Today not happy enough for me
THE news that the Radio 4 programme, Today has lost over a million listeners is perhaps not too much of a surprise to the regular listener.
Since the days of Jack De Manio, Brian Redhead and John Timpson, the programme has changed beyond recognition.
Although the programme content has always been on the serious side, there was far more variety and always room for a moment or two of humour.
These days the programme gives the impression of being nothing more than three hours of politics, frequently covering the same argument day after day. The style of interviewing has changed considerably since the old days, with the interviewers being very aggressive and very rude by often interrupting an answer and not allowing the interviewee a chance to finish his point.
One very irritating habit of the current interviewers is to say to an interviewee, “could I have a brief answer as we are running out of time” and then proceed to ask an extremely long and complicated question.
The programme is broadcast at the start of a day when the listener would like a little encouragement and optimism. Sadly, most of the items contain vast quantities of pessimism and depression.
When did you last hear John Humphrys, or Nick Robinson, sound really excited, optimistic and happy about any item on a programme?
It is no wonder that so many listeners have moved to more cheerful and uplifting programmes to start the day prior to facing the everyday routine of their place of work. Colin Bower Hall Street Sherwood Nottingham