From the editor's desktop: Your response

Pete Clifton, editor of this website, reflects on a return to the coalface, how a story whipped from under the BBC's nose still came out top of the charts - and a panoramic, 360-degree glimpse of our newsroom. Read a selection of your comments.

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Your comments:

So many people want to express their own opinions on this site, the editor should too Jake, Lancaster, England

I think that it's a great idea to see an editor's view of the stories - it makes the BBC that bit more objective. So many people want to express their own opinions on this site, the editor should too. People probably think it's clever to slag off people through websites. Newsflash. It's not.
Jake, Lancaster, England

Loved the 360 degree of the famous BBC newsroom. As a former Radio announcer in Canada, I've seen quite a few, but nothing as large and modern as yours. How about some 360's of the BBC Radio Control rooms?
Wes Sutton, Vancouver, BC, Canada

I noted with interest that the 360 degree panorama begins by focusing on pretty much the only two neatly dressed men in your entire newsroom. The rest are certainly a scruffy lot - are you sure the first two weren't hired extras?
Becky Chantry, Cambridge, UK

What is this? Have I got rubbish for you?
Tee Sir, London

Regarding filming the editor's meetings: I think it is a fantastic idea. It would be a great reality TV show, one even I may briefly consider watching!
Lee Ferens, Brough

The BBC Online newsroom is haunted Bryan, Dallas

Either the BBC Online newsroom is haunted by the ghost of an editor passed or you're covering up a conspiracy. In the panoramic picture offered under the "Smile Please" section, using the ceiling grid as reference and rotating clockwise, right around the 135 degree point, just behind the seated young lady in the purple blouse there appears to be a pair of phantom legs and spectral body. I would like to know if the BBC is covering up anything, or if they've now gone into the ghost hunting business?
Bryan, Dallas, Texas

On the 'photos debate', would it be possible to have higher-resolution photos on the site? I'm specifically thinking of any that pop up in a separate window, and also the 'week in pictures' features.
Mark, London

The BBC News site is good and chic.
Vassili Karageorgis, Athens, Greece

I still think the BBC needs trimming and as a pensioner but not at the free-licence age yet I think you could reduce the charge somewhat. And you do have too much free self-advertising. But compared to the other countries I've lived in - except Australia - it's numero uno as a corporation. Cheers!
Sheena Ferguson, Brentford

Our lovely old Aunty ABC in Australia does her valiant best on about A$0.82 per capita per day funding but we welcome and love the more lavishly funded and, let's face it, globally-oriented Beeb online offering. You can pay us back for those food parcels we sent your parents during WWII. Many thanks to the UK licence payer from down under.
Colin Burt, Hervey Bay, Queensland, Australia

To my happy surprise this editorial rant grabbed my attention and held it, almost its entire length. Another thing, I recently wanted to make a comment on the speeding copper news story but could find no place to make a posting, despite your Have Your Say advertising. Wouldn't it be good to have a possible forum on every news story?
Russell, London

The news media needs more of these open-ended conversations with the public. It is great that someone takes the initiative to actual answer our qualms and issues!!! Thank you.
Robert, NYC, USA

I could do the same output with 5-10 people Dan Sullivan, Kent

How many people in your office? I could do the same output with 5-10 people - what a waste of money the BBC fee is - bet half those people don't do enough!
Dan Sullivan, Bexleyheath, Kent

49% want to see it and you say no? Sounds like a bit of a cop out to me. Labour rule the country with a lower vote than that. I feel cheated, there's clearly a high demand for it, but don't forget the swear jar ;)
Simon, Milton Keynes, UK

In regard to the Real Player issue, I think the question is why does the BBC insist on using it? I think a move to QuickTime and the existing Windows Media Player would cover the bases in a much more satisfactory way. After all, some of us aren't willing to pollute our machines with Real Network's technology.
Ceri Haddon, Lichfield, UK

When did the Beeb decide to get all chummy? Neil, Atlanta

When did the Beeb decide to get all chummy, as you strive so hard to be in your column? The BBC was at its best when it was austere, autocratic and culturally dictatorial. The days of the Empire, in other words. Leave "chummy" to the commercial folk. Stay aloof! It suits you best.
Neil Sutherland, Atlanta, GA

Lots of the comments imply you are not doing your job well enough to justify an editor's salary. Why not launch The Clifton Office Webcam on this page (no sound!) so that people can see for themselves how hard you work throughout your office hours (presumably)? You can also wave at people when you get a nice email on your PC! :))
Alex, Sofia, BG

I noted with interest that the 360 degree panorama begins by focusing on pretty much the only two neatly dressed men in your entire newsroom. The rest are certainly a scruffy lot - are you sure the first two weren't hired extras?
Becky Chantry, Cambridge, UK

How about a 360 of the view OUTSIDE the newsroom? And a map with pins of where the staff come from to get to the newsroom? Do they all live in the sub-basement or in far-off leafy, or grim coal-darkened suburbs?
David SW Listener, Vancouver, Canada

Is that really your newsroom in the panorama? I wouldn't ask a dog to work in those conditions. At the very least give your people real cubicles. Do you really think everybody wants to hear their neighbour's phone calls and smell their neighbour's breath the livelong day? No, I'm not a BBC employee writing in anonymously. I am... Appalled in Surrey.
Ernest Adams, Guildford, UK

Telegram for Pete Clifton: PLEASE DON'T STOP
Ray Lashley, Bristol, UK

Is it me or does that red carpet make it look like you're all 3ft high? Gavster, London

Is it me or does that red carpet make it look like you're all 3ft high? Also, why are all the younger people toiling whilst those older standard issue BBC men look like they're trying to figure out ways of making the sitting people work harder?
Gavster, London

First Francis Rossi as editor, now Rick Parfitt. Rock on!
Steve Smedley, Woodbridge, Suffolk

Wow, what a waste of time the 360 degree photo is. What makes it any different to 50,000 other offices in the world?
Stuart Adamson, UK, ex-US

Fabulous to see real people in the website newsroom! To think these are the people who see (and rarely post) my comments in "have your say." Just one question: what are those two guys doing who are standing talking to each other? Don't they have to work like everybody else?
Jeremy, Atlanta, USA

Awww, don't take the nasty comments to heart Peter. At least it means they're still reading your column in order to rant and rave about it.
Cindy, NYC, USA

One day, your job will be mine! Steve Low, Essex

I could do your job. That's why I'm going uni in September. One day, your job will be mine!
Steve Low, Essex

Pete, your column is a very welcome sight at the end of a hard week - don't let the negative comments get you down. I always find your column to be an entertaining read, full of interesting insights and subtle humour. Out of interest, how many impressions does this column get, on average?
Chris Hart, Birmingham

All in all I like the column, however, the standard does seem to waver a bit. I'm sure you're a great editor but no one can apply that much needed objective criticism to their own work, so I suggest you let me be your editor. How about it? Every Friday just send your draft over to me and I'll return your sparkling wit and insight minus all the clutter.
Adam Walker, Cambridge, UK

I like the idea of focusing on the issue of respect. It will be interesting to see how much the Prime Minister encourages voluntary progress and how much he relies on compulsion (some parallels with the pensions debate, possibly).
Rory Anderson, London, UK

For the holiday weekend, you can use your new 360 degree office photo for playing "spin the bottle" type drinking games. Spin the photo round as fast as you can, then let go of the mouse button. The person nearest the right/left of the screen pays the forfeit. Have a productive time!
Chris Bassett, London

The From the editor's desk page always gives me a smile and sees me through the last few hours of the working week Craig, Dundee

Quite simply on a Friday afternoon, the From the editor's desk page always gives me a smile and sees me through the last few hours of the working week before home time.... Perhaps a countdown clock with the minutes or seconds until escape at 5/6/7/8pm would be a fun addition!
Craig, Dundee

When did Rick Parfitt from the Quo start editing this webpage?
Paul, New York, USA

Pete, BBC Online is the best news site on the web. Period. Yes striving for continuous improvement is good but don't let the comments and commentaries by ninnies interfere with your work. Three cheers for you.
Mahmood Piracha, Toronto, Canada

Nice 360 camera work - I especially liked the rogue/phantom foot floating behind one of the chairs!
Arwyn, Milford Haven

You always seem to publish negative comments about your weekly column, so just to balance this out I thought I'd let you know that I enjoy reading it - as an avid reader of the web site it gives a bit of an insight into how it's put together. I find it really bizarre that many of the derogatory comments you publish contain phrases such as 'every one (of your columns)', or other such references that suggest however much individuals dislike it, they read it week after week. If people don't like it, why on earth do they keep reading it? Freedom of choice is a great thing!
Kate, Hertford, UK

Re: the 360 degree panorama shot. It gave me the same slightly nauseous feeling I get from watching BBC weather reports these days, though I must congratulate the person who moved suddenly whilst in shot and ended up looking rather spectral.
Mark Gillies, London

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