Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Leader's speech

A big strategy speech by a BBC DG is like a set piece from a party leader at a political conference. You apply your oratorical skills to make the rather elusive big-vision-stuff sparkle, and your team are required to provide the zingers, the lollipops of delight, the headline-catching twerks that'll demonstrate you're really in touch.

So, ahead of next Tuesday's speech by Tony Hall, there's a general call round all departments for good gags and material that'll probably run until Monday evening. The James Purnell vision stuff will have already been road-tested, but will be difficult to make shiny. How do you square the circle of requiring an-ever-more-agile BBC, working in a world of increasingly-disruptive technology changes, with a written plan for the next ten years? Especially when Lord Patten has made it pretty clear that he won't back a call for a big licence fee increase ?

The staff will be playing buzz-word bingo. They've heard "creativity", "partnership", "passion", "collaboration" and "great content" too often, for too long, and want action, not workshops; new programmes, not repeats; good job prospects, not "creative labels". They'll be more interested to hear about headcount forecasts, and how many are destined for exile from Oz to the work-camps of Glasgow, Salford and Birmingham. They'll want to know that, as "Senior Management" roles are cut, there are real changes in they way they are being managed, and not just a huge growth in the management jobs at Band 11, just below the SM grade.  They've been promised a ringside seat at the "Bonfire of the Boards", which hasn't yet happened.

When you're really hungry, the present of a nicely-cooked meal is more appreciated than a recipe book. Or something like that.


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