Behind the scenes of our Lehman Brothers drama
It's amazing to think that it's nearly a year since the collapse of bank, an event which at the time probably seemed pretty remote but whose after-effects will have had an impact on most of us, regardless of where we live and whether we had any investments.
A couple console each other outside the Lehman Brothers European Headquarters building in Canary Wharf, London.
I've been reminded of the drama of the Lehman bankruptcy in a fascinating play which will be broadcast on the World Service this weekend - producing Over To You allows me the occasional sneak preview, and means I can tell myself I'm working while I listen! We shall be featuring the drama - The Day that Lehman Died - on Over To You this week, looking at how the production team turned real-life drama into a fictionalised account of what happened. The behind-the-scenes story is fascinating - as is the drama, which really did have me on the edge of my seat, even though I knew what happened at the end of the weekend.
But do you feel that news events - especially ones that happened so recently - are a legitimate subject for a drama? I wonder what other events you might like to hear dramatised? Or whether you think that plays should be the stuff of fiction? I look forward to reading your comments.
Another topic we're looking at this week is swine flu - at least that's the name that the 91Èȱ¬ gives it. But Shaoming Wang emailed Over To You from Malaysia to point out that the refers to it as H1N1. So what's in a name, as long as we all understand what we're talking about? But perhaps you have your own reasons to object to the name "swine flu" - if so, do let us know. We shall be hearing from the 91Èȱ¬'s Medical Correspondent, Fergus Walsh, on the subject in this week's programme.
It's good to read your contributions to our blog. I've particularly enjoyed those that follow on from the item in last week's programme about villagers in northern Nigeria receiving mobile phones so that they can keep in regular touch with programme-makers here in London - Rajan refers to this in his recent blog.
This latest development is all part of an increasing trend towards "citizen journalism" - also the title of an interesting two-part series presented by Michael Buerk for the World Service. Do you agree with the comment from PeggyMiles, that getting news from ordinary citizens gives the 91Èȱ¬'s journalists "information from a more robust source"? Or do citizen journalists have a different agenda from professional reporters? And I wonder whether you feel that their role is significantly different according to where they are in the world? All these are topics we shall be covering in the coming weeks, so do keep your comments coming.
Cathy Packe is the Producer, Over To You
Comment number 1.
At 3rd Sep 2009, Securitycheckall_PMs wrote:Thank you for your blog, on which you asked the following question -
Q-I wonder what other events you might like to hear dramatised? Or whether you think that plays should be the stuff of fiction? I look forward to reading your comments.
purrhaps....Honey-traps and Political leaders and bee-keepers, (or lack of them) -------ie who minds the hives?
Dear Ms Packe
As far as I am aware, Prime Ministers have being exempted from the same thorough ongoing secure checks and monitoring that have been considered necessary for some time for many other senior figures in public life,
but perhaps one idea for a drama documentary might be what would happen if say a politician was deliberately compromised while for example on an overseas trip, or perhaps one of our leaders was leading a 'double life' The drama could look at the the security implications for a country that doesn't keep a watchful if discreet eye on its top political leader?
Such ensnarements could conceivably come from countries who in most other regards could be considered as 'friendly'* but who might want some extra leverage in for example trade negotiations, or even as an extreme example at the other extend of the spectrum want to secure the support of UK forces for a military operation?
(*I think Klaus Fuchs escaped the maximum punishment # for his treason on the grounds that the country he was spying for was still technically one of our allies) (#PS just to say that I strongly disagree with the death sentence)
Senior civil servants for example are routinely vetted and checked in this way, what is the logical argument to suggest that if someone is elected to office they are beyond the sort of subtle pressures that we recognise can be applied against others?
I don’t understand the reasoning here and the logic behind the so called Wilson doctrine or his refusal to vet Ministers as directly asked for by Richard Crossman and another Minister George Wigg.
In 1972 Sir Martin Furnival Jones, a former Director General of Mi5 told the Franks committee that;
“ if the Russian Intelligence Service can recruit a back-bench MP and he climbs to a ministerial position, the spy if home and dry.’
This might apply to any organisation or country even one perceived to be friendly who might wish to influence the policy of this country, for example the use of our armed forces in conflicts around the world.
I’m not sure that anything has really changed since Sir Martin Furnival Jones made these comments.
The checks that may be carried out under current guidelines might not be sufficient to fully guarantee our security. And one problem would be of course would be if the problem lay at the top of Government or for example someone had risen to that position without having being formerly a Cabinet minister.
The Independent on 17.11.06 reports that Denis Donaldson was recruited (by Mi5) "in the 1980s after compromising myself during a vulnerable time in my life"
What our side has done, is probably carried out by the security services of most countries against the leaders of other countries. To pretend otherwise and on that basis not take measures to protect our country is surely a mistake?
Who watches over the person once they have reached Number 10?
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Comment number 2.
At 7th Sep 2009, Sin_Pariah wrote:Thoroughly enjoyed "The Day Lehman Died". Highly cogent.
Does 91Èȱ¬ have a fly on the wall during these two series of meetings amongst (A) the Fed, SEC and CBOT on how to curb excessive commodities speculation and (B) the recent G20 summit on how to curb skewed bank bonuses?
Would be great if 91Èȱ¬ could do docu-tainments on these too! Wonder how Singapore reacted to being put on the greylist of "tax uncooperative regimes"!
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Comment number 3.
At 7th Sep 2009, sensiblegrannie wrote:Citizen journalism is an empowering force to allow the voice of the ordinary person to be heard above the scrambling masses. Sometimes we are the fly on the wall, witnessing events which are excluded from the media but happening all the same. Our voices carry a different message, one of personal involvement and a need to communicate for communication sake. We are not dictated by time schedules and media financial gain as we are anonymous, invisible but present. Those who listen to our voices hear a pure direct message without spelling and grammar checks and typed from stimulus to brain to fingers to page.
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Comment number 4.
At 7th Sep 2009, jallotey2 wrote:Is there any chance of getting the drama as a podcast? Would love to be able to download it and listen for posterity.
Jimmy
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