MediaGuardian briefing

Media briefing                                                                                           Friday 30 Jan 2015 g
Top stories on MediaGuardian                                                                                                           More »
Police urge TV stations to scale back live coverage of any London terrorist siege Met commissioner says he fears that broadcast of live images could increase difficulties for police and military and risk lives of hostages  Downton Abbey's future in doubt after Julian Fellowes fails to commit Several stars from ITV’s hit drama said to be talking to producers in the US as fears that sixth series will be its last  Children's TV and current affairs unlikely to be involved in BBC competition revolution News comes as a relief to programme makers who will avoid the biggest upheaval in BBC production for a generation  Journalists should be shielded from phone and web snooping, union says The MEAA says allowing governments to access data to investigate confidential sources and whistleblowers would seriously endanger Australia’s press freedom  Luther star Idris Elba presents Story of Now for BBC Documentary uses ground-breaking interactive technology to explore 20 of the world’s fundamental issues  Tory MPs 'plotted to sabotage House of Commons documentary' Rightwing backbenchers unhappy at filming in chamber planned to knock over cameraman, but were thwarted by Westminster security, BBC2 film-maker says  BBC pays £204m to keep Match of the Day as ITV declines to bid Premier League highlights will remain on the BBC’s Match of the Day programme for a further three years after the BBC announced a £204m deal  Andrew Miller to stand down as chief executive of Guardian Media Group Miller to ‘explore other opportunities’ from mid-2015 after near five-year stewardship of publisher of theguardian.com  Ofcom's deputy chair is 'stooge' for Tories, says Harriet Harman Labour’s deputy leader urges culture secretary to reconsider position of Tory peer Lady Noakes, claiming her Twitter account shows ‘clear breaches’ of media regulator’s impartiality  Virgin Media urges Ofcom to pause auction of Premier League live TV rights Cable group files ‘application for interim measures’ after warning that regulator’s ability to act will be prejudiced unless current auction process for top-flight football is halted
Today's newspaper headlines                                                                                                               More »
Today's media stories from the papers Our roundup of the day's media stories, including police warning over terrorist siege coverage and Downton Abbey's future in doubt
Media Monkey's pick of the day                                                                                                          More »
Broadchurch goes bonkers: beach location proves hit with doggers The second series of Broadchurch may have turned off many fans with its soapy transformation and ridiculous court scenes, but at least one sector of the country is getting off on it: Britain’s doggers. According to some, ahem, dogged online chatroom research from the Sun, the soaring cliffs of West Bay, Dorset, where the ITV crime drama is filmed, are the perfect backdrop for lovers of outdoor hanky-panky. Related: Don’t give up on Broadchurch: dodgy second series aren’t always the end The location has become so popular with exhibitionist shaggers, the paper says, that online forums are even giving advice about the tide so that al fresco lovers don’t get their bits (too) wet. One poster on the forum, unnamed by the Sun, said: “Lots of great action in and around Dorset. Bridport picnic site is good and the cliffs near West Bay. I’ll be down there with the missus later in the week.” Another site stumbled upon by your intrepid Sun hack warned would-be doggers of the threat from passing hikers (but isn’t that the point? To be seen? Monkey digresses): “There may be some passing walkers using the edge of the water as an alternative to the Dorset Coastal Path on top of the cliffs.” Monkey notes that Dorset’s own tourist site boasts of the beauty of the beachside location: “We are loving seeing the stunning Dorset coast in all its glory on our screens again and we can hand on heart confirm that it looks even more amazing in the flesh than it does on screen.” More amazing in the flesh indeed! Monkey must remember to cancel his and Mrs Monkey’s Dorset hiking holiday this summer –