The BBC has faced criticism from viewers after sending a news anchor to cover the wildfires in LA when an experienced former NI correspondent was already on the ground reporting on the unfolding events.
Emma Vardy is an award-winning BBC correspondent and presenter, with 15 years’ experience reporting and presenting for flagship TV and radio programmes, including being based in Belfast as BBC’s Ireland correspondent.
She is currently the BBC’s Los Angeles correspondent, reporting on a wide variety of stories from the 2024 US presidential election to Hollywood‘s red carpet awards as well as business and technology.
The BBC Newswatch programme in question began by speaking about the wildfires that have caused devastation in LA.
Host Samira Ahmed said some fires have remained active and with fears of more high winds to come the danger to residents and their property is “far from over”.
Last week, Clive Myrie arrived on the scene in California to co-present the BBC bulletins.
Video footage showed the experienced BBC News presenter in the middle of a burnt-out neighbourhood.
Ms Ahmed said: “Mr Myrie’s presence there annoyed a number of viewers.”
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A member of the public on the programme then shared her views, saying the story was covered “adequately” by local reporters from the beginning.
She asked: “What is the point of him being there? Because all he did was hand over to Emma Vardy who did her job, handed back to him, he thanked her, at that point his image was frozen and there was silence.”
The lady suggested that may have been “technical karma” and queried “is that what he gets paid the big bucks for? Is this why he flew 6,000 miles? What was the point of him being there, BBC, honestly?”
Newswatch shared another comment by a member of the public questioning why Mr Myrie was sent, saying it “came across as almost voyeuristic, and an uncomfortable watch”, adding that there are “plenty of good correspondents out there including Emma Vardy”.
The BBC News response was: “The LA wildfires are an important story for audiences in the US, UK and around the world.
“Clive Myrie is in the US to front our inauguration coverage and was diverted to the fires to support the team on the ground who’d been working tirelessly on this huge story, showing the devastating impact of the fires on people and the environment.
“His reporting as a news anchor has added to the brilliant work of the team and has not changed the prominence or excellence of Emma Vardy’s reporting — they have both been part of the coverage.”
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Ms Vardy was previously the BBC’s Ireland Correspondent, best known for guiding viewers through the complexities of politics in Northern Ireland, leading audiences through the twists and turns of Brexit, and reporting on paramilitary groups and the legacy of the Troubles.
Emma and her husband Aaron Adams tied the knot in March 2022, with a fairytale wedding at Lissanoure Castle in Co Antrim.
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