'News at 10' debate dominates papers.

Reports that the BBC is to move the Nine o'clock News to 10pm dominate the front pages of Friday's papers ahead of the speech by the corporation's director general Greg Dyke at the Edinburgh Television Festival.

"News at 10 Back...on BBC" is the Mirror's bold headline, announcing Greg Dyke's plans to move its flagship "Nine O'clock News" programme to ten o'clock from next year.

The Daily Mail is not alone in applauding what it calls Mr Dyke's breathtaking cheek, embarrassing the BBC's rivals and freeing up valuable mid-evening air time for sport, drama and movies.

But others are less complimentary. The Times raises the prospect that the decision to move the bulletin after nearly 30 years could lead to accusations of dumbing down.

'Faithful servant'

And the Daily Telegraph believes the change will irritate viewers who like to go to bed by 10pm and those who would prefer a break between the main news bulletin and Newsnight.

The paper predicts that the Prime Minister will be well satisfied with the faithful servant he appointed - a nation kept in ignorance, it claims, is a nation easily led.

The Express also picks up on the Telegraph's assertion that the only people to rejoice Mr Dyke's decision will be the ITV executives who have been told that their 11pm round-up is too late.

The Express quotes a source at ITV saying that since there will, once again, be a television news bulletin at 10pm, it would not be in anyone's interest for it to return its nightly news to 10.

NI Peace Process

As the papers report the funeral of the first of three protestants killed in a feud between loyalist paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland, many assess the effect it could have on the peace process.

The Irish News stresses that while few tears will be shed over illegal paramilitary organisations tearing each other apart, if there is to be any hope of a peaceful society, all types of violence must be clearly rejected.

But writing in the Independent, David McKittrick, says there is good reason to calculate that recent events will strengthen rather than damage the peace process.

Jurors allowed to speak

It is currently a criminal offence for newspapers or broadcasters to discuss the deliberations of jurors. But the Independent says that when the new Human Rights Act comes into force in Britain in October, jurors could be forced to give reasons for their verdicts.

The paper says the change would stop thousands of criminals appealing against their convictions and would help victims of crime understand why some defendants are acquitted.

While it acknowledges that lawyers have mixed views on whether the change would be useful or workable, the Independent's editorial says it should be welcomed as breathing the fresh air of openness and accountability into a fusty jury system, much in need of reform.

Grumpy Germans

Many of the papers report research into why Germans often look grumpy. The Daily Telegraph quotes psychologist Professor David Myers as saying that the language uses sounds which require the same facial muscle movements as frowning.

The Times helpfully provides photographs of a mouth uttering vowels with umlauts. For its contribution to the debate, the Mail publishes some sentences which can make Germans look particularly glum.

"Der dUmmste Bauer erntet die grOssten Kartoffeln" - Even the most stupid farmer can find the best potatoes. "Wenn ich nicht zu Hause bin, bin ich im Gasthaus" - When I'm not at home, I'm in the pub.