Getting to the epicentre

Last Modified: 14 May 2008
By: Newsroom blogger

Inside the morning meeting...

China leads the way again tonight, as outside media crews filter ever closer to the earthquake's epicentre.

Our own Lindsey Hilsum is on the on the ground there travelling around encountering survivors and listening to their harrowing tales.

'An ITN reporter was last heard 50km away from the epicentre and walking. Nobody's got there yet.'

She's witnessed hysterical relatives pleading with rescuers to save family members from the rubble, whilst the rescuers have to face the grim possibility that no-one could survive and that such efforts are too dangerous.

There is some debate on whether to use all her footage or to mix it with agency material back here in London. Getting around the disaster zone is a real logistical nightmare:

"She hasn't got as far as the epicentre; there are severe travel problems on the road".

"An ITN reporter was last heard 50km away from the epicentre and walking. Nobody's got there yet."

Also the look out is on for Chinese voices - whether here in the studio or found online, speaking of what the Chinese people feel about this quake. Is there anger towards the authorities - do people blame building construction methods for the high death toll?

Back home, the "rebranding of Gordon Brown takes place" as he releases the draft Queen's speech. He's making a statement to the Commons at 12.30, trying to distance himself from Tony Blair - it's all part of the disaster control focused around Gordon.

Mervyn King presents the Bank of England's inflation report - revealing how he's going to sort it out. "What Mervyn has to say is crucial." Faisal Islam will be there, and we hope to have the full speech online shortly afterwards.

Hillary Clinton has won big in West Virginia and she's vowed to fight on. Sarah Smith is going to do a piece on why, what's in it for her? Opinion is divided on the matter:

"She genuinely believes that she's got a 10 per cent chance of winning" "It's just an attempt for vice presidency." "She's trying to leave on a high note." "How much debt is she in?" "She's making a last minute plea to the Super Delegates." "She's staying in, in case Obama makes a critical mistake..." "...maybe she knows something that we don't know."

Jonathan Miller is looking at another Burma piece as there's tales of disease spreading and warnings of another cyclone on the way.

'Glasgow must be empty. Well, half of it anyway.'

In Manchester, it's the big game tonight as tens of thousands of Rangers fans arrive for the match against Zenit St Petersburg.

"Glasgow must be empty. Well, half of it anyway."

Nicholas Glass is in Cannes, taking in the serious side of the film industry. He's got an interview with the director of the City of God. Again, hopefully the full interview online shortly.

Finally, "the best story of the day" is the tale that a Dr Who knitter is facing legal action from the might of the BBC.

"Do we know what Dr Who is worth in merchandise? They must have made more money from sales then the cost of the series?"

"You can get a Dalek mask which distorts your voice that, of course, you wouldn't want to put over the head of your lead presenter as he introduces this piece..."

Resistance is useless.