Media / Talk of the Trade: Radio 4 on long wave: someone's listening

THE BBC's new head of radio, Liz Forgan, is approaching the fraught question of whether long wave should be used for a new rolling news programme with a more open mind than her mentor, John Birt, BBC director-general. At an informal drinks party earlier this week she said some listeners had genuine problems with FM reception, and that the BBC must take account of their objections. She is, however, sure a 24-hour news channel will go ahead. Ms Forgan has commissioned a study on the use of BBC frequencies. It might be worth noting that Radio 4 reaches Ms Forgan's Orkney holiday home on long wave only.