Alan Yentob: 'The BBC can't compete with its hands tied behind its back'

BBC's creative director on his closeness to Tony Hall, competition from rivals like Google – and his plan for more appsAlan Yentob is having his picture taken on a staircase overlooking the vast BBC newsroom at New Broadcasting House and telling me about the flooding at his house in Somerset when we are interrupted by annoyed news staff.They ask us to move as flashes from the camera can be seen on-screen on the BBC News Channel – illustrating the perils of having a newsroom as a backdrop for live bulletins.Yentob apologises and we retire to his office – a former radio drama kitchen that sits between Old and New Broadcasting House. Apt, as Yentob bridges the old and new within the organisation. His office is narrow but cosy – desk stacked with books and an Alan Yentob mask someone sent him. There is a fold-up bike below his desk, just like the one Hugh Bonneville's character Ian Fletcher has as head of BBC Values in John Morton's forthcoming follow-up to Twenty Twelve, W1A, in which Yentob has a cameo.But as there's no table, we move to director general Tony Hall's office. As he confirms, Yentob played a part in bringing Hall back to the BBC after George Entwistle resigned. "I always felt that Tony should've been the director general. Yes, I did talk to [Lord Patten] about it and I did speak to Tony. For Tony it wasn't without its risks, he loved his [Royal Opera House] job."It seemed his influence might wane under Entwistle, but it is obvious he is now back at the heart... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2014-02-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #loyal audience #major project #social housing

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Have a look back at every Pulitzer Prize for Fiction winner of the 21st Century.

On Monday, at around 3PM (EST), from Columbia University in New York City, the winner of this year’s Pulitzer Prize for Fiction will be announced. As well as a check for a cool $15,000 dollars (which feels a little low, tbh), the victor (if there is to be one; see 2012) will gain entry to […] Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-05-05 14:30:48 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #fiction winner #21st century #3pm est #columbia university #cool $15 #gain entry #pulitzer prize

This Alaska bookstore in Sarah Palin’s hometown isn’t backing down about its drag story time.

Respect and support to Wasilla, Alaska’s Black Birch Books, who’re getting a lot of online flack for announcing a drag story time in June. But despite a slew of negative, and sometimes threatening, comments and reviews, Black Birch owner Taylor Jordan is going on with the show. As she told... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-05-04 15:21:17 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #sarah palin #bookstore

iRobot's Roomba 694 drops back to $180, plus the rest of the week's best tech deals

Two factors had an effect on the deals we saw this week: spring sales and early Mother's Day promotions. Even if you don't need a gift for a mom or it's still cold (or weirdly summery hot) where you are, you can snag a decent price on some of our recommended tech. Like our top budget robot... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2023-04-28 18:00:16 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #wireless headset #holding firm #buying advice #$40 savings #follow @engadgetdeals #ebooks #kindle

Three debut novels compete among Women’s prize for fiction shortlist

First-time novelists are joined by two former winners on the diverse list, as the six ‘ambitious and hard-hitting’ contenders are revealed• ‘We were blown away’: how we chose the Women’s prize shortlistThree debut novels will compete against books by two former winners for this year’s Women’s... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-04-26 06:30:01 UTC ]
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Lit Agent Sees 'No Shrinking Back' on DEI

Jevon Bolden, an activist for agents and authors of color, praises religion publishers' DEI intentions, then prods them for progress. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-04-25 04:00:00 UTC ]
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BBC releases first images of Ncuti Gatwa and Millie Gibson in Doctor Who

Pair who play Doctor and companion don 60s-style outfits in photos from upcoming seriesThe first images of Ncuti Gatwa and Millie Gibson travelling back to the 1960s in Doctor Who have been released by the BBC.Gatwa, a star of Sex Education, will play the Doctor, with Gibson, a Coronation Street... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-04-20 17:52:11 UTC ]
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The Guardian view on US book bans: time to fight back | Editorial

Censorship is surging thanks to an organised rightwing minority targeting books on LGBTQ and Black characters and issues“A book is a loaded gun in the house next door,” warns a character in Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury’s dystopian vision of an America where books are considered so dangerous they... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-04-13 17:21:33 UTC ]
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2nd lawmaker voted back into Tennessee House following expulsion for gun reform protest

Commissioners in Memphis have voted to send Justin Pearson back to the Legislature in Nashville. Republicans banished Pearson and Rep. Justin Jones last week over their role in a gun control protest on the House floor after a deadly school... Continue reading at CBC

[ CBC | 2023-04-12 19:04:26 UTC ]
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NYPD's Spot Robot is back for use in 'hazardous situations'

Back in 2021, the New York Police Department (NYPD) cancelled a planned deployment of the Spot robot dog [aka "Digidog"] following a public backlash. Now, New York City's current law and order mayor Eric Adams has brought the robot dog back for use in "hazardous situations," The New York Times... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2023-04-12 06:19:27 UTC ]
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Amazon's Kindle Paperwhite falls back to $100, plus the rest of the week's best tech deals

It's Friday, which means it's time for another roundup of good tech deals. Today's highlights include Amazon's Kindle Paperwhite back down to $100, which is within $5 of the popular e-reader's all-time low. Apple's AirPods Pro are $50 off their list price at $200, while the Apple Watch SE is a... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2023-04-07 15:00:31 UTC ]
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They’re (Paper)back!: Spring 2023 YA Paperback Books For Your TBR

Whether you love horror, thrill rides, romance, space adventures, or something else entirely, spring 2023 YA paperbacks have you set. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2023-04-05 10:37:00 UTC ]
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We can build immortal celebrities from ChatGPT and their existing back catalogs

Our reverence towards stars and celebrities was not borne of the 19th century’s cinematic revolution, but rather has been a resilient aspect of our culture for millennia. Ancient tales of immortal gods rising again and again after fatal injury, the veneration and deification of social and... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2023-04-04 18:00:30 UTC ]
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Amazon's Kindle is back on sale for $80

Amazon is running a sale on Kindle e-readers just in time for outdoor reading, and there are a few good deals in the mix. The company is selling the base Kindle with lock screen ads for $80, or $20 off. That's near an all-time low, and makes it an easy pick if you want a compact, no-frills... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2023-04-03 13:26:16 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #all-time low #300ppi display #larger screen #follow @engadgetdeals #kindle

Apple's AirPods Pro drop back to $200, plus the rest of the week's best tech deals

It's Friday, which means it's time for another roundup of notable discounts on good tech. Among the highlights, Apple's AirPods Pro are back down to $200, tying the best price we've seen for the iPhone-friendly noise-cancelling earphones. Amazon has dropped the Kindle Paperwhite down to $100,... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2023-03-24 15:43:59 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #larger screen #bad actors #$40 discount #follow @engadgetdeals #e-book #kindle

Audiobooks in Spanish: Dosdoce Hands Publishers a ‘Map’

Dosdoce's Javier Celaya challenges the Spanish-language publishing industry to expand its share of a fast-widening audio 'ecosystem.' The post Audiobooks in Spanish: Dosdoce Hands Publishers a ‘Map’ appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2023-03-23 14:51:07 UTC ]
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The Bologna Children's Book Fair Gets Its Bounce Back

With attendance back to pre-pandemic levels, there was lots of energy at publishing’s premiere children’s fair. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-03-10 05:00:00 UTC ]
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With New Model Language, Library E-book Bills Are Back

A year after a federal judge struck down Maryland's groundbreaking library e-book law, library advocates are backing revised legislation they say can help ensure “fair and equitable licensing terms" for library e-books while avoiding the thorny copyright issue that doomed Maryland’s effort. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-02-23 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon's Kindle Paperwhite Kids falls back to an all-time low

Amazon's Kindle Paperwhite Kids tablet offers a more eye-friendly reading experience than the regular Kindle Kids, but that features comes at a premium price. Right now, though, they're on sale with the biggest discounts we've seen yet, letting you grab one for just $105 or $55 (34 percent) off... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2023-02-22 11:58:13 UTC ]
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Unionized HarperCollins Employees Are Back to Work After a 3-Month Strike

The return, after an agreement that brought a raise in pay for the lowest earners at the publisher, represented a victory to many of the more than 250 workers involved. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2023-02-21 19:43:29 UTC ]
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