The Narey report was an unsurprising lead, given that The Times had commissioned it, but the exclusive was worthy of the slot nonetheless. Martin Narey’s 16-page document on adoption was a substantial read, but it was well distilled into precise bullet points.
The Times treated the Milly Dowler phone hacking scandal with perhaps unexpected frankness and precision. The placement on the homepage was significant and well judged.
It was odd that the story of the Mexican prisoner attempting to escape in his girlfriend’s suitcase should have trumped reports of the death of a British soldier in Afghanistan during David Cameron’s visit. The latter story was well supported by quotes and research, as well as a video link to Liam Fox’s statement, great journalism making the most of online opportunities. In comparison, the Mexican suitcase story was just a novelty.
Lisa Armstrong’s report on the Galliano show was excellent. By including 2010’s Dior collection in the online slide show as well as this year’s images, Armstrong’s views on Galliano’s disappointing replacement are enhanced and reinforced. Lee Hall’s video in Arts is also a notable, multimedia triumph; the screenwriter’s passion and outrage on the censorship of his “gay opera” are captured and explicitly conveyed.