BBC News Magazine Monitor
Encyclopedia
The Magazine Monitor is a column in the Magazine section of BBC News Online
; the website of BBC News
; where a wily and irreverent take on the day's news is collated. The first article added to the Monitor each day is usually the Paper Monitor - often pointing out the glorious imperceptible witticisms that make the daily press in the United Kingdom
each day. During the day a series of caption competitions and|oddities are added. On weekday evenings at around 5p.m. GMT, letters from readers, both serious and light-hearted, are published. Topics can be varied: comments on news stories; how to measure sizes in terms of London Routemaster
buses, or for larger geographical areas, Wales
; spotting people mentioned in news stories whose name is particularly appropriate for their job, etc. Other favourite areas of discussion include the Flexicon, the sex and gender of Paper Monitor or coming up with sardonic comments about previous letters.
On Friday evenings, ready for Saturday morning, an article called "10 things we didn't know last week" collates odd and interesting facts from the week's news. Readers are encouraged to send their own images depicting ten objects to accompany the facts; past examples have included 10 swans flying in formation and ten toes.
A weekly photo caption competition is held each Thursday with the results published on Friday. All entries are visible with 6 winning captions being published. No prize is offered, other than an indeterminate amount of kudos (there are 12 Kudo's to the Routemaster
).
In September 2006, as part of further changes to the appearance of the BBC News website, the Magazine received a new look but the largest change came with the Magazine Monitor itself, rather than a page that was updated over the week in a similar way to news articles on the site, the format of the section changed to that of a blog
with the sections added as normal. Comments are allowed, but not published, other than a selection in the daily letters.
In January 2009, the identity of 'Stig', a long-time contributor to the Monitor's Letters pages, Caption competitions and the late and much lamented Punorama was revealed. It has been suggested this was actually a trial run of the 'outing' of another Stig from BBC TV's Top Gear in 2010 however, any connection between the MM's Stig and Top Gear's similarly named Stig is entirely coincidental. The true identity of the Magazine Monitor's Stig remains a mystery to this day as the 'reveal' back in 2009 has since been proved to have been a practical joke.
There are other topics that crop up periodically:
BBC News Online
BBC News Online is the website of BBC News, the division of the BBC responsible for newsgathering and production. The website is the most popular news website in the United Kingdom and forms a major part of BBC Online ....
; the website of BBC News
BBC News
BBC News is the department of the British Broadcasting Corporation responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs. The department is the world's largest broadcast news organisation and generates about 120 hours of radio and television output each day, as well as online...
; where a wily and irreverent take on the day's news is collated. The first article added to the Monitor each day is usually the Paper Monitor - often pointing out the glorious imperceptible witticisms that make the daily press in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
each day. During the day a series of caption competitions and|oddities are added. On weekday evenings at around 5p.m. GMT, letters from readers, both serious and light-hearted, are published. Topics can be varied: comments on news stories; how to measure sizes in terms of London Routemaster
Routemaster
The AEC Routemaster is a model of double-decker bus that was built by Associated Equipment Company in 1954 and produced until 1968. Primarily front-engined, rear open-platform buses, a small number of variants were produced with doors and/or front entrances...
buses, or for larger geographical areas, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
; spotting people mentioned in news stories whose name is particularly appropriate for their job, etc. Other favourite areas of discussion include the Flexicon, the sex and gender of Paper Monitor or coming up with sardonic comments about previous letters.
On Friday evenings, ready for Saturday morning, an article called "10 things we didn't know last week" collates odd and interesting facts from the week's news. Readers are encouraged to send their own images depicting ten objects to accompany the facts; past examples have included 10 swans flying in formation and ten toes.
A weekly photo caption competition is held each Thursday with the results published on Friday. All entries are visible with 6 winning captions being published. No prize is offered, other than an indeterminate amount of kudos (there are 12 Kudo's to the Routemaster
Routemaster
The AEC Routemaster is a model of double-decker bus that was built by Associated Equipment Company in 1954 and produced until 1968. Primarily front-engined, rear open-platform buses, a small number of variants were produced with doors and/or front entrances...
).
In September 2006, as part of further changes to the appearance of the BBC News website, the Magazine received a new look but the largest change came with the Magazine Monitor itself, rather than a page that was updated over the week in a similar way to news articles on the site, the format of the section changed to that of a blog
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
with the sections added as normal. Comments are allowed, but not published, other than a selection in the daily letters.
In January 2009, the identity of 'Stig', a long-time contributor to the Monitor's Letters pages, Caption competitions and the late and much lamented Punorama was revealed. It has been suggested this was actually a trial run of the 'outing' of another Stig from BBC TV's Top Gear in 2010 however, any connection between the MM's Stig and Top Gear's similarly named Stig is entirely coincidental. The true identity of the Magazine Monitor's Stig remains a mystery to this day as the 'reveal' back in 2009 has since been proved to have been a practical joke.
Topics
Each week the Magazine Monitor follows the same basic theme:- Results from the Daily Mini Quiz (and for a brief period in 2006, the Pointless Poll) that is held each weekday on the Magazine home page (now discontinued)
- Daily Paper Monitor entries
- This section concentrates on the eccentricities and habits of the British press, including the perceived obsession over the death of Diana, Princess of WalesDiana, Princess of WalesDiana, Princess of Wales was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she married on 29 July 1981, and an international charity and fundraising figure, as well as a preeminent celebrity of the late 20th century...
by the Daily Express (usually occurring on a Monday)
- This section concentrates on the eccentricities and habits of the British press, including the perceived obsession over the death of Diana, Princess of Wales
- Daily letters sent in by the public (although not always on a Thursday)
- Caption Contest (opened on Thursday, closed on Friday)
- 10 Things we did not know
There are other topics that crop up periodically:
- [Generic topic]-Watch, such as PorridgePorridgePorridge is a dish made by boiling oats or other cereal meals in water, milk, or both. It is usually served hot in a bowl or dish...
Watch or BrentDavid BrentDavid Brent is a fictional character in the BBC television mockumentary The Office, as well as a recurring character in the NBC series of the same name, portrayed by co-writer and director Ricky Gervais. Brent is a white-collar office middle-manager and the principal character of the BBC series...
Watch; - Monitoring the progress of a PostcardPostcardA postcard or post card is a rectangular piece of thick paper or thin cardboard intended for writing and mailing without an envelope....
- Wallcharts - as published and given away by national Daily Newspapers. Topics have included Trees & Birds of Great Britain, Planets, Weather, Fruit and a Skeleton in three parts.