Channel’s news coverage is too Jersey-focused

Some days the news which is broadcasted for 30 minutes at 6pm is taken up by Jersey items for 90% of the time. For two nights they showed reports about the lifeboats; would they show our lifeboats? I don’t think so, plus we had two reports on planting the Jersey Royals. In the Guernsey Press there was a report about Jersey having the most polluted sea, more polluted than south of England and the French coast. Did they report that? No.

If it happened in Guernsey it would be a top news item. Don’t they realise it’s suppose to be Channel news, not all Jersey news?

PETE GRIFFIN

Jerbourg

St Martin’s

A spokesperson for ITV Channel Television responds:

ITV Channel Television takes very seriously its role in providing a distinctive and relevant regional news service for all the Channel Islands and as a team we are very conscious of the balance of coverage across our programmes.

The balance of news broadcast across the islands will vary from week to week according to events, States sittings and breaking stories and on many occasions we will cover issues from the perspective of both Guernsey and Jersey to ensure those reports are relevant for our viewers right across the region.

Our flagship programme at 6pm regularly ‘leads’ on Guernsey stories and our reporters are live in different Guernsey locations several times a week, often more than once during one programme, bringing viewers right to the heart of the issue or story. Our programmes consistently provide in depth coverage of key Guernsey issues and last month on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities we broadcast a special programme live from Guernsey.

Our commitment to our Guernsey viewers has been demonstrated in the last two years by significant investment in new technology for our studio and newsroom on Bulwer Avenue, including two permanent units to allow live, on location, broadcasts. We have increased the number of editorial staff in the island and also appointed a sport correspondent who is based in Guernsey.

ITV Channel Television is the only Channel Islands broadcaster to provide local news programmes seven days a week and on virtually every bank holiday throughout the year.

Our Guernsey team of journalists and technical staff are passionate about the news agenda in the island and are committed to delivering agenda-setting and high quality local coverage for the island’s viewers.