New Times,
New Thinking.

  1. Politics
  2. Media
15 August 2018

WATCH: ITV News’ bizarre introduction to the Genoa bridge collapse

“How often have most of us driven over a motorway bridge?”

By Media Mole

At least 37 people have been killed in a devastating motorway bridge collapse in the north-western Italian city of Genoa. Rescuers are continuing to search for possible survivors, while questions are being raised by authorities about the cause of the disaster.

Odd, then, that ITV News decided it needed to draw the viewer in to this story by trying to help them relate to the drama of the tragedy in some way.

In an inappropriately hammy and dramatic preamble, here’s how ITV News at Ten anchor Tom Bradby introduced the story:

“How often have all of us driven over a motorway bridge? Has it ever crossed your mind that it might actually fall down beneath you? Well, today in Genoa, one did – with devastating consequences.”

Give a gift subscription to the New Statesman this Christmas, or treat yourself from just £49

Content from our partners
How Lancaster University is helping to kickstart economic growth
The Circular Economy: Green growth, jobs and resilience
Water security: is it a government priority?