To noddy or not to noddy? That is the question currently flummoxing television news executives.
Following MediaGuardian.co.uk's story yesterday that Five News editor David Kermode had banned what he called the "rather hackneyed tricks" of the editing suite from his news bulletins, news executives across other networks have been asking if they should do the same thing.
Sources have said that much of yesterday's 9.15am BBC TV news editorial meeting was taken up with debating the Five move while Newsnight went as far as to ask its viewers to decide if it should follow suit on last night's programme.
Kermode has couched his ban in terms of helping to bring back viewer trust to television, although others have said it is a way of creating noise around a channel that struggles to pull in ratings to its news broadcasts.
Whatever the truth, the move has certainly caused a splash, with the Financial Times and The Telegraph following it up, among others.
The Five ban covers several editing tricks - the "noddy", in which reporters are shown supposedly reacting to interviewees, but which are actually filmed afterwards; "contrived" walking shots; "cut-aways" and staged scenes in which reporters are filmed repeating their questions after they have finished interviews.
"I genuinely believe that if we lead the way by stopping some of the tired old 'showbiz' shortcuts, we can help restore trust in our medium and make our programmes more creative too," Kermode said.
Newsnight reporter Liz Mackean took viewers through the tricks of the trade in last night's programme, showcasing what the alternatives could be such as dissolving and flipping shots.
Newsnight editor Peter Barron said: "It is certainly something we have debated ourselves, but there is a risk that if you make a hard and fast rule you are tying yourself in knots."
BBC head of television news Peter Horrocks said it was an issue he was also thinking about while Sky News head John Ryle said he had already limited the number of staged shots it used.
But the big question must be, do viewers actually notice, or for that matter, care and will something like this actually help re-build viewer trust?
Personally, as an avid news watcher, I have always found the contrived walking shots and noddys slightly cringeworthy and welcome their departure from my screen. However, they do serve a purpose.
Kermode admits his ban will be a "creative challenge" for his team, but the proof will be in what they come up with instead.
