Category: BBC
Date: 24.03.2006
Printable version
The BBC announced today that it is to base two new broadcast journalists on the Isle of Man to improve its coverage of the island.
Head of Local & Regional Programming for the North West Leo Devine joined the BBC bus in Douglas to make the announcement.
He said: "We are delighted to be able to announce these new roles today.
"This is the latest step in a series of moves to improve our service to the island and provides a fantastic opportunity for us to enhance our coverage and strengthen relationships with communities here."
The new reporters will be multiskilled journalists able to serve the BBC's online, radio and television services.
They will help to develop the new Where I Live website for the island and provide stories for other BBC outlets.
The BBC launched a Where I Live site for the Isle of Man in the autumn - bbc.co.uk/isleofman.
It has also created a new 'news index' dedicated to Isle of Man stories on the bbc.co.uk/news and a dedicated Ceefax page (on the NW and NE 169s).
The BBC's long term aim is to provide a Local TV service for the island as part of the Corporation's commitment to providing regular bulletins for around 60 services.
This is dependent on the success of a pilot scheme currently underway in the West Midlands and approval from the BBC Governors.
Chief Minister Donald Gelling MLC said: "We welcome this significant step forward in the BBC's commitment to the Isle of Man and look forward to watching how these new services develop."
Notes to Editors
The BBC bus is making a four-day visit to the island.
It will be in the B&Q car park, Braddan, Douglas, between 10.00am and 4.00pm today and tomorrow (Friday 24 and Saturday 25 March) to promote BBC RAW.
BBC RAW is a literacy campaign aimed at igniting people's passion for reading and writing.
Further information is available at bbc.co.uk/raw.
BBC Manchester Press Office
