Fresh talent

As we reported last week, self-effacing BBC Director of News James Harding is returning to the microphone. He's been commissioned by the World Service (which seems to found more money for a wider range of programming recently) to co-host a six-part series called On Background, starting next month. To add to the rich diversity of presentation, the white 46-year-old Oxbridge-educated financial journalist and editor will be joined by white 48-year-old Oxbridge financial journalist and editor Zanny Minton-Beddoes.

"On background" is a term largely used in American journalism, to set the rules around conversations between sources and reporters. It usually means the thrust of the briefing may be reported, and the source characterized in general terms (such as 'government insider'), but direct quotes may not be used. Associated Press says their reporters should object vigorously when a source wants to brief a group of reporters 'on background', and should try to persuade the source to put the briefing on the record.

I'm guessing that James won't take a presentation fee. He's on £340k pa. Will his producer make a tenth of that ?