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Its post-election media feeding frenzy. On the night the people of Britain had a new third choice in their quest to get the best coverage, the Internet.
As usual the radio and TV specials were there for the majority. But a raft of sites tried to offer rival coverage as and when it happened. The Guardian, The Microsoft Network, BBC and some other independent sites such as GE97 all offered live results updates and discussion areas as well as analysis.
Some of the sites didn't cope technically and seemed deadish for most of the time. The results were accurate, some of the reporting was ok. But most discerning citizens watched the excellent coverage on BBC1 or listened to separate (and still excellent) coverage on Radio 4 and 5 Live! nothing beats the Beeb when it comes to election coverage. ITN tried and failed with their miserable offering. The BBC offerings were slick, comprehensive and went on all night. By the end of it all I was dead and I'm still recovering. The graphics offered by Peter Snow (thanks to Silicon Graphics stations) were clear and fun. An arcade style view of Labour and the LibDems blowing away Tory seats livened up the evening incredibly.
Online, the coverage was adequate, but you wouldn't want to sit through it all night. TV still rules here and radio maintains its niche. Not until you can effectively create your own all-night collage of live coverage as the BBC editors do will the Net come into its own.
When you can select which journalist to listen to and watch, when you can select your own animated swing-o-meter graphics and when you can pick which glum politicians' interview to watch. Only when you are empowered by interactive technology to be your own editor for the night will things really get exciting. And when you can edit the best from each news organisation you'll be given real choice.
Then the power really will be with the people - for election night anyway!
By Jeep
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