18·08·09 Week 33 explore.gateway.bbc.co.uk/ariel PHOTOGRAPH:STEVE GIBSON THE BBC NEWSPAPER Seetha Kumar hosts online’s first open day a Page 6 Rain rain go away... THE ODD DOWNPOUR ◆ didn’t dampen the spirits of presenter Lauren Laverne and the rest of The Culture Show team, in Edinburgh for three specials from the festival. Programme highlights include comic Arthur Smith touring the city on a leopard print motorised sofa. Feature, Page 5 > NEED TO KNOW 2 TECHNOLOGY 6 OPINION 10 MAIL 11 JOBS 14 GREEN ROOM 16 < 216 News aa 00·00·08 18·08·09 NEED TO KNOW THE WEEK’S esseNTIALS NEWS BITES a AsHLEY BLAke, Fresh incentive to saddle up presenter of Midlands Today and Inside Out, Room 2316, White City u It’S pedAL power AT THE BBC with around has been sacked 201 Wood Lane, London W12 7TS 200 staff signing up each quarter for the cycle to by the BBC after 020 8008 4228 work scheme – a figure that could well rise with Birmingham Managing Editor the selection of a new provider. Crown Court Stephen James-Yeoman 02-84222 As we report on page 4, the independent com- found him guilty Deputy editors pany Cyclescheme is to take over from Halfords of wounding and next month. attempting to pervert the course of Sally Hillier 02-26877 Cycle to work is a national initiative designed justice. The judge told him it was Cathy Loughran 02-27360 to promote healthier journeys to work and re- ‘almost inevitable’ he would be jailed Features editor duce environmental pollution as part of the Gov- for attacking a youth and later altering Clare Bolt 02-27445 ernment’s Green Transport Plan. his statement about the incident to Reporters The scheme evolved from the 1999 Finance police. Blake was remanded on bail Laura Scarrott 02-84224 Act, which enabled employers to loan cycles and and will be sentenced on September 2. Peggy Walker 01-43940 cyclists’ safety equipment to employees as a tax- Production editor free benefit, so reducing the cost of the bike. THE LAst Night Of The Proms on Claire Barrett 02-27368 The BBC introduced cycle to work in the September 12 will be broadcast Art editor spring of 2007 but initially, for administrative live to cinemas around the world, Ken Sinyard 02-84229 reasons, restricted the sign-up period to just thanks to a deal agreed between one month each year: miss that and you had to BBC Worldwide and distributors By Ariel online wait 12 months for another chance. Experience and Supervision Media. Alex Goodey 02-27410 Now though the window is open four times Business co-ordinator a year – in December, March, June and Septem- LULU, AMerICAN star Chaka Khan and Silvana Romana 02-84228 ber – through myChoices. Jodie Prenger, winner of BBC One’s Ariel mail A requirement of the scheme is that the bike I’d Do Anything, are among the artists [email protected] should be used mainly for commuting to work, who will perform at the Abba tribute Ariel online explore.gateway.bbc.uk/ariel or part journeys such as to the station, or for concert in Hyde Park on Septemer 13, journeys between one workplace and another. presented on Radio 2 by Chris Evans. The bike can be used for leisure purposes, but was the first Western pre-school children’s pro- Guest contributors this week its principal purpose must be work-related. gramme to appear on national tv in China. Pro- EFO KodJO Mawugbe from Ghana duction ceased in 2001, after 365 episodes – ‘one and Erin Browne from the US won robIN MorLEY, social media lead u THE TELetUbbIes Are BACK for a dance tour for each day of the year’– had been made. the two top prizes in a playwriting for English regions, explains how to of the nation’s shopping centres, but have they competition run by World Service twitter effectively at work. P8-9 ever really been away? With Worldwide’s long- u LAst week’S WAter CooLER TALK was all and the British Council. Writers running magazine and an array of toys still in about, well, water coolers after the press report- from India, Romania, Georgia and AMber DAwson, broadcast production, the colourful foursome are now so ed the cost of keeping BBC employees topped up Australia received special prizes. journalist, writes of her experiences firmly embedded in the national consciousness with the clear stuff. at the ‘coalface’, working in the UGC that it’s easy to forget the controversy that sur- But a few key facts and figures went largely Peter Andre and Neville Hendricks, (user generated content) Hub. P14 rounded the programme on its debut in 1997. unreported. Did you know, for example, that the exec producer of Katie & Peter: The Next The Teletubbies’ limited vocabulary lead to provision of drinking water to staff is a statutory Chapter Stateside, will offer their insight accusations of inanity and teaching children to requirement under the Workplace Health, Safety into the making of ITV’s fly-on-the- speak incorrectly, while growing speculation and Welfare Regulations 1992? wall series at the Media Guardian BBC Jobs 0370 333 1330 over the sexuality of the handbag-wielding pur- The BBC occupies more than 200 buildings Edinburgh International Television Jobs textphone 028 9032 8478 ple Teletubby prompted the BBC to issue the in the UK employing around 22,000 staff, and Festival between August 28-30. BBC Jobs John Clarke 02-27143 statement ‘Tinky Winky is simply a sweet, tech- the preference is to offer a plumbed in drinking Room 2120, White City, London W12 7TS nological baby with a magic bag.’ This did noth- water supply if possible. BBC Two’S coverage of the World Advertise in Ariel ing to dent the show’s burgeoning popularity, ‘Only in buildings where such facilities do not Athletics Championships in Berlin Ten Alps Publishing 020 7878 2314 particularly among students who contended it exist and cannot readily be installed do we make attracted a peak audience of 5.2 www.bbcarielads.com was so psychedelic it must have been made ‘un- available water dispensers,’ says the environment million on Sunday. Highlights der the influence’. project team. were Usain Bolt’s world record Printing Shrugging off these early issues, Teletubbies ‘Our reliance on water dispensers will contin- breaking 100m and Jessica Ennis Garnett Dickinson Group went on to be seen by millions of children in ue to decrease as we refurbish our offices or move winning the heptathlon. Rotherham 01709 768000 120 countries, translated into 45 languages, and to more modern buildings.’ Ariel View, Page 10 Subscribe to Ariel Six months: £26, £36, £40 Twelve months: £50, £60, £68 ENTERTAINS THE CROWDS ON BUS TOUR (prices for UK, Europe, rest of world RADIO MerseYSIDE respectively) by Andy Ball On the road: Andy Ball meets Cheques to: Garnett Dickinson Print, ‘Miss Balloonatic’ Brookfields Way, Manvers, FIVE O’CLOCK ON AN AUGUst MORNING and Wath Upon Dearne, Rotherham S63 5DL there’s a drizzly haze over the River Mersey as signer outlet village where we’re Tel 01709 768199 the All-England BBC Bus pulls up for the first given a compound to highlight INFORMATION IN AN EMERGENCY day of the Radio Merseyside summer tour. the BBC’s work. We verge on Telephone 0800 0688 159 Not an auspicious start to a 12-day operation hysteria though as the first Ceefax Page 159 www.bbc.co.uk/159 to take the station into the community. guests on the Sean Styles show Co-presenter Claire Minter arrives for the – the singers and dancers of the Ariel is produced by Internal breakfast show and miraculously the clouds Mighty Zulu Nation, playing at Communications for people at the BBC roll away. Even more surprisingly visitors come nearby Chester Zoo – launch into for presenter cards and autographs before 7am! their act. So enthusiastic are Commuters using the Mersey ferries also they that they do their entire 30 come on board to ask us about digital switch- minute routine. Great for shop- over, which happens in November. pers, but a battle for Sean who has At 9am we leave the bus to go live onboard daunted we crack on and welcome our first to cut away to continue the rest of the show. a ferry with the skipper, as the sun starts to youngsters to the bus. We’re using software to The tour includes waterfont locations, su- PLEASE RECYCLE YOUR COPY OF ARIEL stream down. Perhaps typically, while the sat allow them to record a radio bulletin or jin- permarket car parks and the Southport Flower dish has beamed our stuff 35,000 kilometres gle and then burn it onto cd for them. Show. We love using the BBC Bus.It’s a great tool into space and back in perfect quality, our usu- You’d be surprised how grateful parents and and shows that our listeners really can be part ally trusty analogue link doesn’t behave well, grandparents are that we’ve occupied their lit- of local radio. even though at all times we could see the re- tle darlings for even a short while. Andy Ball is an sbj with Radio Merseyside ceiver point on top of Liverpool Cathedral. Un- The tour continues at the Cheshire Oaks de- Local radio hits the ‘hot spots’, Page 10 > ARIEL ONLINE: BBC NEWS AS IT HAPPENS – EXPLORE.GATEWAY.BBC.CO.UK/ARIEL< a 18·08·09 News 3 BBC Newsline’s Julian On a high Fowler looks back on his experience on board the Europa during the Tall Ships after thrilling Atlantic Challenge from Canada to Belfast assignment I ‘VE BEEN A REPORTER in NORTHERN IRELAND broadcast live for BBC Newsline and Radio Ulster of the storms with wind lashing the rigging and imagination.