The BBC's coverage of the party conferences compared

Here are the running orders, as published by the BBC, of the Today programme for the day following the party leaders' speeches at the Labour and Conservative conferences.

Have a read and compare the levels and types of coverage.

"Today: Wednesday 24 September 2008

PLEASE NOTE: We are unable to offer transcripts for our programme interviews. Today is broadcast live and the running order is subject to change.

0709
Gordon Brown's keynote speech at the Labour Party conference was notable for the way in which he emphasised the role of the state in creating what he called "the fair society". The trade unions heralded this speech as a success. Tony Woodley, of the largest union Unite, discusses whether Brown has persuaded the unions to stay onside.

Sarah 'surprised me', says Brown

0713
Nuclear power group British Energy, which operates the UK's eight nuclear power plants, has been sold to the French company EDF. Sir Adrian Montague, chairman of the British Energy Group, discusses the £12.4bn deal.

EDF agrees to buy British Energy

0720
China's government has promised to reform the dairy industry after the contaminated milk scandal where more than 50,000 children have now received treatment. James Reynolds reports that China's political system makes it easier for this kind of thing to happen.

Chinese milk fears spread in Asia

0725
Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly is to leave the government when Gordon Brown reshuffles his cabinet. Correspondent Iain Watson explains the decision to leave "purely for family reasons".

Kelly to step down from cabinet

0726
Sports news with Garry Richardson.

0730
The drug Ritalin, which is prescribed to many children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) to help to calm them, should be avoided, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) says. Dr Tim Kendall, a consultant psychiatrist from Sheffield who helped write the guidelines, and Andrea Bilbow, chief executive of the ADHD charity ADDISS, discuss whether there is an over-reliance on medicines.

Parents 'need lessons about ADHD'

0738
Today's papers.

0744
Philip Glass, the minimalist US classical music composer, is considered one of the most influential composers of the late 20th century. A retrospective compilation has been released, picked from a body of 40 years of work. He discusses how he has sustained his career for nearly half a century.

Philip Glass biography

0748
Thought for the day with the Reverend Angela Tilby, Vicar of St Bene't's Church in Cambridge.
Thought For The Day

0750
Eleven members of the South African cabinet, including finance minister Trevor Manuel, say they are resigning along with President Thabo Mbeki. The country's financial markets have not reacted well. Hendrik du Toit, of Investec Asset Management, and Peter Bruce, of South Africa's Business Day newspaper, discuss the financial implications of the political unrest.

Resignations shake up SA markets

0810
The Prime Minister's highly personal speech has been seen as a success by the Labour ranks. Gordon Brown discusses whether the good mood will last and if the idea of "a fair society" will win Labour a fourth term.

Rumours won't divert me - Brown

0826
Sports news with Garry Richardson.

0833
Details have been given of the proposed $700bn bail-out package for US banks. US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, and Ben Bernanke, chairman of the Federal Reserve, have appeared before the Senate Banking Committee. Jim O'Neill, chief economist of Goldman Sachs, discusses whether emerging markets can offset the slowdown in the US.

Congress cool after bail-out plea

0840
The Large Hadron Collider near Geneva, will be shut off until spring 2009 while engineers probe a magnet failure. Professor Brian Cox, a professor at Cern and Manchester University, discusses the problems faced with fixing the machinery.

Collider halted until next year

0843
Business news with Adam Shaw.

0848
Gordon Brown has staked his claim to be the only man to steer Britain through tough economic times saying: "This is no time for a novice." Political editor Nick Robinson discusses the reaction to Brown's speech.


0854
Nearly half the adult population of Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has faced death threats, suffered beatings or has been enslaved by armed groups, new research from the International Centre for Transitional Justice (ICTJ) suggests. Suliman Baldo, of the ICTJ, and Lord Michael Jay, the UK's chief negotiator at the 2005 Gleneagles summit, discuss how achieving international targets such as the Millennium Development goals should help countries like DRC."

"Today: Thursday 2 October 2008

PLEASE NOTE: We are unable to offer transcripts for our programme interviews. Today is broadcast live and the running order is subject to change.

The US Senate has voted in favour of the Wall Street bail-out bill. Effects of the crisis on the UK economy continue to build. A landmark ruling on assisted suicide is expected. And should horses be brought back to our towns and cities?

0709
The US Senate has voted for the bail-out bill, but the House of Representatives has still to approve the plan, and may not vote until Friday. Jim Naughtie is in Washington and explains how the bill has changed as it passes through Capital Hill. Stephen Roach chairman of Asia operations at Morgan Stanley, discusses the news.

0716
Business news with Adam Shaw

0719
A £500 prize is being offered to the young person who can best tell the Christmas story in under 30 seconds. Chas Bayfield, advertising director of the Churches Advertising Network, who are running the competition, explains his hopes for attracting young people to Christianity.

0722
How do you get a generation of people who have become used to the idea that music is free to start paying for it? Technology correspondent Rory Cellan-Jones looks at how the music industry is finding ways to make money in the digital age.

0726
Sports news with Arlo White.

0730
New figures from the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (NTA) show that only a tiny proportion of the people who sign up for drug treatment end up coming off drugs. Home affairs editor Mark Easton describes the problems in the current system and Paul Hayes, head of the NTA, reacts to the latest statistics.

0744
John McCain's Republican Party running mate Sarah Palin is to face Democrat running mate Joe Biden in the US vice-presidential debate. North America editor Justin Webb reports on the toughest test yet for the hockey mom politician.

0748
Thought for the day with Dom Antony Sutch.
Thought For The Day

0750
"Mark to Market" is an accounting phrase that has been on politicians' lips a great deal in recent days. Nicolas Sarkozy, David Cameron and the US Senate have all been calling for the practice to be changed or suspended. Michael Izza, chief executive of the Institute of Chartered Accountants for England and Wales explains what the term means and whether the practice should be reigned in.

0810
The UK economy is facing a difficult future whether or not the bail-out bill is passed in the US. The services industry has stopped growing and retailers fear worse is to come. Marks and Spencer boss Sir Stuart Rose and Richard Lambert, director general of the CBI, debate the growing economic gloom.

0820
The US Senate has voted overwhelmingly in favour of a bail-out package that may end up costing $800bn. But will the House of Representatives reverse its earlier "No" vote on the bill? Jim Naughtie reports from Washington.

0826
Sports news with Arlo White.

0830
The high court is being asked to rule on whether a British woman can be helped to kill herself. Debbie Purdy, 45, discusses her campaign to allow her husband to help her end her life in a foreign country where assisted suicide is legal.

0836
Should horses be brought back to our towns and cities? Reporter Nicola Stanbridge goes for a ride with writer Simon Barnes, who is campaigning for more urban horseplay.

0840
Business news with Adam Shaw.

0850
Even if the House of Representatives do approve the Wall Street bail-out plan, the US is still facing a difficult time. North America business correspondent Greg Wood reports on the latest moves to shore up the US economy.

0855
Endensor Technology College in Stoke-on-Trent has called off its four day conference to discuss the future of the school - due to be held in a four star resort in Marbella. Mark Meredith, the mayor of Stoke-on-Trent, responds to the decision."

Spot the difference? The Today programme, proud to campaign for Labour and sod the public and the BBC's charter of impartiality.