Bona Dicta

A campus politics panel show, Bona Dicta is almost certainly YSTV's longest running show.

The programme was first broadcast in the autumn of 1997, produced by Julie KnoxUnverified or incomplete information, now a journalist at the BBC. It followed on from 1996's very similar The Panel. The format remained unchanged for most of the run - four campus hacks or politicians, sitting round a table talking about union politics. The programme was designed to be screened just before Tuesday's fortnightly Union General Meeting, and would discuss the agenda. The set was very basic - black drapes were placed around the back of the studio as a backdrop.

The programme didn't have a title sequence until February 1999Unverified or incomplete information, when a sequence was introduced of UGM footage and talking heads. This title sequence - accompanied by Paul Soulsby's specially composed music - was used for nearly five years, which may be the longest time any piece of footage has been used so regularly on YSTV.Unverified or incomplete information

The presenters were never consistent, changing very frequently. Due to the political nature of the programme it was probably the most watched on the station - usually by other campus hacks eager to see their friends. When the programme went online in October 2004 it was one of the most-watched on the website, with each edition attracting hundreds of hits. Despite this Bona Dicta was often derided for being stale, or dull, or unexciting to crew.

In 2003 the show adopted the new news and current affairs standard set, along with a new title sequence at the end of the year. The latter was produced by Steve Walker, and featured the new Bona Dicta logo flying around Central Hall. The new producer and presenter was Michael Brothwell, now a presenter on BBC Radio York. Soon after James Gallagher became a regular presenter of the programme, which doubled in length and began debating national politics as well as campus politics.

From autumn 2004 Matthew Platts took charge, adding many surreal elements. For the final year of the programme Kev Larkin presented and produced, when the format also changed to mimick the BBC's This Week. There was also another new look, featuring images from around York and London. However by this point UGMs had been taken online, and political apathy in York was increasing, and as a result the programme ended regular production in March 2006. However it will returnUnverified or incomplete information for 2007's traditional Student Union Elections debate programmes, meaning it must be one of the few programmes on YSTV to notch up ten year on air (other than coverage of events such as Elections, Roses etc).

James Gallagher has acknowledged that URY's Sourcenight programme - which he launched in 2003, and continues to this day - is a complete ripoff of Bona Dicta.