Letter from the editor: A broadcasting first

Richard Bacon’s afternoon show on Radio 5 is always a treat, and today’s edition promises to be especially thrilling.

In what is believed to be a broadcasting first, the entire programme comes from the newsroom of i and our sister paper, The Independent. That’s right, in full digital sound, you’ll be able to hear the authentic sound of this newspaper being put together - the comment desk in the midst of a high-minded discussion on NHS reforms, the news desk despatching reporters to the latest breaking news story, the features desk pondering the latest trends in British fashion, and the sports desk in animated debate about the decline of Arsenal.

Or, more likely, you’ll hear a lot of arguing, a discussion about Cheryl Cole’s big hair, frantic urgings from the racing desk as they watch the 2.30 from Lingfield and a dispute on the picture desk about who’s turn it is to get the coffees in.

Yes, this is the real soundtrack of a newsroom, but I’m sure Mr Bacon will help make us sound a little more interesting to a national radio audience. The programme focuses on the challenges facing newspapers, and there will be interviews with major industry figures. We’re all looking forward to welcoming the radio into our home - and even Linda, our production editior, has promised not to swear!

Mind you, she’ll have turned the air blue on Saturday when she saw that, due to a freakish error, we printed the previous week’s racecards in Saturday’s edition. We have been inundated with letters from i’s racing fans, who were rightly furious and to whom we can only apologise. And you know the worst of it? We still couldn’t pick any winners! So there you are - a whole column without a single mention that Manchester City are the FA Cup holders! Don’t forget: today, i can be seen and heard!