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Today programme celebrates 50 years on air
The Today programme, ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 4's flagship news and current affairs
programme, reaches a milestone on Sunday 28 October 2007, celebrating
its 50th birthday.
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Today is Radio 4's most popular programme and at this year's Sony
Awards it won several awards including Gold in the Breakfast Show
category and a Gold for presenter John Humphrys in the News Journalist
of the Year category.
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Over the last 12 months Today has reached an
average of just over six million listeners every week.
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Presented by five of the most respected journalists in broadcasting – John Humphrys, James Naughtie, Sarah Montague, Edward Stourton and
Carolyn Quinn – and renowned for its sheer breadth of coverage and
serious, incisive interviews, it is generally considered to be one of
the most influential news programmes in Britain.
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Director of ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ News, Helen Boaden, said: "Today embodies the best aspects of ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ journalism: it's curious,
challenging and occasionally quirky with a strong sense of the zeitgeist
and a powerful bond with its audience.
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"No wonder it's survived, thrived
and stayed fresh for 50 years."
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Controller of Radio 4, Mark Damazer, said:
"The Today programme is the spearhead of Radio 4. Its qualities embody
Radio 4's defining attributes.
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"Today has depth, breadth, intelligence
and wit, and assumes the audience wants to hear serious debate and
analysis but is not frightened of anything lateral or unexpected.
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"It's
a huge tower in the News and Current Affairs landscape and remains
indispensable listening for millions.
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"Over its 50 years it has changed
many times but still sees off all challengers."
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Editor of Today, Ceri Thomas, said:
"Editing the Today programme is the most privileged position ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ News
has to offer; it's challenging, rewarding, sometimes nerve-wracking but
always fascinating.
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"The real beauty of it is that there is nothing else
quite like Today, not only in Britain but anywhere in the world."
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Today marked its birthday by asking listeners born on the same day as
the programme – 28 October 1957 – to share their memories of both
great and personal events over the last 50 years. Their fascinating
and sometimes moving stories can be viewed on the Today website.
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Twelve of the "Today Generation" set up blogs for the Today website
including Steve Morris, former drummer in the band Joy Division, who went
on to form a second band, New Order, under Factory Records and also co-founded legendary Manchester nightclub The Hacienda.
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Talking about life after Joy Division, he says: "New Order's relationship with Factory and Factory's relationship with
New Order was that they should be allowed to make mistakes."
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Like many other listeners, the death of Winston Churchill in 1965 was one of the earliest memories
of a significant news event for
Today Generation blogger, Carol Kelly.
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She said: "I remember hearing the news early in the morning and lying next to my
mother in my parents' bed as the story unfolded on the radio.
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"Although,
because of his young age, my father had a relatively minor involvement in
the Second World War, his brother was killed in the conflict and the war
years played a major part in my parents' lives.
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"Their sadness at the
death of Churchill made me realise how important a national figure he
had been."
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Paul Mundy, Today Generation blogger, vividly recalls the tension of the
1966 football World Cup Final, won by England.
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He says: "I was distraught – I burst into tears and hid behind the sofa. 'It's
only a game' insisted my parents, but it took Geoff Hurst's
controversial goal – his shot hit the crossbar, then bounced down onto
the ground and then out of the goal – to get me out from behind the
sofa."
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