Emma Barnett

[ProvincialLady2024]

What do we think?

I'm finding her interviews difficult to listen to.

I'm hoping she'll settle into the role.

I like Nick Robinson.

I like Nick Robinson too and Justin, Mishal and Martha.

It's just the other two that I find a bit too attention-seeking and annoying.

I think Today has fallen victim to what so many other BBC productions have, which is a desire to be seen as current and trendy and so they've changed the kind of presenters they hire in a misguided attempt to lure new listeners. But IMO all they're doing is alienating their core listeners.

But IMO all they're doing is alienating their core listeners

There are clearly quite a few of us core listeners on here who don't feel alienated.

I don't like Amol R on Today, but I can choose to let it bother me or not.

Today was already losing all its core listeners, they’ve deserted in droves over the last few years. I gave up when John Humphreys retired. It will be interesting to see the effect of its new direction on listening figures.

It's not lost all its core listeners. It's lost some.

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/may/18/radio-4-flagship-today-loses-800000-listeners-in-a-year-to-podcasts-and-rivals

The listening figures are bound to have changed. Newspaper readership has changed too.. The Guardian gets a lot of traffic because it's free.

Today lost 20% of its listeners in seven years and it’s now attempting to find a new audience. What’s the Guardian got to do with it? I really don’t know why you’re so strenuously trying to deny reality. Why do you even care?

Why do you?

Because I care about facts and truth.

I stopped listening to Woman's Hour because I can't stand her, so opinionated, smug, trying to prove how 'cool' she is, jumping on and off bandwagons etc etc. Also stopped listening to Today when Amol Rajan joined, he's unbearably smug, unintelligible and opinionated, and the thought of the two of them together ffs... the BBC must be losing listeners in droves. I now listen to Radio 3 instead ( although that's also a shadow of its former self) and read the news online.

Today is switched off on the days EB is on. It is the voice, it puts me on edge. The combativeness with politicians and other spokespeople is fine and necessary to a degree. Amol Rajan can be unintelligible but least he doesn't sound like a bandsaw.

Love her!

I find her OK but she comes across a bit like she knows best. She's nowhere as irritating as Amol Rajan. I usually have Today on in the background.
If the main story of the day is one I don't want to hear, I switch off.

she really grated early doors but I think she has settled in and assimilated her style.

I don't feel the same about her voice as the pp. A bandsaw? Okay... I feel her questioning sometimes rambles. I'd prefer it she were more to the point. I love Mishal on Today. They're very different. Amol is full of himself on everything he does. He is also so false when he claims to be empathising or offers sympathy to interviewees.

She made Woman’s Hour unlistenable. I was so happy when she was off on mat leave.

I don't like her particularly nor her voice - essential on radio. But a good journalist friend knows her and rates her.

I liked her on WH.

There is always print journalism, I suppose. A little less cut-and-and-thrust I will admit.

Horses for courses I guess. Everyone I know loved Jane Garvey; she set my teeth on edge.

I liked Jane Garvey on WH and Life Changing but didn't like Fortunately.
WH has me reaching for the off switch.