Here is the News

The Second World War was both the first and the last time that the radio was the pre-eminent source of news of a major conflict. The news was important not just for the daily update on how the war was progressing but also for the specifics of particular operations in which loved ones, friends or neighbours were involved. The BBC's coverage of all aspects of the fighting was unprecedented and provided not just daily news, but also documentary type coverage. Richard Havers describes how the BBC gathered news and examines the role of journalists with the forces overseas. He explains how the news was broadcast - the daily routines, notable broadcasters and famous interviews, the language that was peculiar to radio presentation and of course the BBC 'accent'. He also looks at how the news was received, both physically (wireless sets) and via the personal recollections of those who lived through the war. He investigates whether there was a popular disbelief of the 'official line', or whether the BBC was trusted by the British public. By taking a selection of news bulletins from the war years as examples, the author illustrates the difference between the broadcast and the facts for key stories. Richard's lively narrative is complemented by a selection of contemporary photographs and illustrations.

RICHARD HAVERS is the author of Sinatra (DK, 2004), co-author of Read's Musical Reciter (2004) and Bill Wyman's Treasure Islands (2005), both for Sutton. He lives in Berwickshire.