So a blue colour scheme to push home the current Conservative government. Also, just think of all those blue-screen gifs that will happen now.
It is a blatant cheap copy of the US White House press room. It may be larger, but the "set dressing" is of cheaper aesthetics.
The test of time will have to play out to see if this move is a successful one. On one hand, there will be more public facing "spin" now the Lobby briefing is public - but it will also be used by governments of different colours, as a way to control their narrative.
How often people of consequence attend to take questions, the pointedness of the questions being asked, and how broadcasters will cover/fact check/de-spin these, will be telling.
It will also be up to Labour now to decide how their responsive press briefings will be handled. I believe Kier Starmer mentioned monthly press conferences - but daily or weekly "re-buttle" press briefings may be required. Then also will it be Labour branded, or "The Official Opposition" and take on a more formal "parliament" themed look?
Likely the blue was used because its more camera friendly and human skin "pops" or looks better against a blue background, hence why blue favoured in most US news broadcasts. It believe this was done rather than to just copy the WH Briefing Room. That makes no sense.
I really dont like the podium design. Its ok. I imagine they wanted to do something with heritage feel on the back drop, hence the stained wood paneling that respects to the room it seems to be located and the stability of the UK government. Then the inlayed lighting and the oversized crest graphic in the background behind the podium makes it slightly modern.
I really wish they would update the WH Briefing Room, its not going to happen. People would go nuts The seats need to be replaced and the backdrop has been tainted from all the lies that had been told and halt of the traditional daily briefing from the last administration.
Thats who its for and if anything significant is said then it would be played out on the news broadcasts but you get a unified look across all broadcasts. It good to know that a daily briefing will be held so the citizens will know whats happening. Likely these will be streamed on the No10 website. But the cost seems a bit exorbitant for what we are seeing.
I’d be interested to know what the Scottish Governments press briefing room cost in comparison. It’s clearly not as ‘designed’ or large, but it’s a fully functional room with space for podium announcements and plenty of journalist space. It’s also fully connected to enable broadcast.
Not sure if it’s mentioned up the thread, but the company hired for the work is the agency behind RT’s studios around the world. I’m not getting chucked off the forum weeks before it closes so I definitely WON’T say that handing millions to a Moscow firm with links to Putin to design a press conference room for the UK Government is at all dodgy.
Am I right to assume that the Coronavirus briefings will probably be moved to this new briefing room/studio as it won't be very effective for No.10 to essentially have two briefing room setups at once?
Although given that the room is officially the State Dining Room, I doubt there will be much hurry to return it to its original purpose!
Important to note, though, that this briefing room is in the part of 70 Whitehall (the Cabinet Office) that is merely nicknamed 9 Downing Street and is not part of the actual Downing Street complex (i.e. the three terraced houses). In fact, it's probably quite a good few minutes walk (internally) from No10.
I’d be interested to know what the Scottish Governments press briefing room cost in comparison. It’s clearly not as ‘designed’ or large, but it’s a fully functional room with space for podium announcements and plenty of journalist space. It’s also fully connected to enable broadcast.
Not sure if it’s mentioned up the thread, but the company hired for the work is the agency behind RT’s studios around the world. I’m not getting chucked off the forum weeks before it closes so I definitely WON’T say that handing millions to a Moscow firm with links to Putin to design a press conference room for the UK Government is at all dodgy.
It's a long standing British based SI that was bought by a Russian company about 8 years ago. For context other work during the last decade included CNN's Old St facility, a refurb of BBC Scotland's OB truck, and BT Sport's facility at Stratford