse Doucet
Media Correspondent - Torin Douglas
Europe Correspondents - David Eades, James Robbins, David Shukman
Industry Correspondent - Stephen Evans
Asia Correspondent - Matt Frei
Science Reporters/Correspondents- Pallab Ghosh, David Whitehouse
Environment Correspondents - Margaret Gilmore, Richard Wilson
Beijing Correspondent - Carrie Gracie
Health Correspondent - Richard Hannaford
Diplomatic Correspondent - Brian Hanrahan
TokyoCorrespondent - Juliet Hindell
Religious Affairs Correspondent - Alex Kirby
Moscow Correspondent - Allan Little
North of England Correspondent - Kevin Bocquet
Technology Correspondent - Christine McGourty
Arts Correspondent - Rosie Millard
Home/Legal Affairs Correspondent - Jane Peel
Constitutional Affairs Correspondent - Joshua Rozenberg
United Nations Correspondent - Rob Watson
Washington Correspondents - Bridget Kendall, Stephen Sackur, Philippa Thomas, Bill Turnbull
State Deparment Correspondent - Richard Lister
New York Correspondent - Brian Barron
Miami Correspondent - Malcolm Brabant
Los Angeles Correspondent - Clive Myrie