Newsnight

:For the CNN programme see NewsNight with Aaron Brown

Stock market update vs. Weather

Traditionally at the end of the programme the there is a short stock market update. In 2005 Newsnight's editor, Peter Barron, replaced it with a 30-second weather report. He argued that the market data was available on the Internet and that weather would be more useful. However the change

Related Topics:
2005 - Peter Barron

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bought a flurry of complaints.

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On one occasion Jeremy Paxman said in his usual sarcastic tone: "So finally and controversially - tomorrow's weather forecast. It's a veritable smorgasbord. Sun. Rain. Thunder. Hail. Snow. Cold. Wind. Not worth going to work really." Another occasion saw him quip: "It's April, what do you expect? Take an umbrella."

Related Topics:
Smorgasbord - Sun - Rain - Thunder - Hail - Snow - Cold - Wind

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Yet he claimed he was happy presenting the weather.

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Newsnight conducted a telephone poll, Michael Fish, a former weather forecaster was featured on the programme arguing for the weather report, while Norman Lamont, former Chancellor of the Exchequer campaigned for the market update. Of almost 6000 viewers who phoned in, 62% said they would prefer the market update to return. Which it did on Monday, 18 April, 2005.

Related Topics:
Michael Fish - Weather forecaster - Norman Lamont - Chancellor of the Exchequer - 18 April - 2005

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