Laptops on TV News Programmes

[Spangles100]

Not sure if this is just a regional thing with BBC, but in Northern Ireland the news presenters always have a flipping laptop open beside them. Surely this fulfills no other purspose other than to make the programme appear to be high-tech, networked, surfing the news websphere as we watch. It all nonsense isn't it?

[joko]

probably.

its either purely a prop or has a list of upcoming stories so that the news reader can check through and make sure they approach each story with a suitable expression and tone. they may also have a copy of their auto cue so as they can check any awkward spelling and pronunciation - particularly if they have to do more than a few broadcasts in one day.

They will likely get all this in a script at the start of the day though, but perhaps they decided laptops are easier.

could also be to check for last minute updates. however newsreaders are just that readers, they don't usually research and write it too.

[gary baldy]

I think live news runs to a very sophisticated program (cant remember its name) which make sure everything fits in the alloted time. I once saw a behind-the-scenes type thing on how they produce the news and they have the programme (as apposed to program!) laid out on the computer and the newscaster can change the running order if a story breaks.
So i think they do have a use.

[tonymclark]

Joko, the newsreaders DO work on the stories as well as read them. Admittedly they can't work on all of them, but they do help out in putting them together, and have to do their research to know the background of the story.