Blog Series: 5 live's Regional Journalists

Are us London folk going to get our very own RJ, Imogen? Once the 5Live lot have gone to Salford you will just be waiting for the House of Commons to be moved to Manchester Town Hall.

On the subject of regions I often switch over as trucker to the BBC FM regional radio stations like BBC Radio Berks, Cambs, Norfolk etc as I travel between them albeit my main station is 5 Live principally to hear what the producers deem as leading stories hence to hear what the national audience are hearing



I've noticed throughout these regional BBC stations there is usually between the music far more outgoing and adventurous journalism and an ongoing phone-in on topics featured on the programmes where the callers points of view are far less moderated as they are on 5 Live where the presenters like Nicky Campbell or Victoria Derbyshire can cut him/her out if they think they'll have difficulty in dealing with a particular viewpoint as written on the screen (Please don't say it doesn't happen because I know it does!)





One hopes 5 Lives new Regional journalists will adopt the less timid practices of many (but not all) of their FM counterparts!

Imogen, thank you for arranging this blogging series. It will be very instructive.



I while ago I asked if these 'RJs' as you call them are exclusively for 5Live or not? And if not, what other responsibilities do they have and to whom?



I ask because it is clear that some regions are largely ignored by 5Live, this means (a) nothing happens there, (b) nothing of national note occurs there (c) the RJ is asleep (d) the RJ has other priorities.



I suspect it's a combination of a couple of the above.



This is the first time I believe these regional journalists will be 'presented' to the audience in this way which I think is super. Thank you. It will be interesting to see how many of the names we recognise and what stories, if any, we can remember them filing.

I agree with ryanw and Nick. On my travels last week I heard a good deal from one of the regions only ever reporting on 5Live when there is literally a disaster. Their reports and programmes were so interesting, NOT parochial, and also a relief from the usual protagonists who, as Nick says, rule the roost, I think with their own egos.

I personally don't care where 5Live moves to , just as long as you keep the legendary Rhod Sharp. The BBC should play his Up All Night programmes to the RJ's to show them what a true broadcaster is supposed to be like. From what I have heard, most of the RJ's are very amateurish.

I agree sammysheepdog. (Great name by the way) Rhod is number one. Actually I don't know why an RJ isn't doing all the Shetlands stuff for UAN rather than someone from Head Office, wherever that is at the moment.

I must add my voice to the calls of support for Rhod Sharp. He cannot get enough praise. He is outstanding.

Imogen, thank you for all of the effort you are putting in to coordinate these excellent series of posts. Since you have come on board there has been a noticable upswing in the quality and quantity of the posts here.



Thank you.