ITV news to ditch the gimmicks

ITV is to take its news bulletins back to basics and cut back on gimmicks such as presenters standing up to read the news.

Ever since Kirsty Young changed convention by perching on a desk at Five News, broadcasters have been coming up with new ways to make bulletins more innovative and informal.

Bulletins have also increasingly relied on more high-tech graphics, as pioneered by 24-hour news channels such as Sky News.

However, sources say that ITV plans to ensure there are fewer distractions for viewers and is planning "more substance" to its news bulletins.

Planned changes are understood to include allowing ITV's 6.30pm bulletin anchors Mark Austin and Mary Nightingale to sit down to read the news.

The difference in height between the two has often been commented on. One source said: "It just looks daft. It distracts from what they are saying."

According to sources, the ITV director of