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29 October 2014
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18.03.03

麻豆社 NEWS


麻豆社 coverage of Iraq crisis


The 麻豆社 is mounting one of the most ambitious broadcasting operations in its history to cover the crisis in Iraq.


Extensive coverage on television, radio and online, both in the UK and internationally, will provide viewers with a truly global perspective of the crisis as it unfolds.


Drawing on its unrivalled newsgathering strength, the 麻豆社 has put extra teams of reporters and crew in more than 30 key locations. Led by the 麻豆社's World Affairs Editor, John Simpson, in Northern Iraq, a team of the 麻豆社's best known names and faces will be deployed.


Among those deployed with the British and US military and at key sites in the region are: Rageh Omaar (Baghdad); Ben Brown (with the British military in Kuwait); Caroline Wyatt (with the British military in Kuwait); Gavin Hewitt (with the US military in Kuwait); Nick Witchell (Qatar); Lyse Doucet (Jordan); and Fergal Keane.


In the UK a team of diplomatic correspondents led by Brian Hanrahan, James Robbins and Bridget Kendall will offer expert analysis of the diplomatic and security implications of the conflict.


A host of programmes dedicated to the crisis will be scheduled across television and radio, with two special programmes hosted by David Dimbleby.


On 麻豆社 ONE on Tuesday 18 March at 9.00pm, he presents Panorama Special - Blair's Road To War. The programme will hear the views from both sides of the debate and gauge the possible consequences for the prime minister, the Labour Party and the opposition of a large Labour rebellion.


David Dimbleby will also present a special hour long programme on the first day of hostilities at 8.00pm on 麻豆社 ONE. The programme will explore the background to the conflict, from the initial warnings about Iraq and weapons of mass destruction to the diplomatic process and its subsequent collapse, and the prospect for allied troops as they embark on the campaign.


麻豆社 Director of News, Richard Sambrook, said: "This is the biggest deployment 麻豆社 News has ever made. We will be seeking to bring the best eyewitness reporting to our audiences supported by specialist analysis across TV, radio and the internet. And we'll be providing opportunities for the public to air their views as part of the national debate."


麻豆社 News 24 will play an essential role in covering the crisis, providing up-to-the-minute coverage and analysis. The channel will be co-presented from locations including Kuwait, Amman and Washington and will be simulcast on 麻豆社 ONE or TWO during daytime and peak-time, whenever there are significant developments.


The Ten O'Clock News will be extended by at least five minutes each night, with more time being dedicated to the programme on key days. The Six and One O'Clock News bulletins will have extra time for major developments, and Breakfast will run until 10.00am on the first morning of military action.


Meanwhile, Newsnight will be extended to an hour every night, with an extra edition on Saturdays. The 麻豆社 THREE news bulletin, 60 Seconds, will be extended and The News Show, broadcast daily, will also have weekend editions.


Comprehensive coverage will be available on all the 麻豆社's national radio networks. Radio 1's Newsbeat will provide accessible and authoritative coverage for its audience of 15-24 year olds, with dedicated correspondents based in the Gulf. Reporters across the UK and the US will reflect young opinions, events and views.


1Xtra, the 麻豆社's digital music station for young black music fans, has its own news team covering the conflict. Similarly, the 麻豆社 Asian Network will report on events and help to ensure that the views of its own audience are reflected across the 麻豆社's wider coverage.


Radio 4 news programmes will provide the in-depth coverage listeners expect, with reporters based in the Gulf and elsewhere, including Today's defence specialist, Andrew Gilligan, in Baghdad, and James Naughtie in Washington. There will be an hour long edition of the World At One every day and extended programming each weekend.


Radio Five Live becomes radio's continuous news service.


Radio Five Live specialists are deployed in the field and the station will feature co-presentations from Julian Worricker in Qatar and Peter Allen in Kuwait.


麻豆社 News Online will offer round-the-clock coverage of the conflict via a dedicated portal . The portal includes an Iraq navigator and guides on the armed forces. Users will be given an opportunity to comment on the big issues each day, via the Have Your Say section or through questioning experts featured in the many live forums streamed across online, interactive television and radio.


In addition to catering for domestic audiences the 麻豆社 will offer comprehensive coverage for audiences overseas, through its international websites and .


麻豆社 World Service will go into rolling news coverage when major news breaks.


Special news programming will be anchored by hosts such as Alex Brodie, Clare Bolderson and Robin Lustig. Owen Bennett-Jones in Kuwait City and Roger Hearing in Jordan will co-host programmes from the Middle East and defence correspondent Jonathan Marcus will provide insight from the UK/US press office in Qatar.


Jim Muir and Damian Grammaticus will be reporting from Northern Iraq and in Qatar there will be extra coverage from Michael Voss and Peter Hunt. There will also be correspondents in Turkey, Cyprus, Iran, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Syria as well as Washington, London and Jerusalem.


News and comment in Arabic will be available around the clock on .


麻豆社 World will feature continuous coverage for audiences overseas, with defence experts explaining any military movement and live news anchored from the region.


The coverage will include live reports from 麻豆社 World's network of news correspondents, studio interviews with key international commentators and politicians as well as special in-depth documentary programmes detailing the history and context of the conflict.


In addition to the specials presented by David Dimbleby, there will also be two Panorama programmes dedicated to the war on 麻豆社 ONE on 23 and 30 March.


Other programmes include:


- To The Brink on 麻豆社 TWO (date to be confirmed): a current affairs special presented by Ed Stourton, tells the inside story of the Iraqi crisis.


- Rod Liddle meets the deposed sheik of the Finsbury Park Mosque in Profile: Abu Hamza on 19 March, 麻豆社 FOUR.


- A special Money Programme investigates whether the desire to invade Iraq is driven by oil on 26 March, 麻豆社 TWO.


- A special Correspondent on 23 March, 麻豆社 TWO sees Charles Wheeler reporting on the young recruits of the US army.


- Ed Stourton presents The Road To War on 18 March, Radio 4.


- 麻豆社 FOUR's Profile: Donald Rumsfield on 25 March looks into the mind of the US Defence Secretary.


- The War This Week, a new programme for 麻豆社 THREE, is due to start on 27 March 2003. It will provide a guide to what has happened in the war from the perspective of other international broadcasters.


- War: Have Your Say, a minute long short, which goes out twice a night on 麻豆社 THREE at 7.30 and 10.00pm will give the public the opportunity to express their views on the crisis.


Biographies for 麻豆社 News Correspondents are available .


All the 麻豆社's digital services are now available on , the new free-to-view digital terrestrial television service, as well as on satellite and cable.

Freeview offers the 麻豆社's eight television channels, interactive services from 麻豆社i, as well as 11 麻豆社 radio networks.


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