Media Brief

I'm the BBC's media correspondent and this is my brief selection of what's going on.

The Daily Telegraph says the BBC has been given a one-year deadline to drastically improve BBC One and BBC Two, after its "formulaic and derivative" daytime programmes were criticised in what it calls "a damning report" by the BBC Trust. Jana Bennett, the director of BBC Vision, gives a different interpretation: "The Trust has asked us to build on the strong performances of BBC One, Two and Four to deliver even more fresh and new content to our audiences."

BBC1 and BBC2 are too similar, while BBC4 needs to do more to raise its profile. That is the Independent's summary of the BBC Trust review of the channels.

The Guardian says Mark Thompson, the BBC director general, has refused to enter new negotiations with the National Union of Journalists, whose members disrupted TV and radio services last week over pension proposals.

In the Daily Telegraph Gillian Reynolds says it was a relief to have a day without Today because of the NUJ strike. "It was like finding a forgotten fiver in an old coat pocket. On Friday the nation woke up to discover BBC radio was full of nice things."

The Daily Mail reports Countryfile presenter Michaela Strachan was forced to leave the programme because she did not want to report on producing meat, the corporation's head of rural affairs told an industrial tribunal. Andrew Thorman denied claims by Miss Strachan's former colleague Miriam O'Reilly, 53, that she and other presenters were victims of ageism and sexism.

Sir Brian Barder, the former British ambassador to Ethiopia, has criticised the BBC over its apology to Band Aid. In the Guardian's response column he says listeners were misled that 95% of famine relief aid for Ethiopia was diverted to the military:

"It isn't just Band Aid to which the BBC owes an apology, but the British government, other donors, charities and ordinary people who gave so generously."

Film-maker Warner Bros is to announce plans to develop a permanent UK studio base, including a visitor centre for its films such as Harry Potter. The BBC reports it will be built at Leavesden, in Hertfordshire, where production on all eight Harry Potter films took place.

Ann Widdecombe says she won't quit Strictly Come Dancing like John Sergeant. The Daily Mail conducts the "great Widdy debate" asking if she should she stay or go?

The BBC's newspapers review says George Bush's memoirs dominate many front pages. In an exclusive interview, he tells the Times that he does not mind what people think of him. The Guardian also has extracts.

Links in full

• Daily Telegraph | BBC has one year to improve 'formulaic and derivative' TV channels
• Independent | BBC2 told to forget chasing ratings and dare to be different
• Guardian | Mark Thompson refuses new negotiations with NUJ
• Telegraph | What a relief to have at least one day without Today
• Daily Mail | Countryfile star Michaela Strachan 'axed for refusing to work in abattoirs'
• Guardian | The BBC's apology to the Band Aid Trust was far from adequate
• BBC | Warner Bros to develop UK film base
• Daily Mail | Should Widdy quit Strictly? Two writers lock horns over Ann the dancing elephant
• BBC | Newspapers review

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