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Dear Newsnight

Perhaps a possible next step in this experiment might be consider to invite those in favour, and those opposed to debate this idea –in the studio?

• And I think it is important not only for the show itself but because perhaps links with other issues,

• For example the political party which will carry the nation may be the one that taps into the resources and ideas of this nation,

A well known political commentator wrote a book which suggested that there was a psychological need for some in politics to have control over others and to tell others what to do, and by the very nature of politics may have chosen that field because they have not excelled elsewhere,

We now need as a nation to move beyond all that rubbish, it’s not good for any of us, including the top downers,

• Logic suggests that there are more ideas and ways forwards in the minds in the 60 + million of the population than in the relatively few at the top, however bright they are, they cannot know everything, everywhere,

• But the people on the ground know

What is happening around them. They can provide information, which is the first step needed in finding a solution to a problem. Ie a) first knowing the problem, b) and being honest about it.

Example: a farmer phoned 5 Live to say that he had warned of problems with drainage ditches, that they were being neglected, ahead of the flooding. If he did, how and why did that not reach the right people and result in action?

Probably because in our society at every level say in local and national Government trying to say this to any public official will not result in action, partly because the systems are not in place to process this information properly,

Ie Write to the Prime Minister and you will get a polite and short letter saying that the PM was very interested in what you had to say.

1) He never saw it, how could it?
2) He didn’t write it
3) Most probably the person who wrote it had a very low if not the lowest grade in the office,
4) As an aside this is both frustrating for the letter writer and may discourage them from doing so again. Far from encouraging interaction with the political system this sort of thing may eat away at it. As it stands time is wasted on both sides.
5) People writing in may be seen by Politicians and different levels of Government and Public bodies as a nuisance rather as an opportunity to find out what is happening, how people feel and just perhaps what might be done.
6) I understand that successful plcs take a different view to comments by their customers, positively encourage it and use the ideas perhaps to grow the business.

• People know what is happening in their towns and cities
• In their communities ie the workplace

• And they may also have practical or imaginative ideas how to fix something, big or small that isn’t working

We as a nation need to tap into this and make use of this resource, our people better educated and informed than ever before. Our country needs to because in certain areas such as our economy we are in trouble.

How does this tie in with the Newsnight experiment?

As I see it all you are asking us to do is to suggest stories, ideas, nothing more, you act as the filter and still turn them into programmes,

On the micro side of the argument I’m trying to make, relating to what you are doing as a news show in drawing upon the resources and ideas of those who watch your show, this is an ideal combination, your production skills perhaps augmented with stuff from ordinary folk like us,

(and practically if necessary to keep this going if the negativity continues you could still continue this by moving this blog to a less prominent part of the site or on a second page, so that people could still participate while making it harder for the critics, and you might see that it would still attract a lot of interest and interaction).

Drawing upon the resource of the viewers to me has a parallel with what I think should happen elsewhere in our country,

• But I do have an open mind. Perhaps I’m wrong but those who think this is bad for Newsnight I think need to suggest why and give examples.

• However you do it, and you could invite those criticising it to appear on your show, it would be very helpful if they could say more, expand their arguments against this experiment continuing.

• But they need to construct a case against it, not just criticise.

• I hope I have being fair to those opposed to the experiment.

Best wishes

Hope helpful
Bob

Britain needs to stay out of the Pakistan debacle!
If they don't expect another wave of immigrants!

If I may make another point (re-Bob Goodall's post1)regarding inter-activity, we have to accept that an individual's comment does not carry much weight with the present state of attempted interaction.
³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ's 'Have Your Say' has a potential downside compared to Newsnight's 'Post a Comment' as many suspect that the long delay for 'awaiting monitoring' and (in my case) a very high rate of non-posts, is a device to edit comment in order to push the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ's views (delayed posts also get less supporting votes).
However, despite these faults, the provision on 'Have Your Say' to indicate support for views expressed and the ability to click on 'Most Support' should provide a measure of the public's opinion on the issues selected for interactivity.

Why then is this valuable device (of indicating support for specific posts) not used by Newsnight?
Last night's 'debate' on Immigration seemed to totally ignore the many comments that had been solicited on Newsnight's 'Post a Comment' the day before, in favour of the usual routine of reading out a 'random?' selection of e-mails just received, which may not in any way be representative of public opinion.

Isn't this at best just a way of making a show appear more 'alive', and at worst a method of controlling public opinion?

³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ News broadcasts should drop this ploy of reading out 'just received' e-mails, and instead read out the 'Have Your Say' comments that have had the highest number of support votes from the public.

Surely that is a better use of inter-activity and a more accurate reflection of public opinion.

err. what are we discussing - crisis in pakistan or technology at the bbc?

i think benny is wonderful, beautiful, delightful to listen to and probably corrupt but that seems a better option than military dicatorship or religious fundamentalism

and she is extremely clever the way she is using the muslim argument against britain re. iraq +/- westernisation, to steer a muslim nation towards westernisation!!!

but on the subject of technology - the posts that are censored, are they sitting in storage somewhere or are they deleted?

if change my username and email does the bbc still know which computer i'm on or would that only be detectable by an IT expert?

and finally on the issue of commenting, i can't understand why when people get the chance to contribute, they vote to rudely tell the editors to shove it

I for one mourn the loss of Benazir Bhutto.

As with the assassination of Ahmad Shah Mas'ud "Lion of Panjshir", the backward cowards of Alquedia seek to strike down even those of their faith, who offer an alternative vision, to their radical interpretation of Islam.

RIP - Benazir Bhutto - may your untimely death give greater courage to your countrymen to tackle head on those destroying their country & abusing their religion.

At a Brit even I can acknowledge the distinct loss of opportunity for peace in Pakistan given the assassination of this brave politician (flawed yes, as we all are)

vikingar