U.S 2012 - BBC Global News Special – Tracking transitions of Power – the U.S and China
London, Thursday 18 October, 2012. In a period in which two global events will see the transition of power decided in two of the world’s most powerful
nations – the U.S Presidential Elections and the 18th National People’s Congress of the Communist Party of China - BBC
Global News be showing how both these events reverberate internationally. BBC Global News will be using its unique
worldwide newsgathering network to analyse what both of these political transitions mean for US-China relations, and the
strategic, economic and political implication for the whole world.
In the U.S, BBC Global News will be hitting the road to ask ordinary Americans from Cleveland, to San Diego, Ohio to
Boston, the question: ‘Is America working?’ in the build up to the elections, with programmes taking an in-depth look at
the big issues dominating the minds of voters –from the economy and jobs, to healthcare, immigration and the legal and
political systems.
Audiences can access BBC Global News content across platforms including the BBC’s 24 hour international TV news channel
BBC World News, the BBC World Service and bbc.com/news.
Highlights include:
Is America working? BBC’s global interactive debate show World Have your Say hits the road
TV, Radio & BBC.com/news
World Have your Say, the BBC’s interactive global news programme, anchored by Ros Atkins, will be on the road in the U.S asking ‘Is America working?’. Hosting a series of debates, connecting audiences in the U.S with those around the world on TV, Radio and
bbc.com/news, the show will examine the key issues surrounding the U.S economy through the focus of iconic American
jobs. From farmers, factory workers, actors, truckers, soldiers, office workers and bankers, the show will be looking at
the impact of the economy on the lives and jobs of ordinary Americans.
Utilising social media, the show enables audiences around the world to engage with the programme both on air and via
social media spaces. Audiences can join the debate via social media outlets including twitter (@bbc_whys), facebook (World Have Your Say), telephone and on air. Launching in Cleveland on 17 October, the programme will travel to Chicago, LA, San Diego,
Scranton (PA) and New York, broadcasting on BBC World Service.
On 2nd November, shortly before Americans go to the polls, World Have Your Say will be in Boston at the Old South Meeting House – a historic house in the heart of Boston. World Have Your Say will connect local people with the programme’s global audience, asking the question ‘Is America Working?’ in a special live show.
BBC’s U.S Newscast BBC World News America with Katty Kay – Swing States and Foreign Policy
On TV
The BBC’s flagship U.S newscast BBC World News America with Katty Kay will be providing expert insight across all of the presidential debates, with a special edition focused
on the final foreign policy lead debate on 22 October from Florida. The programme will also be doing features on the
swing states, including reports from Nevada and Ohio.
In Nevada, Katty will be looking at the foreclosure crisis, which remains a major sore spot in the U.S economy. What
does it mean for the presidential candidates and their political fortunes? In Ohio, Katty Kay will look at the ground
game – both campaigns scrambling to get out their voters and how they are trying to seal the deal with just two weeks to
go.
A BBC News online special – U.S 2012-The Race for the White House - BBC.com/news
Twitter: @bbcnewsus
The BBC will be offering audiences a range of content focused on the race for the White House, from news, analysis and
special online features including:
• The interactive electoral college calculator
• Key issues – a guide to the key issues that will influence voters at the poll
• Levittown – An election-year focus on one of the original suburbs. In 1960 the BBC travelled to Levittown, a
planned community in Pennsylvania, in advance of the Nixon-Kennedy election. In 2012 the BBC returns to cover the issues
facing Middle America in the election year. A special series of video reports looks at key themes and issues that are
dominating the election agenda in Levittown and across America.
BBC.com/news four video series will be dedicated to looking at key election issues. First Person, Living Online, Altered
States and Picture This, will cover the election bringing the BBC’s unique perspective and storytelling style to the
campaign.
Two Global Superpowers: Two global events – U.S and China
TV, Radio & BBC.com/news
With China a key foreign policy issue for the U.S, the BBC will be focusing on two events in October – the U.S
Presidential Elections and the 18th National People’s Congress of the Communist Party of China, which will determine
both countries’ future.
The BBC’s coverage of the National People’s Congress in China, from 8 to 15 November, will include:
On TV and Radio from 23 October: The Future of China. A special BBC debate hosted by Chen Zhuang, editor of the BBC’s Chinese service – bbc.chinese.com - and Ros Atkins,
from the BBC’s World Have your Say programme in Chicago, will debate the future of the country over the next ten years. With a special panel of guests, in
London, the U.S and globally, this debate will hear from Chinese people living inside and outside of their homeland to
find out how they want to see their country develop under the new leadership. The debate will also examine what China’s
neighbours and the rest of the world want from this global superpower.
On TV, from 28 October, the daily global news and current affairs programme Newsday will be in China with the BBC’s John Sudworth and Martin Patience reporting from Beijing on this critical period and
the transfer of power in the country. The programme will examine how congress works, who is likely to survive the power
transfer and what this means for China’s place on the global stage.
On Radio from Tuesday 23 October- History Lessons for China’s New Leaders. In times of crisis, China's leaders - and their critics - turn to its long history for guidance. As a new generation
of Chinese leaders prepares to take office, this documentary series tells some of the most important stories from
Chinese history, and what they say about China today. They're stories of conquest and love, manipulation and castration;
of poets and emperors, concubines and drunks.
BBC.com/news - A special online report on bbc.com/news will focus on the National People’s Congress in China, exploring
what this year’s transition of power involves, and wider issues around the new leadership. The BBC will also be looking
at what these changes mean to China’s place in the world and its relationship with the U.S. News features will also
include:
China’s New Leaders – graphics and profiles looking at the incoming politburo.
How China is ruled – interactive explainer on China’s system of government
China viewpoint – a range of eminent thinkers and commentators will look at what the next ten years means for China
Chinese voices – the views and opinions of ordinary people
Newsday- Front room politics
On Radio
In the week before the presidential election, BBC World Service’s Newsday with Nuala McGovern and Lerato Mbele, will
visit Seattle, Phoenix, and Denver and will be broadcasting from voters’ homes in each of these locations.
With campaign promises being made on both sides of the political spectrum, from the economy, the deficit, healthcare,
immigration and foreign policy – Newsday will be with voters in their front rooms to see how these issues affect their day-to-day lives and find out what they
really think about those in power, setting the political agenda.
Newsday will also look at key issues in each state: green jobs and trade in Seattle; immigration and changing demographics in
Phoenix; swing state politics and women voters in Denver. For election night, Newsday will be in Denver, Colorado - a
key swing state with one of the closest races in the country.
Documentaries
The BBC will be broadcasting a series of special documentaries and features on TV and radio. Highlights include:
TV
• Talking Books – with anchor Razia Iqbal interviewing authors including: Toni Morrison, Richard Ford, Joyce Carol
Oates and Paul Auster (TV)
• This World: Inside Obama’s White House, the BBC’s Andrew Marr talks to those who’ve worked alongside President
Obama in his first term (TV)
Radio
• Two Men, Two Visions – a profile of both presidential candidates From Tuesday 16 October
• The Why Factor - the series which asks why do we do the things we do? This edition focuses on the handshake and
includes its role in political life; from the techniques politicians employ, to its symbolism and why the gesture in
public life can be such a sensitive issue. From 2 November (World Service)
• What The Papers Say – U.S Special. The legendary newspaper editor, Sir Harold Evans looks at how the papers are
covering the US election campaign. From Monday 5 November (World Service)
Election Day Coverage
TV, Radio, bbc.com/news - On 6 November, the BBC’s election coverage will include:
TV
Special coverage of events from Washington with the BBC’s Katty Kay and David Dimbleby, with comment and analysis from
the U.S, including the key battleground states, and reaction from across the world.
Radio
An election special presented by the BBC’s James Naughtie and Bridget Kendall, which will broadcast globally on the
BBC’s World Service.
On 7 November, there will be a special edition of Newshour from Washington presented by Owen Bennett Jones from 1200 to 1500 GMT
BBC.com/news
BBC.com/news will carry full results and interactive guides to the results as they happen. A special text commentary
page will track developments during the day, and include the BBC’s U.S twitter feed @bbcnewsus
Ends
BBC Global News includes BBC World Service, BBC World News television, bbc.com/news (the BBC’s international-facing online news site),
BBC Monitoring and BBC Media Action – the BBC’s international development charity.
The BBC attracts a weekly global audience of 239 million people to its international news services including BBC World Service, BBC World News television channel and bbc.com/news.
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