Scale

BBC spinners have promised the Guardian that “a big, bold package of modernisation that will right the wrongs of the past” is on the way.

“We recognise we have got some things wrong – in particular, the pay of some very senior presenters in news. The wide-ranging plan we will publish on Tuesday addresses these issues and is the next stage in the modernisation programme at the BBC. People want us to act and that’s what we’ve been doing – pay cuts are only one part of the picture."

Let's hope the spinners aren't over-promising. It's remarkable that the ink is dry on such a big bold package just hours before an appearance by senior executives at the Culture Select Committee; especially when the ink is still wet on exact levels of pay cuts for, say, Jon Sopel.

Modernisation ? Well, the options to most seem to be either to redefine performance-related pay, especially for lower ranks who can't all work on ratings-topping shows, or to slink back to a rate for the job, whether you're producing Today, Farming Today, Today In Parliament or today's edition of Newsnight.  Either option will require modelling by leadership, and, frankly, fewer middle managers working harder for less money. That'd be big.