I had dinner with Neil O'Brien on Tuesday night. I said to him that I turn down a lot of broadcasting but my one exception is that I would never turn down Radio 4's Today programme. Surely, he said, Newsnight was at least as influential? You should never turn that down. Television will always be more impactful.
Both have smaller audiences than Terry Wogan on Radio 2 or Jeremy Vine or the BBC1 Six or Ten'o'clock News. If you are a politician wanting to reach voters then Radio 2 or GMTV or 'The Six' are bigger prizes. But if you are wanting to reach opinion formers (journalists, politicians consume both) which of the two matter most? Newsnight has a much smaller 'reach'. It gets about one million to one point one million viewers while Today reaches six to seven million in total from 6am to 9am. At its peak (7.50am NOT 8.10am) it reaches five million. Even at 6.30am it has twice as many listeners as Newsnight has viewers.
Today also has the advantage of setting the agenda for the day.
Speaking to a BBC journalist who contributes to both, however, he said he is only ever "noticed" when he's been on Newsnight.
So, CentreRighties: I can guarantee you a slot on Today or Newsnight. Which would you choose?
