Articles published in 2009:
24
An Introduction to the Internet
Simon Pitt |
Friday 24th
April
2009
Part 1 of a semi-regular review and examination of the internet. In this article, Simon takes a vague look at the size of the internet, its influence and its nature.
25
A Brief History of Wikipedia
Simon Pitt |
Saturday 25th
April
2009
A brief discussion of the history and creation of Wikipedia.
26
The Nature of the Internet
Simon Pitt |
Sunday 26th
April
2009
In this article Simon examines the top ten most visited websites in the world and sees if he can make any broad and extravagant generalisations about the nature of the internet. Not to spoil the surprise, but he can.
26
In defence of modern television?
Robert Weedon |
Sunday 26th
April
2009
In this article, Robert Weedon suggests why television was never quite as good as you remember, before completely contradicting himself by going off on a rant about how ITV used to be much better in the old days.
28
Data Inflation
Simon Pitt |
Tuesday 28th
April
2009
In this article, Simon looks at the Internet's obsession with documentation and data, and makes some broad, generalised, and almost outlandish claims about the nature of today's world.
29
The fuss about iPlayer
Simon Pitt |
Wednesday 29th
April
2009
In which Simon considers the history of iPlayer and why it's splash isn't quite as big as the BBC would like you to think.
30
The Internet and Laziness
Simon Pitt |
Thursday 30th
April
2009
A brief, and not that well thought out look at whether or not the Internet makes us lazy or whatever... yeah, I'll finish this off later, and put a less obvious joke in.
3
BBC Video Logo
Robert Weedon |
Sunday 3rd
May
2009
It may seem an odd thing to be misty eyed about, but the BBC Video ident used between 1990-1997 is a logo which hasn't dated or been bettered by any of the subsequent logos used by the corporation. Robert Weedon dissects why.
5
The Perils of Live Broadcasting
Robert Weedon |
Tuesday 5th
May
2009
In this article, Robert Weedon praises the BBC's Music, Sport and Religious programming outside broadcast teams, while complaining about some less well filmed live events.
6
Land of Hope and Glory-hunters
Robert Weedon |
Wednesday 6th
May
2009
Robert Weedon discusses the Last Night of the Proms, and in particular the increasing televisual tyranny that are the BBC Proms in the Parks.
11
FM Radio Switched Off by 2015
Simon Pitt |
Saturday 11th
July
2009
DAB Digital Radio will replace FM Radio by 2015 when Analogue Transmitters will be switched off.
12
The rise and fall of ITV
Robert Weedon |
Sunday 12th
July
2009
ITV, once an admired rival to the BBC, is now floundering in a swimming pool of its own effluence. With the recent cancellation of the South Bank Show, and several expensive drama series, Robert discusses why.
19
A few aspects of picture ratio
Robert Weedon |
Sunday 19th
July
2009
Robert has a go at writing an incomprehensive little guide to watching films at home on television, and concludes that you probably shouldn't bother.
27
Links: The Humble Hyperlink
Simon Pitt |
Monday 27th
July
2009
As something of a prologue to a more indepth discussion of the Hyperlink, Simon examines the rise and nature of the link, and considers how we all take it for granted.
2
The British Are Coming?
Robert Weedon |
Sunday 2nd
August
2009
Robert writes an inconclusive little introduction to a planned series of articles on British films, and highlights the influence of three of the big names in British cinema.
3
TV trends: The Working Title Show
Robert Weedon |
Monday 3rd
August
2009
Nothing to do with the film production company, in this article, Robert bemoans the lack of originality in new programme names, and the rise of the "Working Title title".
7
Pay-Per-View Online News
Robert Weedon |
Friday 7th
August
2009
News Corporation to charge for online newspaper access.
18
The Beano buys Friends Reunited
Simon Pitt |
Tuesday 18th
August
2009
Brightsolid, a subsidary to DC Thomson, publisher of the Beano, has bought Friends Reunited from ITV.
1
404 Error
Simon Pitt |
Wednesday 1st
April
2009
Whoops. Something has gone wrong, and you've ended up here. You may not find what you want by reading this, but at least you'll know why you didn't find it, along with a few anecdotes, trivia and further reading.
20
Who Owns What?
Simon Pitt |
Thursday 20th
August
2009
The world of media conglomerations is a complex and gnotty web. Simon has a look at exactly who owns what.
22
Suitable for All?
Robert Weedon |
Saturday 22nd
August
2009
Robert examines the current BBFC ratings system and wonders if its categories are really useful. Warning: contains thematic elements.
22
What Have You Been Watching?
Simon Pitt |
Saturday 22nd
August
2009
Simon examines what programmes we've all been watching, what this says about our viewing habits, and considers whose fault lazy programming is.
23
What is Television For?
Simon Pitt |
Sunday 23rd
August
2009
Simon considers what purposes television has, and ponders some of the reasons why it fails to achieve these purposes.
20
Product Placement wins
Robert Weedon |
Sunday 20th
September
2009
Robert discusses some of the implications of the government's decision to allow product placement on British commercial television.
23
TV trends: Televisual letterboxes
Robert Weedon |
Wednesday 23rd
September
2009
Robert highlights the recent rise in the fake 2.35:1 letterbox on television.
5
iFootball
Robert Weedon |
Monday 5th
October
2009
As an England match is shown for the first time exclusively on the internet, Robert discusses the implications of sport over the web.
4
ITV Still Reunited
Simon Pitt |
Wednesday 4th
November
2009
ITV's sale of Friends Reunited is to be investigated by the competition committee. In the mean time, ITV is left holding the costly, and very rubbish, baby that is FriendsReunited.co.uk.
6
A Brief Guide to Radio Drama
Simon Pitt |
Friday 6th
November
2009
Simon gives a broad overview of drama on BBC Radio and offers a few thoughts on its nature and popularity, before wondering why nobody knows there is drama on Radio 3.
11
Demanding Entertainment
Simon Pitt |
Wednesday 11th
November
2009
According to the media, getting video On Demand wherever and whenever you want it is pretty much the most exciting thing to ever happen. But is On Demand all it's cracked up to be? If it is, why isn't everyone doing it, and if it isn't, why not? As the BBC turn off their Real Player streams and move to iPlayer for all TV and Radio, Simon looks at just how popular iPlayer is and examines why it hasn't set the world alight as much as everyone wishes.
12
Who's Who at the BBC
Simon Pitt |
Thursday 12th
November
2009
With the BBC releasing salary information for their top 107 decision makers, Simon takes the opportunity to examine who some of the key figures are, and how they got there.
13
Review: Collision
Robert Weedon |
Friday 13th
November
2009
Robert reviews ITV1's latest drama series, and surprisingly, he likes it.
14
Why Everyone Seems to Hate the BBC
Simon Pitt |
Saturday 14th
November
2009
You can't open a newspaper these day without reading a rant about the BBC. With the BBC releasing their expenses, and journalists struggling to find something to complain about, Simon examines why everyone seems to hate the BBC.
17
Asian Network's Soap Cancelled
Simon Pitt |
Tuesday 17th
November
2009
The BBC have announced that the Asian Network's soap, Silver Street, will air its last episode in March 2010. It will be replaced by a run of monthly stand-alone thirty-minute dramas. Is this the beginning of the end for drama on the Asian Network? Or maybe for the Asian Network itself?
19
Month Roundup: October 2009
Simon Pitt |
Thursday 19th
November
2009
A brief overview of everything that happened in the media in October 2009. The month in which a racist appeared on Question Time, TS Eliot became the nation's favourite poet and laugh-a-minute swear-fest The Thick Of It returned to BBC Two.
21
How the News: Works
Simon Pitt |
Saturday 21st
November
2009
An examination of the way news and journalists work. Where do news stories come from and where do they go when they're not on the front page anymore? An Image Dissectors exclusive scoop!
23
The HD event
Robert Weedon |
Monday 23rd
November
2009
HD is rolling out across the country, but only to a select few. Which future television event will persuade people to make the switch to High Definition?
25
Christmas is Coming
Robert Weedon |
Wednesday 25th
November
2009
With Christmas only a month away, Robert speculates about what television we can look forward to in the forthcoming festive season, and wonders why we all look forward to it anyway.
26
ITV buys Disney's stake in GMTV
Robert Weedon |
Thursday 26th
November
2009
ITV is to buy Disney's 25% stake in GMTV for 22.25 million, therefore making the breakfast television channel a wholly-owned subsiduary of ITV. Image Dissectors discusses what this might mean.
1
Month Roundup: November 2009
Simon Pitt |
Tuesday 1st
December
2009
A brief overview of everything that happened in the media in November 2009. The month in which the Gruffalo became the nation's favourite children's book, Judy Dench went to the dentist in period costume and the town of Darlington appointed someone as village Tweeter.
6
The State of the Afternoon Play
Simon Pitt |
Sunday 6th
December
2009
Simon examines what BBC commissioners are looking for when they commission radio plays and begins an investigation into the current state of the Afternoon Play.
7
Review: Zero Degrees of Separation
Simon Pitt |
Monday 7th
December
2009
The first in a series of reviews of radio plays considering the current state of the Afternoon Play. Simon is unimpressed by the first Afternoon Play of the week; a mismash of three short plays by 'community writing groups' (putting the 'ew!' into 'New Writing').
8
Review: Winter Storm
Simon Pitt |
Tuesday 8th
December
2009
The second in a series of reviews of radio plays considering the current state of the Afternoon Play. After a dissapointing start yesterday, Simon's faith in the Afternoon Play is restored by this bleak but haunting tale or words and snow.
9
Review: One in a Million
Simon Pitt |
Wednesday 9th
December
2009
The third in a series of reviews of radio plays considering the current state of the Afternoon Play. One part maths whodunnit, one part tale of brotherly sacrifice and one part blatant documentary. Simon examines a rather mixed bag of a play.
10
Review: Getting to Four Degrees
Simon Pitt |
Thursday 10th
December
2009
The fourth in a series of reviews of radio plays considering the current state of the Afternoon Play. Today's afternoon play is another play that isn't really a play but leaves Simon thinking after it's finished.
11
Review: Number 10 Immortality at Last
Simon Pitt |
Friday 11th
December
2009
The fifth in a series of reviews of radio plays considering the current state of the Afternoon Play. Like this review, today's play was the last of a five part series. But with no series stacking and no way of hearing the first four parts now that they're gone, how will this episode fair?
16
Audio Identities: Radio station themes
Robert Weedon |
Wednesday 16th
December
2009
Despite the increase of musical branding on the visual medium of television, on UK national radio, the opposite seems to be happening. Robert speculates about what's happening, and for nostalgia's sake looks at some old station musical themes.
24
