13 October 2008
Breaking news at the National Media Museum
To celebrate 140 years of the Press Association, the National Media Museum in Bradford presents its forthcoming display, ‘Breaking News: 140 Years of the Press Association’, which opens on the Museum’s Level Five on 18 October 2008.
Responsible for covering every major news event since 1868, the Press Association marks its anniversary with a display that will give visitors a definitive insight into the workings of a news agency. It will detail how, through a network of reporters, photographers and video journalists, the Press Association gathers and delivers ‘breaking news’ to the UK media at the touch of a button.
Jonathan Grun, Editor of the Press Association, said:
“Press Association journalism is all about fast, fair and accurate storytelling and for the past 140 years we have told the story of our nation in daily instalments. The story might be about Gordon Brown, or Kelly Brook, or Big Brother. It might be the story of the century, or it might be completely forgotten by tomorrow - but today it is news.
“In the years ahead no doubt technology will change and make today's state-of-the-art systems seem as primitive as cave painting. What will not change is that people will still be hungry for great stories and brilliant images that capture their imagination.”
The National Media Museum’s curator of photographic technology, Colin Harding, comments:
“Often without knowing it, the public see the work of the Press Association on a daily basis, simply by picking up a newspaper or logging on to a news website. ‘Breaking News’ presents a unique opportunity for visitors to go behind the scenes and see exactly how we get our front page news.
“The Press Association goes hand in hand with the media channels covered by the National Media Museum and, as with the Museum, the Press Association is preserving the history of its work, continuing its work in the present and looking ahead to the future.”
Through a variety of interactive exhibits, visitors will be given a unique, hands-on experience into the running of a news agency. From comparing coverage of a 1930s FA Cup Final with present day reporting, to trying their hand at being a picture editor, the exhibition aims to educate and entertain. Additionally there will be a gallery of award-winning Press Association photography and a chance to hear from the journalists themselves who make up the heart of the organisation.
Technology has changed the way news stories are gathered and this can be seen by the inclusion of Nikon’s most recently unveiled camera: the groundbreaking Nikon D90, the world's first digital SLR that is also capable of taking high definition videos.
A series of books entitled 20th Century Britain in Pictures which chronicle 100 years of British life through the Press Association’s seven-million strong picture archive, will be showcased for visitors. Many of the images haven’t been seen since their first publication decades ago.