Well, he wants there to be "only" three managerial figures at most sites - an Assistant Editor, a News Editor and A.N. Other. The current managing editors, he says, cost £100k p.a. each to run, and should cover clusters of stations - such as Nottingham, Derby and Leicester. Be very afraid, East Midlands - look what happened to Newsbeat after the last "en passant" mention in a Myers report. In all, he says 40 Managing Editors should come down to 20. Spookily, there are already four vacancies at that level...though the interview process to find replacements is already underway !
Before his investigation, John had previously turned his beady eye on the the grandees of the English Regions, the 12 Head of Local and Regional Programmes; he's laid off here, but clearly has been told there are changes to come - "I understand that the total number and the shape of the regions is currently under review and this is a sensible evaluation, especially if my regional editor positions were put in place".
Also up for regionalisation, says Myers, should be trails and station sound work.
He's puzzled about local radio sports rights, and thinks negotiations should be centralised. There's many in local radio think they were centralised (within English Regions) some years ago - and the costs rose massively when taken away from the stations with day-to-day contacts with the clubs. That's why, John, the figures are little blurred.
On property and equipment, John has clearly not been briefed about Project England - where engineers and highly-paid managers in Birmingham invested in expensively-leased sites in city centres, built to "special" local radio requirements. OK, so the project wasn't completed, and some stations are in really poor shape - but where Project England has rolled out, it enshrines heritage work practices, and has proved not to be future-proof. And Radioman never really worked to its original specification anywhere in the BBC.
John was told not to consider content, but can't help himself. He suggests that a four-hour mid morning show should be the standard. And, in my view most radical of all, he wants all on-air talent moved to contract within two years. I think that's a really difficult message for everyone in BBC Local Radio - some old-school staff presenters may be swinging the lead, but over the years, well-managed employees have moved from newsroom to mike and back, sometimes to management, with a real sense of development, and often proved to be the backbone of the local radio sound that John says he admires. A balance is important.
John visited nine stations in November and December, and found that some people were off sick. This is clearly not allowed under the terms of a commercial radio contract. He also found that some people were away on "attachment". This is a BBC system that allows people a chance to gain experience in other departments. It is, again if well managed, a bit of what makes Auntie different. Managers, and their financial advisers, who choose not to fill behind those away are to blame for stress left behind.
John's cheeky-chappy-side comes out with the suggestion that an indie could and should produce an England-wide evening show, for an annual budget of £300k. He's probably already in touch with one potential presenter who might come at the right price - John Morgan, currently pricking up ears on the Spanish Costas via Spectrum FM.
I wouldn't hire him Bill. He is useless on air.
ReplyDeleteOn the report, I disagree with the savings of £15m and reduce them to £9m. A report is full of dividing opinions, it is simply a view. Overall I really liked what I saw. Sharing management is always an option.