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 WednesdayÌýEditor, Thom Yorke
Over theÌýXmas period the Today Programme decided to carry out an experiment. Could new faces inject some new and refreshing insight?
| | | | | Thom Yorke'sÌýprog.Ìý | | | | |  | | |
Do oil and politics mix?
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Was there a cover-up in a Washington report?
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How to deal with those hangover blues...
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Editor's view of the programme.
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The Today Experience
Thom Yorke's first thought when asked to be one of Today's guest editor was: "They must be crazy." But as a politically-minded figure who has spoken out about issues like world trade and war in Iraq, he couldn't turn down a programme helistened to every morning.
Despite the (very) early rise, he took this opportunity "to get things said that aren't really being said". He chose six stories for Today reporters to investigate - from a censored US report on the 11 September attacks and the influence of oil on foreign policy to music software and hangovers.
He also decided to look at plans to make RAF Fylingdales in North Yorkshire part of a US "Star Wars" missile defence programme because the story had drifted off the agenda. The singer said being guest editor also made him realise how many vital stories the programme covered every day.
The stories were "just what has been rattling around in my head", he said. "These are things that have occupied my mind all year so it's a chance to get someone else to do some work and find out things that I wanted to know about anyway, but didn't actually have the answers to."
Rejection
One story, about the largest radio company in the US, Clear Channel, which also has worldwide interests in radio, concert promotion, concert venues and advertising, did not make it to air. "Clear Channel are notoriously litigious and we talked about doing a piece but it didn't really work out," Yorke said. "The legal department of Radio 4 were worried about Clear Channel coming down on them. But we're going to save that for another day."
The Studio Setting
The news was about the arrest of a man in connection with the fatal shooting of a police officer in Leeds on Boxing Day.
"It was just mayhem, absolute mayhem," Yorke said. "And that was pretty mild, apparently. You have the programme rattling on in the speakers underneath, and then you've got the editor saying you need to do this and this.. You've got Jim coming in on the intercom saying 'we need a comment from the police.
The Today working environment is a world away from the music studio. Yorke was bemused at the multi-tasking of all involved "We've got someone else trying to get another phone call on the line - you've got five or six conversations all happening at once at the same volume in the room, and only one of them is the programme."
Reflections
Tom Yorke enjoyed the experience, even offering to return as a celebrity editor. Although pleased that 'off-agenda' issues were tackled, Yorke was sceptical about how much influence his own story choices would have on the day's agenda on New Year's Eve - apart from the hangover discussion.
Listen to Oil and Politics:
Thom Yorke has long been interested in the issue of oil and what influence, if any, it has over American and British foreign policy. 91Èȱ¬'sÌýÌýMaurice Walsh does a '2-way' based on his programmeÌý'Pipeline Politics'. Into discussion - Robert Ebel of Center for Strategic and International Studies is expert in US oil,Ìýalong withÌýsocial commentator,ÌýGeorge Monbiot.
Listen to Censored Saudi report:
Is there a mysteryÌýbehind why 28 pages were censored from a US Congressional report into September 11th? These pages are said to be almost entirely focused on one country - Saudi Arabia. Gordon Corera reports on the continuing struggle to reveal the whole story behind the attacks. Bids in for Saudi and U.S government officials.
Listen to Max Music Software:
Mark Coles package on the effects new computer techniques are having on today's music.
Listen to Global Trade Stand-off:
What has happened since Cancun and what should happen next? Mike Wooldridge package into a discussion between Matthew Lockwood ofÌýAction Aid and John Gummer MP.
Listen to New Year Hangover:
Many people will suffer from hangovers tomorrow - but is there a cure that really does work? and do they always have to be a bad thing? Tom Hodgkinson,Ìýeditor of the Idler, and FALIM KHOURY, head barman at the Savoy Hotel.
Listen to Thom Yorke - The Verdict:
Hear the thoughts of today's guest editor, Thom Yorke with a CND essay to playout.
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