When Donald Trump was owned by, er, a BBC News caption writer
This Donald Trump press conference was notable for many reasons, most of which we don’t have time for here.
But it was most entertaining if you watched it on BBC News, where the on-screen caption writer, Robert Coxwell, had a ball picking up on the president-elect’s more colourful quotes.
Trump on journalism: Buzzfeed: "a failing pile of garbage"
BBC: "BBC News? There's another beauty"
CNN: "Fake news" pic.twitter.com/OjHdPAECyy— Louisa Compton (@louisa_compton) January 11, 2017
All the sweeter, no doubt, because Trump is no fan of the BBC, and when its international correspondent Ian Pannell asked a question he replied, with heavy sarcasm, “BBC News, there’s another beauty”.
It was just another caption for Coxwell…
The BBC Aston writer is living their best life. pic.twitter.com/m44aV8RpRr
— Helen Lewis (@helenlewis) January 11, 2017
Great defence. pic.twitter.com/S4d0Iqtjne
— Helen Lewis (@helenlewis) January 11, 2017
The man behind these BBC onscreen text captions is @RobertCoxwell – for those who wondered. #Trump #fakenews pic.twitter.com/Ov7eAupfJu
— Louisa Compton (@louisa_compton) January 11, 2017
Coxwell later went on Twitter to reveal a few tricks of the trade and the urge – so far resisted – to put a “rude message” on the ticker.
Thanks for all the likes and follows!
I'm not the ONLY person who writes onscreen straps – lest you spot a crap one…
Role is shared. (1/3)— Robert Coxwell (@RobertCoxwell) January 11, 2017
Job involves sitting in the on-air gallery literally typing words live onto the TV.
Yes, sometimes it's VERY tempting…
(2/3) pic.twitter.com/HAhI5TSJCF— Robert Coxwell (@RobertCoxwell) January 11, 2017
And yes, everyone who's ever Text Produced in TV news will tell you their fantasies of putting a rude message on the ticker…
(3/3) pic.twitter.com/BOC4sbYIP5— Robert Coxwell (@RobertCoxwell) January 11, 2017