Following several years of on/off investment in Manchester, ITN has substantially increased its investment in Channel 4’s northern news gathering operation.
Channel 4 news didn’t in fact have a Manchester presence when it launched and subsequent coverage of the north has been sporadic the company admitted. However last year, ITN which produces C4’s news output, decided to consolidate its northern news operations into a single enhanced Manchester unit and closed its Leeds bureau.
Earlier this year, the northern team quit its former premises and moved into a purpose built new studio at Granada, immediately adjacent to GTV’s regional news room.
Nick Martin was recruited as C4’s north of England correspondent and he has subsequently been joined by producer Joanna Simpson, camera editor Alastair Thomson and an editor. Since then, ITN has recently invested in a dedicated satellite truck and has further upgraded the Manchester operation’s communications and links.
The increased investment in C4 is separate from ITN’s investment in its Manchester ITV news operation which employs an additional six staff.
The Manchester office primarily covers the whole of the north but is also called upon to cover stories in Scotland and the Midlands should the extra resource be required.
Martin
Martin told How-Do that that “Coverage has been much better since we opened in Manchester. We can spend more time finding more stories of our own: things that C4 is known for – originality, quirkiness and innovation.”
The operation is planning further investment in Manchester and is also looking to increase its pool of freelance cameramen which, according to Martin, “Is good news for them and us because we need cameramen to stay in the city.”
Martin started out as a junior reporter on the local newspaper in his home town of Whitley Bay before moving into crime reporting for dailies in the North East.
He joined Channel 4 News in 2006 having previously been a reporter presenter at ITV Border in Carlisle
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