Original version

BBC World Service Online

From Our Own Correspondent

News

Insight, wit and analysis from BBC correspondents, journalists and writers.

Insight, wit and analysis from BBC correspondents, journalists and writers from around the world.

From Our Own Correspondent: Italy and the USA

Italy and the USA

BBC World Service - From Our Own Correspondent, Italy and the USA

Owen Bennett Jones hears from BBC correspondents Alan Johnston and Alastair Leithead.

Owen Bennett Jones with despatches from BBC correspondents Alan Johnston, at the disaster scene on Giglio island, and Alistair Leithead, braving the red carpet at the Golden Globes in Los Angeles.

Owen Bennett Jones introduces personal stories, analysis and wit from BBC correspondents around the world.

In this edition: Alan Johnston is at the scene of the cruise-ship sinking off Giglio island, while Alistair Leithead, no stranger to reporting from conflict zones, braves the red carpet at the Golden Globe awards in Los Angeles.  

"It's hard to stop looking at it"

All this week, Alan Johnston has been covering the saga of the Costa Concordia - the cruise ship which went so disastrously astray off the Italian coast. 

Every day there have been new developments, new twists in the tale of irresponsibility, unpredictability and accident. 

It may take a long time to discover what really happened before the sinking. But what is to happen afterwards? 

Alan met some local people worried about what the process of investigating the accident will mean for their tiny home town. 

Tools of the trade: from body armour to the gold bow tie

Alistair Leithead can often be seen on television in a flak jacket and protective helmet, reporting from various dangerous frontlines - war zones and disaster areas. 

In Los Angeles recently, he had to don a very different costume: a dinner jacket and tie, with a touch of glamour ... in order to schmooze with celebrities at the awards ceremony for the Golden Globes. 

It might seem like a welcome change, as well as a bit of fun. 

But he found that despite the pizazz, there's still a good deal of pressure involved in reporting on this apparently civilian event.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

From Our Own Correspondent

Italy and the USA

Genres

Brand

BBC World Service Online

About BBC World Service