The BBC's investment in Les Miserables returned 4.5m viewers in the overnights for the first episode. That's a 23.2% share of the available audience. Auntie will be hoping word-of-mouth on Dominic West's channelling of Geoffrey Boycott as Jean Valjean will bring in more for catch-up and the remaining five episodes.
As Huw Edwards notes on Instagram: 'Même la nuit la plus sombre se terminera, et le soleil se lèvera'.
Monday, December 31, 2018
Changing the way the BBC works
Will he be an Icon of the 21st Century ? The BBC is betting the bank on something called Content Production Workflows to save the organisation millions in the next few years - and the man in charge is Robin Pembrooke.
Fresh from the Sulzberger Executive Leadership Proramme at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism (on top of a BA in Economic and Social History from York) Robin was appointed Director CPW in October, and is now engaged in recruiting lieutenants.
"We’re here for the Creators of all output across Radio, TV and Online; designing, developing and acquiring the services and systems they need to make exceptional content. We want to make the way they work simpler, more productive, and more informed.
In a changing technology and competitive landscape we’re here to help BBC Creators change the way they work, keep up with new competition, and create new BBC services that will ensure people continue to value what we do.
That means radically changing the way we plan, create and publish content; using technology to automate where appropriate, and using data to help make better decisions about how we focus our resources."
Anyone detecting whiffs of the Digital Media Initiative will probably get their heads bitten off. Yet the systems will rely on the modern logician's favourite buzz word, metadata. Regular readers will know that this blogger is more than unconvinced. A comprehensive entry across all possible topics might lead a Newsbeat producer to a World Tonight archive clip on, say, the Middle East - but the likelihood of it being used again on air is extremely low, and the exercise saves no-one money. News makes very few archive shows; Content likes them even less (though BBC4 relies on them).
The content, in Google search, IS the metadata. Get on with something else that really will save money.
Fresh from the Sulzberger Executive Leadership Proramme at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism (on top of a BA in Economic and Social History from York) Robin was appointed Director CPW in October, and is now engaged in recruiting lieutenants.
"We’re here for the Creators of all output across Radio, TV and Online; designing, developing and acquiring the services and systems they need to make exceptional content. We want to make the way they work simpler, more productive, and more informed.
In a changing technology and competitive landscape we’re here to help BBC Creators change the way they work, keep up with new competition, and create new BBC services that will ensure people continue to value what we do.
That means radically changing the way we plan, create and publish content; using technology to automate where appropriate, and using data to help make better decisions about how we focus our resources."
Anyone detecting whiffs of the Digital Media Initiative will probably get their heads bitten off. Yet the systems will rely on the modern logician's favourite buzz word, metadata. Regular readers will know that this blogger is more than unconvinced. A comprehensive entry across all possible topics might lead a Newsbeat producer to a World Tonight archive clip on, say, the Middle East - but the likelihood of it being used again on air is extremely low, and the exercise saves no-one money. News makes very few archive shows; Content likes them even less (though BBC4 relies on them).
The content, in Google search, IS the metadata. Get on with something else that really will save money.
Na narny na na
Readers who looked at Owen Bennett-Jones' recent piece in the London Review of Books, tracking the last 30 years or so of the BBC World Service, will be entertained by a further exchange on the journals' letters page. Current Director of the World Service Jamie Angus takes OBJ to task on a number of fronts, and OBJ ups the ante by being affronted. Happy New Year to all.
Sunday, December 30, 2018
Early look ahead filler
An exciting 2019 in prospect for the BBC.
Most important: The outcome of the public consultation on 'free' licences for households with Over-75s on board. The highest potential loss of income to the BBC is estimated at £745m a year - a fifth of the BBC's current budget, by 2021/22. Remember, closing BBC3 as a broadcast channel only 'saved' £30m. The online questionnaire is open until 12th February.
It's all change at breakfast on BBC Network Radio. Zoe Ball moves in at Radio 2 on January 14th; Lauren Laverne wakes up Radio 6Music listeners from January 7th. Chris Evans' launch date on Virgin is January 21st.
At News, we await the appointment of a Digital Director, and a formal successor to Evan Davies at Newsnight. Newsnight, as we have noted, is advertising for a UK Correspondent (presumably filling the Policy Editor gap left by Chris Cook's departure for Tortoise Media) but only on a year's contract or attachment. Does this mean the whole Newsnight operation is under review later in 2019 ?
Former China Editor and news presenter Carrie Gracie is due back from her six-month break in January; where will she end up ? I suspect Director of News Fran Unsworth will have a number of strategies up her sleeve for that meeting.
Meanwhile News will have to adapt to yet another computer system, with more savings (and a Major Change Programme) pinned on successful implementation of Wolftech News - as one reader notes, a sort of Uber system for deploying slightly fewer 'cars' to one 'booking.' They're giving it a go in Cardiff.
Will 2019 be the year of BBC Sounds, the Corporation app with the lowest star rating on the App Store and Google Play ? Expect increased calls for some transparency about the investment - declared at £13m so far. The annual cost of content provision for Radio 4 Extra is £2.9m.
Over at Content, Charlotte Moore will be hoping for better from Eastenders, with a new set and a new executive producer. It would be good to climb back ahead of Emmerdale. Can someone please make watching The One Show less squirmy ?
One the business front, 2019 should be the year the BBC resolves what it's doing about UKTV, and belatedly, in partnership with ITV, produces an app. The solution may be more integration than we expected....
Most important: The outcome of the public consultation on 'free' licences for households with Over-75s on board. The highest potential loss of income to the BBC is estimated at £745m a year - a fifth of the BBC's current budget, by 2021/22. Remember, closing BBC3 as a broadcast channel only 'saved' £30m. The online questionnaire is open until 12th February.
It's all change at breakfast on BBC Network Radio. Zoe Ball moves in at Radio 2 on January 14th; Lauren Laverne wakes up Radio 6Music listeners from January 7th. Chris Evans' launch date on Virgin is January 21st.
At News, we await the appointment of a Digital Director, and a formal successor to Evan Davies at Newsnight. Newsnight, as we have noted, is advertising for a UK Correspondent (presumably filling the Policy Editor gap left by Chris Cook's departure for Tortoise Media) but only on a year's contract or attachment. Does this mean the whole Newsnight operation is under review later in 2019 ?
Former China Editor and news presenter Carrie Gracie is due back from her six-month break in January; where will she end up ? I suspect Director of News Fran Unsworth will have a number of strategies up her sleeve for that meeting.
Meanwhile News will have to adapt to yet another computer system, with more savings (and a Major Change Programme) pinned on successful implementation of Wolftech News - as one reader notes, a sort of Uber system for deploying slightly fewer 'cars' to one 'booking.' They're giving it a go in Cardiff.
Will 2019 be the year of BBC Sounds, the Corporation app with the lowest star rating on the App Store and Google Play ? Expect increased calls for some transparency about the investment - declared at £13m so far. The annual cost of content provision for Radio 4 Extra is £2.9m.
Over at Content, Charlotte Moore will be hoping for better from Eastenders, with a new set and a new executive producer. It would be good to climb back ahead of Emmerdale. Can someone please make watching The One Show less squirmy ?
One the business front, 2019 should be the year the BBC resolves what it's doing about UKTV, and belatedly, in partnership with ITV, produces an app. The solution may be more integration than we expected....
Saturday, December 29, 2018
Gong
A pretty poor show for the BBC in the New Year's Honours List, with only one 'direct' gong. That's for Claire Paul, who's been leading on apprentice schemes, and helps the Department for Education.
Simon Albury, a BBC producer in the early 70s, is rewarded for his work as an almost one-man ginger group for diversity in broadcasting. Producer and director Alby James is similarly rewarded. Black musician and composer Shirley Thompson, who once trained as producer with the BBC, is on the list.
There's nowt for "services to radio". The growth area, in these scary times, is 'resilience' - 10 awards.
Simon Albury, a BBC producer in the early 70s, is rewarded for his work as an almost one-man ginger group for diversity in broadcasting. Producer and director Alby James is similarly rewarded. Black musician and composer Shirley Thompson, who once trained as producer with the BBC, is on the list.
There's nowt for "services to radio". The growth area, in these scary times, is 'resilience' - 10 awards.
Friday, December 28, 2018
Vote often
The BBC, many times bitten and still not learning, is proposing a public vote on Icons of The 20th Century. There are 28 to choose from, "carefully selected by a panel of experts and academics.", and yes, Mrs Thatcher is in there.
The case for each will be made by in seven programmes, clustering four in each hour-long show. There's some inevitability about the presenters - Clare Balding for Sport, Sir Trevor MacDonald for 'Leaders', and then Dermot O'Leary for 'Explorers'.
Dermot told the Guardian in 2011 "The explorer Ernest Shackleton is a big hero of mine. I like to think I'm a bit of an expert on him. He was a real leader, but he was never afraid to say he was wrong. I recently found out that one of my great-great uncles is buried on the same island as him in South Georgia. People were made of tougher stuff back then – we complain when our internet server goes down."
There's two shows a week on BBC2, with a vote to select a finalist in each category being facilitated on The One Show. And a grand final on Tuesday 5th February on BBC2.
The case for each will be made by in seven programmes, clustering four in each hour-long show. There's some inevitability about the presenters - Clare Balding for Sport, Sir Trevor MacDonald for 'Leaders', and then Dermot O'Leary for 'Explorers'.
Dermot told the Guardian in 2011 "The explorer Ernest Shackleton is a big hero of mine. I like to think I'm a bit of an expert on him. He was a real leader, but he was never afraid to say he was wrong. I recently found out that one of my great-great uncles is buried on the same island as him in South Georgia. People were made of tougher stuff back then – we complain when our internet server goes down."
There's two shows a week on BBC2, with a vote to select a finalist in each category being facilitated on The One Show. And a grand final on Tuesday 5th February on BBC2.
Annuals
Film 2016, 2017 and 2018 showed BBC commissioners at their worst. After six years of Claudia Winkleman wearing the Barry Norman mantle with more humour than insight, they couldn't make up their minds about a regular presenter (or wanted to fill more than one quota). So we've had on rotation Clara Amfo, Zoë Ball, Edith Bowman, Charlie Brooker, Al Murray, and Antonia Quirke, with an equally bewildering range of guest critics.
In 2016 (and perhaps 2010) they simply avoided the obvious choice to consolidate around critic Mark Kermode. His regular film review with Simon Mayo on Radio 5Live started in 2001, and has been offered as podcast since 2005. The show has a YouTube channel with 181k subscribers. Mr Kermode took to his preview clips to the BBC News Channel in around 2010, setting up a weekly 15 minute filler, Film 24, first with Gavin Esler and now as Film Review with Jane Hill, which is still going strong. He also presents a weekly podcast 'Kermode on Film' using bits from his monthly live shows at the BFI with other regular features. BBC4 now has an emerging Kermode strand in Secrets of Cinema.
The problem for BBC Director of Content Charlotte Moore is a phobic reluctance to spend on 'originations' after 2230. And, indeed, the complete lack of a weeknight strategy across BBC1, BBC2 and BBC4 after the 10 O'Clock News, where programmes are eating each other - and the less-successful bits of BBC3 have still to be fitted in. Newsnight is a part of this problem, and we note that the programme is advertising for a UK correspondent on a 12-contract or attachment only. Maybe there'll be a decision on its future in the Autumn.
In 2016 (and perhaps 2010) they simply avoided the obvious choice to consolidate around critic Mark Kermode. His regular film review with Simon Mayo on Radio 5Live started in 2001, and has been offered as podcast since 2005. The show has a YouTube channel with 181k subscribers. Mr Kermode took to his preview clips to the BBC News Channel in around 2010, setting up a weekly 15 minute filler, Film 24, first with Gavin Esler and now as Film Review with Jane Hill, which is still going strong. He also presents a weekly podcast 'Kermode on Film' using bits from his monthly live shows at the BFI with other regular features. BBC4 now has an emerging Kermode strand in Secrets of Cinema.
The problem for BBC Director of Content Charlotte Moore is a phobic reluctance to spend on 'originations' after 2230. And, indeed, the complete lack of a weeknight strategy across BBC1, BBC2 and BBC4 after the 10 O'Clock News, where programmes are eating each other - and the less-successful bits of BBC3 have still to be fitted in. Newsnight is a part of this problem, and we note that the programme is advertising for a UK correspondent on a 12-contract or attachment only. Maybe there'll be a decision on its future in the Autumn.
Thursday, December 27, 2018
Carrying out a sentence
The BBC's Chief Customer Officer, Kerris Bright - fifth-highest-paid executive, and worth £20k more than the Director of News - is going on the road to share some of her seven-months' experience. She's a panellist at the membership-by-invitation only Oystercatchers Club, bringing together ad and pr agency bosses, for a session at the end of January.
I had to read the end of her bio twice.
Sitting on the BBC Executive Committee, Kerris is responsible for developing a closer, more personal relationship with BBC consumers, licence fee payers and signed-in members. She joined the BBC in June 2018, having previously been Chief Marketing Officer at Virgin Media, and holding senior positions at BA, ICI and Unilever. She is a highly experienced leader, bringing a customer-centred, data driven approach to setting marketing strategy and executing with creative flair.
I had to read the end of her bio twice.
Sitting on the BBC Executive Committee, Kerris is responsible for developing a closer, more personal relationship with BBC consumers, licence fee payers and signed-in members. She joined the BBC in June 2018, having previously been Chief Marketing Officer at Virgin Media, and holding senior positions at BA, ICI and Unilever. She is a highly experienced leader, bringing a customer-centred, data driven approach to setting marketing strategy and executing with creative flair.
Burgeoning
Though late on this, I feel I should record the impending departure of Dan Brooke from Channel 4.
The Hon. Daniel Roderick Villaret Brooke, 51, (Marlborough, Newcastle Poly, and University of Stirling MBA) has spent 15 years, on and off, with the Channel; his departure may or may not have something to do with the new headquarters in Leeds. He announced his departure as Chief Marketing Officer a fortnight ago. "With the '4 All The UK' plan now successfully launched, it’s a good time to leave on a high and use these successes as a springboard for my burgeoning ambition to help other mission and purpose-driven companies grow."
In January, CEO Alex Mahon will be advertising for a new CMO and a Managing Director, Nations and Regions. This could well mean no existing executive has to do overnights in Leeds.
Dan's dad, Lord Brooke was a Secretary of State for Northern Ireland under Mrs Thatcher, and covered 'National Heritage' under John Major.
The Hon. Daniel Roderick Villaret Brooke, 51, (Marlborough, Newcastle Poly, and University of Stirling MBA) has spent 15 years, on and off, with the Channel; his departure may or may not have something to do with the new headquarters in Leeds. He announced his departure as Chief Marketing Officer a fortnight ago. "With the '4 All The UK' plan now successfully launched, it’s a good time to leave on a high and use these successes as a springboard for my burgeoning ambition to help other mission and purpose-driven companies grow."
In January, CEO Alex Mahon will be advertising for a new CMO and a Managing Director, Nations and Regions. This could well mean no existing executive has to do overnights in Leeds.
Dan's dad, Lord Brooke was a Secretary of State for Northern Ireland under Mrs Thatcher, and covered 'National Heritage' under John Major.
Peak HR
Deep joy at the casting of the forthcoming HR Directors Summit, over two days in February at the ICC in Birmingham.
The BBC and Microsoft are sponsoring a Day Two session featuring the double-barrelled duo of Valerie Hughes-D'Aeth of the BBC and Smaranda Gosa-Mensing of McKinsey. How can you resist the come-on....?
"What does tomorrows [sic] Leadership look like? Our expert panel made up of business thought leaders and executives will share with you their opinion on what skills, capabilities and behaviours are required for the next generational leader. And what does successful leadership and management look like in the new world of work? Join the discussion as they uncover what this means for leadership and management? [sic] And how to empower your leaders of tomorrow, today! This interactive session looks beyond re-imaging [sic] how things are and towards innovating the endless possibilities of what they could be."
One hopes both Valerie and Smaranda will also be on deck for a Day One keynote from Lucy Adams. At least she may have proof-read her blurb...
"Why does HR need a fundamental re-think? Hear from Lucy Adams, author of the bestseller ‘HR Disrupted’ as she uncovers a new way of thinking about the role of HR. This eye-opening keynote will explore the key trends and innovative practices transforming HR; including the consumerisation of HR, the employee experience, humanising processes and the movement away from parenting."
Funny, doesn't mention she used to be at the BBC....
The BBC and Microsoft are sponsoring a Day Two session featuring the double-barrelled duo of Valerie Hughes-D'Aeth of the BBC and Smaranda Gosa-Mensing of McKinsey. How can you resist the come-on....?
"What does tomorrows [sic] Leadership look like? Our expert panel made up of business thought leaders and executives will share with you their opinion on what skills, capabilities and behaviours are required for the next generational leader. And what does successful leadership and management look like in the new world of work? Join the discussion as they uncover what this means for leadership and management? [sic] And how to empower your leaders of tomorrow, today! This interactive session looks beyond re-imaging [sic] how things are and towards innovating the endless possibilities of what they could be."
One hopes both Valerie and Smaranda will also be on deck for a Day One keynote from Lucy Adams. At least she may have proof-read her blurb...
"Why does HR need a fundamental re-think? Hear from Lucy Adams, author of the bestseller ‘HR Disrupted’ as she uncovers a new way of thinking about the role of HR. This eye-opening keynote will explore the key trends and innovative practices transforming HR; including the consumerisation of HR, the employee experience, humanising processes and the movement away from parenting."
Funny, doesn't mention she used to be at the BBC....
Wednesday, December 26, 2018
War games
BBC News says it's now saved £40m a year, completing Phase 1 of its plan to help the organisation balance the books. Phase 2 is to save another £40m by 2021/22 - and much of it relies on a new piece of Norwegian software called Wolftech News, planning news coverage and managing deployments.
"In ‘Phase 2’, we are aiming to move away from incremental 'department by department' targets to a more strategic approach. We will transform how our content, systems and processes work across all of News. This means looking again at what and just how much content we produce really resonates with our audiences."
The developers at Wolftech are in no doubt that it's the dog's bollocks. "Wolftech News is a tool that truly stimulates creativity and collaboration. It gives both executives and journalists the best possible solution to work efficiently, manage stories and deliver content to multi-platform publishing."
Armchair generals in Newsgathering get to play 'News War Room" - "The map is central in locating stories, personnel and other resources, and shows real time map data through GPS tracking. This way you can find the nearest resources and respond swiftly to an event, while the distance and arrival time to any position is automatically calculcated. By choosing the closest resource to respond to a news event, you have a significant advantage in winning the news battle!"
"In ‘Phase 2’, we are aiming to move away from incremental 'department by department' targets to a more strategic approach. We will transform how our content, systems and processes work across all of News. This means looking again at what and just how much content we produce really resonates with our audiences."
Armchair generals in Newsgathering get to play 'News War Room" - "The map is central in locating stories, personnel and other resources, and shows real time map data through GPS tracking. This way you can find the nearest resources and respond swiftly to an event, while the distance and arrival time to any position is automatically calculcated. By choosing the closest resource to respond to a news event, you have a significant advantage in winning the news battle!"
Over here
Our picture shows BBC DG Lord Hall perhaps a little surprised to be 'papped' between verses at St Martin's in the Fields. The occasional was a special service of thanksgiving for the Radio 4 Appeal; next to Tony is Radio 4 Controller, Gwyneth Williams.
Effortless
The normally-tame EBU annual conference called News Exchange hit some publicity blowback when it invited Steve Bannan for an interview session in Edinburgh back in November. A Freedom of Information enquiry asked for details of the cost of the conference to the BBC as 'co-host'.
The BBC responded that there was "no financial commitment", but that "The EBU asks co-hosts to supply a limited number of staff and equipment to help produce and film the conference." The BBC said it would take too long to calculate a cash value for this effort.
The questioner asked for an internal review, and has gleaned this further info...
News has advised that there was no set, overarching ‘commitment’ in terms of total staff hours and value in-kind that the BBC would provide as a co-host of News Xchange in 2018. Being a major international conference held over two days with multiple speakers, a wide variety of planning and coordination tasks were required to be carried out leading up to the event and the BBC also provided technical support and equipment during the event. As provided in the BBC’s initial response, the BBC did not make any financial contributions to the event.
News has advised that the resources for the planning and coordination of the conference were
pooled from a small number of BBC News staff throughout the year. In particular, these staff
undertook various planning tasks from the beginning of 2018 alongside their usual duties at the
BBC. A small number of personnel from BBC Scotland also undertook various planning tasks.
The majority of work was undertaken on an ad hoc basis as and when a need arose, and some
work, such as a short weekly call, was carried out on a routine basis.
News has advised that closer to the event date, there were two dedicated secondments to
assist with planning and coordination activities for News Xchange. News has volunteered the
following information about these secondments:
One Assistant Editor (Chris Gibson) was seconded from News to work as an Executive
Producer for News Xchange on a full-time basis for a period of 3 months.
Another BBC employee was seconded to work as the Production Coordinator on a
part-time basis (2.5 days a week) for a period of 3 months.
In addition, another individual based locally in Edinburgh provided assistance throughout the
year on an ad hoc basis, as and when a need arose to organise and coordinate tasks locally.
Given the above, the specific information that you have requested for an estimate of the ‘hours
and value of staff time that the BBC has committed to this event’ is not held as recorded information
and can only be worked out by contacting each BBC employee that assisted with the event
throughout the year and retrospectively determining the amount of time for their work on
News Xchange, separately from their usual duties. As mentioned above, a public authority is not
required to create new information to respond to an FOI request.
The BBC responded that there was "no financial commitment", but that "The EBU asks co-hosts to supply a limited number of staff and equipment to help produce and film the conference." The BBC said it would take too long to calculate a cash value for this effort.
The questioner asked for an internal review, and has gleaned this further info...
News has advised that there was no set, overarching ‘commitment’ in terms of total staff hours and value in-kind that the BBC would provide as a co-host of News Xchange in 2018. Being a major international conference held over two days with multiple speakers, a wide variety of planning and coordination tasks were required to be carried out leading up to the event and the BBC also provided technical support and equipment during the event. As provided in the BBC’s initial response, the BBC did not make any financial contributions to the event.
News has advised that the resources for the planning and coordination of the conference were
pooled from a small number of BBC News staff throughout the year. In particular, these staff
undertook various planning tasks from the beginning of 2018 alongside their usual duties at the
BBC. A small number of personnel from BBC Scotland also undertook various planning tasks.
The majority of work was undertaken on an ad hoc basis as and when a need arose, and some
work, such as a short weekly call, was carried out on a routine basis.
News has advised that closer to the event date, there were two dedicated secondments to
assist with planning and coordination activities for News Xchange. News has volunteered the
following information about these secondments:
One Assistant Editor (Chris Gibson) was seconded from News to work as an Executive
Producer for News Xchange on a full-time basis for a period of 3 months.
Another BBC employee was seconded to work as the Production Coordinator on a
part-time basis (2.5 days a week) for a period of 3 months.
In addition, another individual based locally in Edinburgh provided assistance throughout the
year on an ad hoc basis, as and when a need arose to organise and coordinate tasks locally.
Given the above, the specific information that you have requested for an estimate of the ‘hours
and value of staff time that the BBC has committed to this event’ is not held as recorded information
and can only be worked out by contacting each BBC employee that assisted with the event
throughout the year and retrospectively determining the amount of time for their work on
News Xchange, separately from their usual duties. As mentioned above, a public authority is not
required to create new information to respond to an FOI request.
Moving money around
The largely-undetectable BBC chairman, Sir David Clementi, may edge into the news over the start of 2019. He's also chairman of WorldFirst, an international online payment and money transfer service founded in 2004 by Jonathan Quin and Nick Robinson, which now employs some 600 people.
Chinese payment company Ant Financial, part owned by Alibaba, is reported to be ready to stump up £550m in a takeover.
Chinese payment company Ant Financial, part owned by Alibaba, is reported to be ready to stump up £550m in a takeover.
Monday, December 24, 2018
Feel the heft
The brave new deep-thinkers running Tortoisemedia.com have announced some topics for their first 'think-ins' of 2019. Sighs of relief from various BBC planning desks that, after all, there is really nothing new in the world...
Wed 16 January - The State of Racism in the UK: The workplace
Thu 17 January - Blame your gran: The generation that ruined it for everyone
Wed 23 January - Modern love: Dating in the digital age
Thu 24 January - The case of cannabis
Tue 29 January - How gambling won
Wed 16 January - The State of Racism in the UK: The workplace
Thu 17 January - Blame your gran: The generation that ruined it for everyone
Wed 23 January - Modern love: Dating in the digital age
Thu 24 January - The case of cannabis
Tue 29 January - How gambling won
Bye, Billy
Radio Today reports that Radio Merseyside and Billy Butler have parted company.
Billy, 76, has always been cantankerous. But compared with the care and patience given to other long-serving radio hosts (cf Jimmy Young, Terry Wogan, etc), this 'letting go' seems to have been handled rather insensitively. Let's hope 'budget' and 'strategy' didn't get in the way of a nicer approach - after all, Lord Hall has given local radio editors licence to be different.
Billy, 76, has always been cantankerous. But compared with the care and patience given to other long-serving radio hosts (cf Jimmy Young, Terry Wogan, etc), this 'letting go' seems to have been handled rather insensitively. Let's hope 'budget' and 'strategy' didn't get in the way of a nicer approach - after all, Lord Hall has given local radio editors licence to be different.
Saturday, December 22, 2018
Neither am I
David Dimbleby says he's not posh.
This was his family home for much of his childhood.
This was his prep school, near Battle.
He then went to Charterhouse.
And, after language courses in Paris and Perugia, he went to Christ Church, Oxford
and was a member of the Bullingdon Club, editor of Isis magazine and President of the Christ Church JCR.
This is part of his home near Polegate in Sussex; he has a flat in London, and a holiday home near Salcombe.
Of the Dimbleby children, Henry went to Eton and Oxford, Kate went to St Paul's, London and Birmingham, Fred went to Brighton College and Keble, Oxford, and Liza has a first in Russian and History from Oxford, and a Ph.D in Russian thought and literature from the University of London.
This was his family home for much of his childhood.
This was his prep school, near Battle.
He then went to Charterhouse.
And, after language courses in Paris and Perugia, he went to Christ Church, Oxford
and was a member of the Bullingdon Club, editor of Isis magazine and President of the Christ Church JCR.
This is part of his home near Polegate in Sussex; he has a flat in London, and a holiday home near Salcombe.
Of the Dimbleby children, Henry went to Eton and Oxford, Kate went to St Paul's, London and Birmingham, Fred went to Brighton College and Keble, Oxford, and Liza has a first in Russian and History from Oxford, and a Ph.D in Russian thought and literature from the University of London.
Inside track
"Ex BBC bigwig ROGER MOSEY reveals what it is really like to work with Chris Evans as he departs Radio 2" reads the puff in the Daily Mail. An unusual piece in many respects. The current Master of Selwyn seems to have met the DJ once on air. Yet the article stretches to nearly 2,000 words.
Friday, December 21, 2018
Team Zoe
As we said earlier, things are ramping up around radio breakfast shows; and this afternoon we get news of the support team for Zoe Ball at Radio 2.
Richie Anderson (Trinity Leeds and Coombs Wood FC) joins as travel reporter, from the afternoon show on BBC WM.
Mike Williams (Walsall College and Staffordshire University)gets the regular sports slot. He joined BBC Sport in 2011 and has since worked as a sports reader at 5live, World Service, Asian Network, Newsbeat and has previously covered on the Radio 2 Breakfast Show.
The overall producer is Graham Albans, "Golden Graham" on the Chris Evans R2 Show, (B.Sc in Creative Music Technology from Leeds Metropolitan).
As before, Carol Kirkwood does the weather - but we still have no announcement of a regular newsreader.
Richie Anderson (Trinity Leeds and Coombs Wood FC) joins as travel reporter, from the afternoon show on BBC WM.
Mike Williams (Walsall College and Staffordshire University)gets the regular sports slot. He joined BBC Sport in 2011 and has since worked as a sports reader at 5live, World Service, Asian Network, Newsbeat and has previously covered on the Radio 2 Breakfast Show.
The overall producer is Graham Albans, "Golden Graham" on the Chris Evans R2 Show, (B.Sc in Creative Music Technology from Leeds Metropolitan).
As before, Carol Kirkwood does the weather - but we still have no announcement of a regular newsreader.
Networkers
There's usual generous helping of people who make/have made money from the BBC in the alumni teams for Christmas University Challenge...
Brasenose, Oxford: Tim Harford (journalist, economist and presenter of Radio 4’s More or Less); Kate Bliss (antiques expert on Bargain Hunt, Flog It! and The Antiques Road Trip)
Bristol: Misha Glenny (former BBC Central Europe Correspondent and author of McMafia)
East Anglia: Arthur Smith (comedian rarely off Radio 4); Zeb Soanes (BBC Radio 4 announcer and children’s writer); Darren Bett (BBC Weather)
Pembroke, Cambridge: Rick Edwards (presenter of Impossible, a BBC1 quiz show); Emma Johnson (clarinettist - former BBC Young Musician of the Year)
King's, London: Anita Anand (presenter of R4's Any Answers?);
St Catherine's, Oxford: Peter Knowles (controller of BBC Parliament who avoided threats to his budget, this year at least)
Peterhouse, Cambridge: Mark Horton (archaeologist and a presenter of Coast)
Exeter: Paul Jackson (director and producer on The Two Ronnies; The Generation Game; Blankety Blank; Red Dwarf); Jon Kay (BBC TV news presenter and reporter)
Manchester: David Aaronovitch (Journalist and presenter of R4's The Briefing Room); Matt Allwright (Watchdog; Rogue Traders)
Edinburgh: Mitch Benn (writer and performer on Radio 4’s The Now Show)
Brasenose, Oxford: Tim Harford (journalist, economist and presenter of Radio 4’s More or Less); Kate Bliss (antiques expert on Bargain Hunt, Flog It! and The Antiques Road Trip)
Bristol: Misha Glenny (former BBC Central Europe Correspondent and author of McMafia)
East Anglia: Arthur Smith (comedian rarely off Radio 4); Zeb Soanes (BBC Radio 4 announcer and children’s writer); Darren Bett (BBC Weather)
Pembroke, Cambridge: Rick Edwards (presenter of Impossible, a BBC1 quiz show); Emma Johnson (clarinettist - former BBC Young Musician of the Year)
King's, London: Anita Anand (presenter of R4's Any Answers?);
St Catherine's, Oxford: Peter Knowles (controller of BBC Parliament who avoided threats to his budget, this year at least)
Peterhouse, Cambridge: Mark Horton (archaeologist and a presenter of Coast)
Exeter: Paul Jackson (director and producer on The Two Ronnies; The Generation Game; Blankety Blank; Red Dwarf); Jon Kay (BBC TV news presenter and reporter)
Manchester: David Aaronovitch (Journalist and presenter of R4's The Briefing Room); Matt Allwright (Watchdog; Rogue Traders)
Edinburgh: Mitch Benn (writer and performer on Radio 4’s The Now Show)
Breakfast buffets
It's all getting a bit edgy in the sensitive world of breakfast radio. Chris Moyles, at Radio X, has had a rant at Capital's pairing of Ronan Kemp and Vick Hope. The Sun reports that Heart are trying to lure Scott Mills from Radio 1 to front their breakfast offering. This must be relaxing for current Heart hosts, Jamie Theakston and Lucy Horobin. Zoe Ball is set to start permanently at Radio 1 on 14th January. Until then, Sara Cox, second choice, sits in. Meanwhile the publicity machine that is Chris Evans rolls on - with a nice puff appearance on The One Show on Tuesday - will appear on Virgin for the first time on 21st January.
Another tortoise
Congratulations to Ravin Sampat (Aston University and MA King's College London, International Affairs), who is leaving the BBC's Digital Current Affairs department for a job with Tortoise Media as an Editor and Partner.
Ravin likes playing football and following Arsenal. He has a 'food' account on Instagram.
Thursday, December 20, 2018
Hard to swallow
The BBC's own executive coaches have been conducting a new campaign against management b*llocks, or, more politely, MBA jargon, in current circulation around the Corporation.
Recent horrors they cite include...
"Let's kick the tyres on that"
"Any further questions, come and talk to myself"
"Like to take part in a conversational bounce ?"
"Not in my swim lane"
"Not enough bandwith"
"I want to remain agnostic on this one"
"Let's put a finger in the air"
"Mind Palaces"
"Digital DNA"
"Let's adopt a Goldilocks strategy - not too little and not too much"
"Iconic action"
"Bake it in"
Recent horrors they cite include...
"Let's kick the tyres on that"
"Any further questions, come and talk to myself"
"Like to take part in a conversational bounce ?"
"Not in my swim lane"
"Not enough bandwith"
"I want to remain agnostic on this one"
"Let's put a finger in the air"
"Mind Palaces"
"Digital DNA"
"Let's adopt a Goldilocks strategy - not too little and not too much"
"Iconic action"
"Bake it in"
Taking a mallett to it
Dr Anna Mallett is moving from BBC Studios to be the new CEO of ITN in the New Year, replacing John Hardie, who's standing down after nearly ten years in the job.
Current CFO Bryan Martin will be acting CEO until she arrives. Particular eyes will be kept on the current gender pay gaps at ITN: 16.7% in mean salaries; 60% in bonuses. Anna's last disclosed salary at the BBC was £241,000. Mr Hardie's package is closer to £700k.
Current CFO Bryan Martin will be acting CEO until she arrives. Particular eyes will be kept on the current gender pay gaps at ITN: 16.7% in mean salaries; 60% in bonuses. Anna's last disclosed salary at the BBC was £241,000. Mr Hardie's package is closer to £700k.
Where has the love gone ?
Eagle-eyed viewers noticed a fast fashion change last night, between Emily Maitlis trailing Newsnight at the end of the BBC News at Ten, and Emily Maitlis presenting Newsnight, apparently almost simultaneously. Explanations: It might have been cold in the studio, when Emily recorded the trail, or a producer got antsy about branding - or simply the message...
Wednesday, December 19, 2018
Tens ? Hundreds ?
Relentless transparency at the BBC.
Q: How many weather presenters are employed by the BBC?
A: The information you have requested is excluded from the Act because it is held for the purposes
of ‘journalism, art or literature.’
Q: How many weather presenters are employed by the BBC?
A: The information you have requested is excluded from the Act because it is held for the purposes
of ‘journalism, art or literature.’
Well done
After a management mingle on the upper floors of Broadcasting House, the Executive Board of the BBC have signed off with a seasonal all-points email; apparently, everything's going terrifically.
There's no sign of tinsel or funny hats in the team photo, presumably taken at some very-good-value-for-money awayday venue - so I've added some. Here they are - currently annual package £4,971,800, and not a tie between them.
There's no sign of tinsel or funny hats in the team photo, presumably taken at some very-good-value-for-money awayday venue - so I've added some. Here they are - currently annual package £4,971,800, and not a tie between them.
Top Marks
Toilers at Broadcasting House, riven with re-invention anxieties this festive period, will have doubtless been reassured by the lilting Yorkshire inflections of Mark Byford, devoid of uncertainties, coming out of their desktop speakers on Radio 4 on Sunday.
The former DDG and Keeper of the Candle of Journalism was Sir Mark Tully's guest on the reflective religious strand, Something Understood. The series is itself something of a dead-man-walking. It ends next Easter, to be put on eternal rotation, with the dosh saved flowing to ever more podcasts.
The show's topic was The Annunciation. Did Mr Tully mention that Mark has a book out on the subject ?
In the music mix - part of Milton Nascimento's album, Angelus. Milton is Brazilian, not Norwegian, as stated in the show's credits.
The former DDG and Keeper of the Candle of Journalism was Sir Mark Tully's guest on the reflective religious strand, Something Understood. The series is itself something of a dead-man-walking. It ends next Easter, to be put on eternal rotation, with the dosh saved flowing to ever more podcasts.
The show's topic was The Annunciation. Did Mr Tully mention that Mark has a book out on the subject ?
In the music mix - part of Milton Nascimento's album, Angelus. Milton is Brazilian, not Norwegian, as stated in the show's credits.
Tuesday, December 18, 2018
Fiona gets Three
Congratulations to Fiona Campbell, charged with giving BBC Three a bit more fizz and fire next year.
Damian Kavanagh has landed as MD of Peaky Blinders indie, Tiger Aspect. If BBC Three had been performing well with 16 to 34 year-olds, we would have heard about it by now..
Rethink
BBC News is having another go at metadata, the Original All-purpose Not-kidding Elixir of Digital Journalism, which, in the minds of logical people-but-not-journalists, is the answer. In this case, the answer to 'personalisation'.
More than one job is on offer in the News Content Production Workflow department, with this come-on:
"It will be our greatest leap since iPlayer, and that’s why it is right at the top of our agenda.
Delivering it is going to require a fundamental reshaping of the BBC’s culture and how we work. For the new Content Metadata group in our Content Production Workflows department, the first task is a ground-up rethink of the (many) tools, workflows and technologies involved in describing and classifying all of our content -- journalism, audio, video and digital alike.
This means asking ourselves some big questions: What metadata do we need to deliver a personalised BBC? What does the future of tagging at the BBC look like? Can we take advantage of Linked Open Data to automate or semi-automate content classification? Can we provide tools to bring together disparate editorial teams working in specialist content areas? How do we evolve our current workflows into one that is ready for the challenges to come?"
More than one job is on offer in the News Content Production Workflow department, with this come-on:
"It will be our greatest leap since iPlayer, and that’s why it is right at the top of our agenda.
Delivering it is going to require a fundamental reshaping of the BBC’s culture and how we work. For the new Content Metadata group in our Content Production Workflows department, the first task is a ground-up rethink of the (many) tools, workflows and technologies involved in describing and classifying all of our content -- journalism, audio, video and digital alike.
This means asking ourselves some big questions: What metadata do we need to deliver a personalised BBC? What does the future of tagging at the BBC look like? Can we take advantage of Linked Open Data to automate or semi-automate content classification? Can we provide tools to bring together disparate editorial teams working in specialist content areas? How do we evolve our current workflows into one that is ready for the challenges to come?"
Glwm ?
BBC hunk Huw Edwards has discovered that those who live their life through Instagram, etc, may attract the attention of freelance snappers. Huw and his wife Vicky feature in the Mail, with the subs deciding that Huw is glum. It may be that he's just concentrating on crossing the road...
Monday, December 17, 2018
Articles completed
The Apprentice 2018 Final returned an average audience of 5.9m in the overnights, a 30% share. Last year's final averaged 6.5m in the overnights.
It's still one of BBC1's better performing programmes amongst 16-34s. However, I would encourage the producers to choose fewer numpties in 2019....
It's still one of BBC1's better performing programmes amongst 16-34s. However, I would encourage the producers to choose fewer numpties in 2019....
Humbug
Dear reader,
A Christmas quiz. How many trees in this shot of the BBC's cash-strapped newsroom ?
A Christmas quiz. How many trees in this shot of the BBC's cash-strapped newsroom ?
Festive duties complete. Happy Christmas @BBCNews pic.twitter.com/aUf2oj0vBn— Chris Cook (@chrisckmedia) December 17, 2018
Sunday, December 16, 2018
Winner
Last night’s Strictly final on BBC1 was watched by an average of 11.7 million, according to the overnight ratings - that's a 54.4% share of the available audience, beating last year's equivalent of 11.6m. Handily tweeted by BBC Press, who, on other occasions, remind us that overnights are so yesterday...
Saturday, December 15, 2018
Food makes a comeback
Remember all that hoo-ha with then Chancellor George Osborne about whether or not the BBC should be in the recipe business ? The conclusion seemed to be that it was alright to keep an archive going because it was really part of the BBC's "education" mission, but that the main focus would be on the commercially-operated BBC Good Food. Now it seems the licence-fee funded BBC Food is more than just ticking over. Here's the current rationale:
"BBC Learning exists to transform lives through education. That clear vision drives everything we do as we lead the overall education strategy for the BBC.
BBC Food is a small, Bristol-based team managing the recipe output of the BBC’s programmes and campaigns. We have a database of 10,000 recipes (and growing!) that requires a keen eye to make it the best it can be for our license-fee payers.
BBC Food attracts more than 2.5 million browsers a week, looking for quality recipes, as well as cookery techniques and nutrition advice. "
Yes, got all that. But now this team needs a new assistant producer. And the ambition seems rather frivolous, and even commercially competitive.
"In addition to producing topical articles and interviews, the Assistant Producer’s role will involve creating quizzes, Q&As and listicles which can then be effectively promoted on our social media channels."
"BBC Learning exists to transform lives through education. That clear vision drives everything we do as we lead the overall education strategy for the BBC.
BBC Food is a small, Bristol-based team managing the recipe output of the BBC’s programmes and campaigns. We have a database of 10,000 recipes (and growing!) that requires a keen eye to make it the best it can be for our license-fee payers.
BBC Food attracts more than 2.5 million browsers a week, looking for quality recipes, as well as cookery techniques and nutrition advice. "
Yes, got all that. But now this team needs a new assistant producer. And the ambition seems rather frivolous, and even commercially competitive.
"In addition to producing topical articles and interviews, the Assistant Producer’s role will involve creating quizzes, Q&As and listicles which can then be effectively promoted on our social media channels."
Where are you ?
The BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 have agreed new guidelines and tests for "Out of London" production, in line with Ofcom strictures.
Carpet-bagging is ok. "It is entirely legitimate for a production company to establish a new base for the purposes of a specific commission, with a view to it remaining substantive after the production is finished. However, in the spirit of the definition, broadcasters need to differentiate between genuine long term intent to maintain a substantive base, versus a temporary production office. This should be done through conversations with production companies at the point of commission."
Carpet-bagging is ok. "It is entirely legitimate for a production company to establish a new base for the purposes of a specific commission, with a view to it remaining substantive after the production is finished. However, in the spirit of the definition, broadcasters need to differentiate between genuine long term intent to maintain a substantive base, versus a temporary production office. This should be done through conversations with production companies at the point of commission."
Friday, December 14, 2018
Paperwork
Some odds and ends from the latest quarter of expense claims and transport bookings by BBC managers.
Shane Allen, Controller of Comedy Commissioning, is usually the man most likely to be hospitable and claim for it (anyone noticed any new comedy on BBC1 recently ?) but has been overtaken on the new talent dining front by Cassian Harrison, Channel Editor BBC4.
Meanwhile Patrick Holland, Channel Editor BBC2, managed seven nights in West Hollywood's four-star Petit Ermitage for a mere £1,794.66. Commercial Director Bal Samra went a little better with three nights in an unnamed Hollywood hotel for £999.
Director of Radio and Music Bob Shennan took a return flight to Miami for just £850. Matthew Postgate, Chief Technology and Product Officer, made the same trip for £6880.
Shane Allen, Controller of Comedy Commissioning, is usually the man most likely to be hospitable and claim for it (anyone noticed any new comedy on BBC1 recently ?) but has been overtaken on the new talent dining front by Cassian Harrison, Channel Editor BBC4.
Meanwhile Patrick Holland, Channel Editor BBC2, managed seven nights in West Hollywood's four-star Petit Ermitage for a mere £1,794.66. Commercial Director Bal Samra went a little better with three nights in an unnamed Hollywood hotel for £999.
Director of Radio and Music Bob Shennan took a return flight to Miami for just £850. Matthew Postgate, Chief Technology and Product Officer, made the same trip for £6880.
In time for Xmas
Pay relativities at the BBC are a hot topic these days, so let me be the first to note some entertaining re-adjustments at executive level.
Chief Customer Officer Kerris Bright has come aboard from Virgin Media for a handy £360k pa. I'm guessing this is the key factor in nudging up Director of Content, Charlotte Moore, from £325k, to £370k. James Purnell, Director of Sounds, Radio and Education, moves up from £295k to £315k, his first pay rise in over five years, but the new rate still leaves him behind Ken MacQuarrie, Director of Nations and Regions, who takes a neat leap from £250k to £325k (probably because he's also on the main board).
Deputy Director General Anne Bulford's wodge is unchanged, at £435k, but she's acquired an expensive departmental sidekick, also at executive level, Glyn Isherwood, at £325k. Valerie Hughes D'Aeth, as Head of HR is also unchanged, at £310k - I wonder if she helped with the review ? Corporation spinner John Shield, who will probably have to explain all this, is up from £195k to £220k.
Chief Customer Officer Kerris Bright has come aboard from Virgin Media for a handy £360k pa. I'm guessing this is the key factor in nudging up Director of Content, Charlotte Moore, from £325k, to £370k. James Purnell, Director of Sounds, Radio and Education, moves up from £295k to £315k, his first pay rise in over five years, but the new rate still leaves him behind Ken MacQuarrie, Director of Nations and Regions, who takes a neat leap from £250k to £325k (probably because he's also on the main board).
Deputy Director General Anne Bulford's wodge is unchanged, at £435k, but she's acquired an expensive departmental sidekick, also at executive level, Glyn Isherwood, at £325k. Valerie Hughes D'Aeth, as Head of HR is also unchanged, at £310k - I wonder if she helped with the review ? Corporation spinner John Shield, who will probably have to explain all this, is up from £195k to £220k.
OBJ
Owen Bennett-Jones has been in and around BBC News for 25 years, and offers some plain speaking about current live issues in a piece for the London Review of Books.
Here's an extract - about podcasting, but the whole thing is well worth your time.
"I recently made a series of ten podcasts on the murder of Benazir Bhutto called The Assassination. It took more than a year to get it commissioned, during which time many promises were made and broken, and my emails were routinely left unanswered. By the time the series was finally commissioned, my producer and I had just ten weeks before the first episode was broadcast. When the series briefly reached No. 1 in the UK podcast charts, there was frenzied activity, as all the managers who had even the slightest association with the project, including some who had been very unhelpful, tried to claim credit. I was copied into messages from a dozen managers all congratulating each other. "
Here's an extract - about podcasting, but the whole thing is well worth your time.
"I recently made a series of ten podcasts on the murder of Benazir Bhutto called The Assassination. It took more than a year to get it commissioned, during which time many promises were made and broken, and my emails were routinely left unanswered. By the time the series was finally commissioned, my producer and I had just ten weeks before the first episode was broadcast. When the series briefly reached No. 1 in the UK podcast charts, there was frenzied activity, as all the managers who had even the slightest association with the project, including some who had been very unhelpful, tried to claim credit. I was copied into messages from a dozen managers all congratulating each other. "
Thursday, December 13, 2018
Ben
Congratulations to Ben Hunte, appointed first LBGT Correspondent at BBC News. (There were others before, but with different briefs, if you understand...)
Ben (Highams Park and University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus B.Sc in Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience) was elected Mr Nottingham 2012 in his first year at Semenyih, Kuala Lumpur. He went on to study for a post-graduate diploma in tv journalism at City University, and has been freelancing around the networks since then.
Set in concrete
Regular readers will not be surprised by the news that the project to give EastEnders a new set (indoors and outdoors) is running 31 months late and £27 million over budget, at £86.7m.
The National Audit Office has been quite kind to the BBC in this report; it actually started way back in 2013, when first estimate of the construction cost was £15m. The strategic problem throughout has been trying to do the job and keep the show on air. The show's storyliners could have been asked to run with it - to allow 'real-life' development to be seen in shot. The full report more than hints at a lack of co-operation between the project team and the soap management.
Where the NAO might have been useful would have been to find some comparison total costs for the move of Coronation Street from Quay Street in central Manchester to Salford Quays. That might raise eybrows even higher.
The National Audit Office has been quite kind to the BBC in this report; it actually started way back in 2013, when first estimate of the construction cost was £15m. The strategic problem throughout has been trying to do the job and keep the show on air. The show's storyliners could have been asked to run with it - to allow 'real-life' development to be seen in shot. The full report more than hints at a lack of co-operation between the project team and the soap management.
Where the NAO might have been useful would have been to find some comparison total costs for the move of Coronation Street from Quay Street in central Manchester to Salford Quays. That might raise eybrows even higher.
Wednesday, December 12, 2018
Kevin Ruane
Former BBC News correspondent Kevin Ruane has died, at the age of 86.
I knew him first as Foreign Duty Editor in the Broadcasting House newsroom in the early seventies; before I arrived (in 1973) he'd been a regular producer of From Our Own Correspondent. He also presented weekly round-ups of the foreign press (via BBC Monitoring) on Radio 3. He was radio's man in Moscow for three years from 1977, came back and presented Six Continents on Radio 3 (using clips from foreign radio brodcasts), and then, most significantly, Eastern Europe Correspondent from 1980 to 1986.
He was based in Warsaw for the rise of Solidarity, and wrote the definitive book, "To Kill a Priest" about Father Jerzy Popieluszko, a young parish priest in a Warsaw suburb who spoke out against the abuses of communism and supported Solidarity, banned under martial law. Popieluszko was abducted by secret police in October 1984; his savagely-beaten body was found 11 days later in an icy reservoir. For the first time, a communist government was forced to try to condemn the actions of its own security agents - it proved to be a decisive crack in Eastern Bloc Communism.
The book got reviewed by no less than Lech Walesa "Everyone who would like to find out how communism was finally defeated should read this profound and well-documented book."
Kevin himself was bounced out of Poland by the authorities in 1983, who'd been upset by an edition of Panorama on the Polish military crackdown of 1981, and he had to do much of his reporting from outside the country, and sometimes from the UK. He picked up good material from BBC Monitoring in Caversham - his first BBC job was with them - and, back in the family home in nearby Reading, with wife Beryl, son Vincent and daughter Frances, he relished rounds of golf with a neat handicap of 6.
But work in Moscow and Warsaw gave Kevin a new partner, Clare Birgin, working for the Australian Embassy, later to become a full Ambassador in a succession of European capitals, and he died in Canberra.
He was based in Warsaw for the rise of Solidarity, and wrote the definitive book, "To Kill a Priest" about Father Jerzy Popieluszko, a young parish priest in a Warsaw suburb who spoke out against the abuses of communism and supported Solidarity, banned under martial law. Popieluszko was abducted by secret police in October 1984; his savagely-beaten body was found 11 days later in an icy reservoir. For the first time, a communist government was forced to try to condemn the actions of its own security agents - it proved to be a decisive crack in Eastern Bloc Communism.
The book got reviewed by no less than Lech Walesa "Everyone who would like to find out how communism was finally defeated should read this profound and well-documented book."
Kevin himself was bounced out of Poland by the authorities in 1983, who'd been upset by an edition of Panorama on the Polish military crackdown of 1981, and he had to do much of his reporting from outside the country, and sometimes from the UK. He picked up good material from BBC Monitoring in Caversham - his first BBC job was with them - and, back in the family home in nearby Reading, with wife Beryl, son Vincent and daughter Frances, he relished rounds of golf with a neat handicap of 6.
But work in Moscow and Warsaw gave Kevin a new partner, Clare Birgin, working for the Australian Embassy, later to become a full Ambassador in a succession of European capitals, and he died in Canberra.
New blood sought
It looks like BBC News boss Fran Unsworth is hoping to attract outside talent to the new role of Digital Director. The job ad requires "a senior leader in a digital role preferably with board level experience in a journalistic environment" - and she's not surrounded by people inside News who've been on her board or anybody else's.
The successful candidate ought to get on with new Editorial Director, Kamal Ahmed - they'll be charged with developing "a content plan for BBC News Online that showcases the highest
impact content for our audiences". Or, perhaps, just a plan to cover the news....
The successful candidate ought to get on with new Editorial Director, Kamal Ahmed - they'll be charged with developing "a content plan for BBC News Online that showcases the highest
impact content for our audiences". Or, perhaps, just a plan to cover the news....
Joined up
Ah, the all-new collaborative world of BBC Radio. Humphrys and Robinson straining at the leash to go into rolling mode on Today. Cross to Brussels correspondent for 'reaction': there isn't any. Cross to Heseltine: he can't hear, we can't hear him. Overrun brought to an end at 0915, with nairy a mention of a news network where, if you're interested, you might hear continuing coverage.
Tuesday, December 11, 2018
Unseasonal dressing up
“I’m extremely proud to be awarded this Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters from Ulster University. I’m particularly proud because Northern Ireland is where I first started out in journalism as a BBC news trainee, and where I learnt so much that has helped guide me throughout my career. It’s a great honour to be able to share this ceremony with the latest generation of talented young graduates as they embark on exciting career journeys of their own.”
BBC Director General Lord Hall, clutching thin bottle of Bushmills in presentation case...
BBC Director General Lord Hall, clutching thin bottle of Bushmills in presentation case...
Detail
I wonder if the Editorial Director might raise this.
BBC Radio 4 0700 bulletin: Macron has promised a 100 euro rise in the minimum wage.
Missing from the cue and piece by Hugh Schofield - current minimum wage, and when the rise might come in. France’s minimum wage (known as SMIC - Le Salaire Minimum Interprofessionnel de Croissance) increased slightly in January 2018 to reach €9.88 per hour, or the equivalent of €1,498.47 per month (around €1,160 after tax). The 100 euro rise is monthly - an increase of nearly 6.7%. Macron promises to pay from 1st January 2019.
BBC Radio 4 0700 bulletin: Macron has promised a 100 euro rise in the minimum wage.
Missing from the cue and piece by Hugh Schofield - current minimum wage, and when the rise might come in. France’s minimum wage (known as SMIC - Le Salaire Minimum Interprofessionnel de Croissance) increased slightly in January 2018 to reach €9.88 per hour, or the equivalent of €1,498.47 per month (around €1,160 after tax). The 100 euro rise is monthly - an increase of nearly 6.7%. Macron promises to pay from 1st January 2019.
Monday, December 10, 2018
Biggies
As the broadcasting behemoths of the Winter season wind down, some big figures. The final of I'm A Celebrity was watched by an average of 11.1m viewers - an audience share of 48.7%. It's the highest rating final for five years.
The Strictly semi-final results show attracted an average of 9m (40.3%).
The Doctor Who/Jodie Whittaker first series wrapped up with 5.32m (26.4%). There's a New Year's Day Special to come. Now show-runner Mr Chibnall has to re-group. His first effort was rather scatter-gun in its themes, and lacked any sense of development or real tension between the new Doctor and her trio of side-kicks. He needs a returning set of villains to build suspense and heebie-jeebies, whilst creating episodes that still work in isolation. Tricky, but if he could plot the first series of Broadchurch, he ought to be able to improve - with less use of the sonic screwdriver.
The Strictly semi-final results show attracted an average of 9m (40.3%).
The Doctor Who/Jodie Whittaker first series wrapped up with 5.32m (26.4%). There's a New Year's Day Special to come. Now show-runner Mr Chibnall has to re-group. His first effort was rather scatter-gun in its themes, and lacked any sense of development or real tension between the new Doctor and her trio of side-kicks. He needs a returning set of villains to build suspense and heebie-jeebies, whilst creating episodes that still work in isolation. Tricky, but if he could plot the first series of Broadchurch, he ought to be able to improve - with less use of the sonic screwdriver.
Still to come
A word in the ear of all those tv executives playing mah-jong with schedules between now and the apparently-possibly-definitive Parliamentary vote: if Theresa May loses, no one really knows what happens next. If Theresa May wins, no-one really knows what happens next in two years of negotiations.
Extended bulletins either way will be full of uninformed speculation by all parties - MPs, correspondents and the electorate. Do not give it free rein.
Extended bulletins either way will be full of uninformed speculation by all parties - MPs, correspondents and the electorate. Do not give it free rein.
Sunday, December 9, 2018
Gap year
Apart from the 1st January show, Dr Who's new showrunner Chris Chibnall is taking a year-long sabbatical with no new episodes planned for broadcast til 2020. Doesn't seem right - either the ideas are proving elusive, or somebody's got budget trouble.
Charlotte Moore, BBC Director of Content puts a brave face on it: "We’re delighted that the Doctor and her friends will be returning to thrill audiences in 2020. I know Chris and the whole team are already working on a whole new set of exciting adventures. In the meantime we’ve got a very special episode on New Year’s Day for everyone to enjoy.”
Charlotte Moore, BBC Director of Content puts a brave face on it: "We’re delighted that the Doctor and her friends will be returning to thrill audiences in 2020. I know Chris and the whole team are already working on a whole new set of exciting adventures. In the meantime we’ve got a very special episode on New Year’s Day for everyone to enjoy.”
Photogenic
The BBC's John Simpson fails to mention he's nearly been fired in an article for the Daily Mail Event magazine, in which he shares some of his favourite photos - and promotes his current novel.
Here's a taste of his past and present dress sense, with a twin-lapel ensemble that would surely have Jacob Rees-Mogg salivating...
More book promotion, more boss-bashing and a less flattering photo, below...
Here's a taste of his past and present dress sense, with a twin-lapel ensemble that would surely have Jacob Rees-Mogg salivating...
More book promotion, more boss-bashing and a less flattering photo, below...
HQ: Our latest podcast with legendary journalist @JohnSimpsonNews is out now https://t.co/tl45AOyb5K. It's a very good listen- covering all today's hot topics... Russia, BBC middle management and sexual asphyxiation. @acast @simonmayo @Mattm_Williams pic.twitter.com/NeQv0wL7mU— Simon Mayo's Books Of The Year (@BooksOfTheYear) December 5, 2018
High minded
We're coming up to the first full year of BBC Ideas, formally launched by James Purnell in January. I expect he's already writing a blog about how it's gone.
The sub-heading for Ideas is "Tired of clickbait? Satisfy your curious mind with this selection of thought-provoking short films and videos from the BBC."
We may have to re-define 'clickbait'. Among today's offerings: "Does your name match your face ?", "A visual journey through heaven", "How to win at rock-paper-scissors" and "When Christmas pudding was all about the beef".
The sub-heading for Ideas is "Tired of clickbait? Satisfy your curious mind with this selection of thought-provoking short films and videos from the BBC."
We may have to re-define 'clickbait'. Among today's offerings: "Does your name match your face ?", "A visual journey through heaven", "How to win at rock-paper-scissors" and "When Christmas pudding was all about the beef".
Film rights available
How many columnar inches can the Greatest Living Foreign Correspondent make from his escaping a P45 ?
John Simpson has given his most-angst ridden version of his recent employment as the BBC's World Affairs Editor to British Airways High-Life Magazine. International passengers are treated to analogies featuring Dr Manette in Dickens, Joseph in Exodus, Henry V (in Shakespeare's Henry V1 pt 2), gobbets of information about Pope Benedict XVI and Agrippina, all in the name of adding excitement to a struggle to keep his job, told with a nod to a David Lynch screenplay. "Who was going to be the new boss ? Might they also want to bundle me out into the exercise yard to be shot through the back of the neck for being old ?"
If you don't stop going on about it, Johnny, I suspect they might....As it is, John writes from the Jianguo Hotel in Bejing, four stars, water gardens and fine French dining in Justine's, handy for both the diplomatic and silk quarters, where he's already been measured for some shirts, met up with his old friend, the doorman Mr Lee - and managed some "unforgettable meals with the members of my team, all of whom have become close personal friends over the years. These are a few of the pleasures of being on the road as a television journalist - and I've missed them terribly".
John Simpson has given his most-angst ridden version of his recent employment as the BBC's World Affairs Editor to British Airways High-Life Magazine. International passengers are treated to analogies featuring Dr Manette in Dickens, Joseph in Exodus, Henry V (in Shakespeare's Henry V1 pt 2), gobbets of information about Pope Benedict XVI and Agrippina, all in the name of adding excitement to a struggle to keep his job, told with a nod to a David Lynch screenplay. "Who was going to be the new boss ? Might they also want to bundle me out into the exercise yard to be shot through the back of the neck for being old ?"
If you don't stop going on about it, Johnny, I suspect they might....As it is, John writes from the Jianguo Hotel in Bejing, four stars, water gardens and fine French dining in Justine's, handy for both the diplomatic and silk quarters, where he's already been measured for some shirts, met up with his old friend, the doorman Mr Lee - and managed some "unforgettable meals with the members of my team, all of whom have become close personal friends over the years. These are a few of the pleasures of being on the road as a television journalist - and I've missed them terribly".
Saturday, December 8, 2018
Virginia Henry
She came as producer, after starting at Radio 4 as a researcher on posh, serious programmes presented by Desmond Wilcox and the like, and then producing The Colour Supplement, a Sunday magazine show with Sarah Kennedy.
She was in her element at Newsbeat, cocking a quizzical eye and a trademark raised eyebrow at stories, looking for new treatments for old chestnuts (and often, rightly, leaving them by the wayside), and permanently at hand, it seemed, to help reporters and other producers battling the shortest of turn-rounds. In an office of occasional tensions, Gina knew when to apply sympathy, and when to point out daftness. She edited two Newsbeat reviews of the year, in 1986 with Frank Partridge, and in 1988 with Ian Parkinson. Perhaps more importantly, she fixed team outings - to Boulogne, Calais and Clacton.
Then she got more serious back at Radio 4, producing science and medical programmes. I enjoyed teasing her about 'Leviathan', an-only-at-Radio 4-title for a programme looking at topical themes against an historical background. Apparently it was 'acclaimed' and appeared for a short run on BBC2 in 1997.
Gina then moved on to training in radio, but never lost sight of the fast-moving technology changes around her. As a world only half comfortable with 'internet' struggled with the word 'intranet', Gina got into knowledge management. One rather unlikely, but successful client was De Beers, who knew everything about diamonds, but shared little of that information within the company.
In 2009, she was a driving force behind the start of the London Information and Knowledge Exchange - still going. It's a regular get-together for knowledge-management professionals, mixing, as ever, the serious with the sociable.
She wrote a regular blog "Making Knowledge Work", and it's worth just presenting her 'About Me' page - typical Gina, straightforward, generous and fun.
"As a researcher, then producer and programme editor for the BBC, I would have achieved little without actively collaborating and sharing knowledge with my colleagues and interviewees. Later, working in training and course development, I learned far more from course members and fellow tutors than I ever imparted to them. Moving into websites and intranets opened up a world of fresh opportunities to learn and share. And now, helping organisations to implement and sustain knowledge-working in their businesses gives me the chance to put all that learning into action – and continue to build on it.
So this blog site is, in some ways, a tribute to all the knowledgeable and patient individuals I’ve encountered, and all the shoulders I’ve left footprints on !"
Got the T-shirt ?
Did the Army offer funny hats and sweeties to new recruits learning to strip an Enfield ?
I think not. Apparently BBC hacks needed freebies to cajole them into training on their new newsroom computer system. The Times has discovered that the BBC bought 1,500 Open Media mugs and 1,100 T-shirts for £9,000, according to a response to a Freedom of Information request, “to ensure staff knew the system was changing”. It also spent £2,000 on 30 banners.
A BBC spokesman said “The roll out has required a substantial and intensive programme of face to face training for 10,000 journalists and the items purchased were required as part of our internal communications and training.”
I think not. Apparently BBC hacks needed freebies to cajole them into training on their new newsroom computer system. The Times has discovered that the BBC bought 1,500 Open Media mugs and 1,100 T-shirts for £9,000, according to a response to a Freedom of Information request, “to ensure staff knew the system was changing”. It also spent £2,000 on 30 banners.
A BBC spokesman said “The roll out has required a substantial and intensive programme of face to face training for 10,000 journalists and the items purchased were required as part of our internal communications and training.”
Bedfellows
The tenants of the old BBC White City 1 building are a right mixed bunch. It's now called WestWorks, and is home to the ITV production offices for GMB, This Morning and Loose Women. Also established as tenants are bio-technology specialists Synthace and Autulus - presumably hoping for some synergies with the Imperial College tech campus that occupies the old BBC Enterprises/Worldwide site over the Westway. They'll be joined next year by Novartis, the Swiss pharmaceutical company.
Other floors hold Arts Alliance Media, Chinese-owned digital cinema specialists, and OneWeb, who plan to deliver broadband worldwide by a network of 882 low-earth-orbit satellites.
Other floors hold Arts Alliance Media, Chinese-owned digital cinema specialists, and OneWeb, who plan to deliver broadband worldwide by a network of 882 low-earth-orbit satellites.
Friday, December 7, 2018
Time for Fiona
Apparently Fiona Bruce has enough time in her diary to present Question Time without a dent in her current tv portfolio.
"Fiona will continue to present the main news bulletins regularly and will still present Fake Or Fortune? and Antiques Roadshow."
I suspect she won't show up on ITV again soon, and there may be fewer A-list gigs like presenting the School Travel Awards, The Banker of The Year, The Local Authority Pension Fund Awards, and The European Contact Centre and Customer Service Awards.
"Fiona will continue to present the main news bulletins regularly and will still present Fake Or Fortune? and Antiques Roadshow."
I suspect she won't show up on ITV again soon, and there may be fewer A-list gigs like presenting the School Travel Awards, The Banker of The Year, The Local Authority Pension Fund Awards, and The European Contact Centre and Customer Service Awards.
Wet bottom
Another ITV import for Television Centre. This Morning is linking up with iSKA to bring a mobile ice-skating rink on site from Monday. Members of the public can book sessions from 2pm. Surely The One Show can't be far behind....
Contract
The Sun says Danny Dyer has signed a new extended contract tying him to the BBC.
He seems to be hosting Have I Got News For You tonight, which might be evidence of the deal. The panel includes Judy Murray. A terrific response all round to one of the most significant news weeks of the year....
He seems to be hosting Have I Got News For You tonight, which might be evidence of the deal. The panel includes Judy Murray. A terrific response all round to one of the most significant news weeks of the year....
Thursday, December 6, 2018
Moving
Telegraph hacks could be spending their last Christmas in The News Hangar at Victoria, home to their multimedia ambitions since 2006. Management have instructed agents to find them new offices of around 110,000 sq ft, either in the West End or west London.
Presumably they'll get something back on the lease at Buckingham Palace Road, which has nine years to run.
Presumably they'll get something back on the lease at Buckingham Palace Road, which has nine years to run.
On board
Sky has set up a Sky News editorial board, as part of the promises to maintain editorial independence and funding in the Comcast takeover. ITV alumni are in pole position.
Nigel Baker is to be Chairman. He's CEO of Thomson Foundation, formerly with APTN, and news editor at ITN during the Yugoslav conflict and the Gulf War. Sue Inglish has a cv with 13 years at BBC News and 13 at ITN. Chris Banatvala was formerly OFCOM’s founding Director of Standards and a Channel Four (ITN) News journalist for eight years from 1993. Mark Astaire is Chairman of Corporate Broking of Barclays PLC. He was a reporter on the ITV regional politics programme, Central Lobby in the early 80s.
Nigel Baker is to be Chairman. He's CEO of Thomson Foundation, formerly with APTN, and news editor at ITN during the Yugoslav conflict and the Gulf War. Sue Inglish has a cv with 13 years at BBC News and 13 at ITN. Chris Banatvala was formerly OFCOM’s founding Director of Standards and a Channel Four (ITN) News journalist for eight years from 1993. Mark Astaire is Chairman of Corporate Broking of Barclays PLC. He was a reporter on the ITV regional politics programme, Central Lobby in the early 80s.
Wednesday, December 5, 2018
Painting tips
The hunt for a successor for Sir Charles Saumarez Smith, 64, as CEO at the Royal Academy of Arts, is on. Jonty Claypole, the BBC’s Director of Arts since 2014, is listed as contender by The Londoner's Diary in the Evening Standard, nay, a "favourite”.
Tim Marlow, the RA’s artistic director, is a former presenter of Kaleidscope on Radio 4, and Culture Shock on the World Service. His partner is Tanya Hudson, who is executive producer of the imagine.... strand, presented and edited by Alan Yentob. She's technically, therefore, part of Jonty's department. Jonty and Tanya came together for Front Row Late this autumn, presented by Royal Academician and Professor of Ancient Literature, Mary Beard.
The new CEO will start in the New Year.
Tim Marlow, the RA’s artistic director, is a former presenter of Kaleidscope on Radio 4, and Culture Shock on the World Service. His partner is Tanya Hudson, who is executive producer of the imagine.... strand, presented and edited by Alan Yentob. She's technically, therefore, part of Jonty's department. Jonty and Tanya came together for Front Row Late this autumn, presented by Royal Academician and Professor of Ancient Literature, Mary Beard.
The new CEO will start in the New Year.
CD news
Fans of W1A will remember a tense plot-line when the Head of Diversity and Head of Inclusivity were made to pitch for one job.
Over at reality, the BBC is advertising for a Head of Creative Diversity, but with responsibility for driving a culture of Diversity and Inclusion. The job reports to Director of Content, Charlotte Moore, who wants someone with a programming background, but HR have put in a lot of stuff that points to someone with HR experience. Let's see who wins out... Here's the main blurb...
At the BBC we want Diversity and Inclusion to be a natural part of what we do, embedded in our culture, and in our commissioning and creative processes. We have made great progress, but there is more to do.
To support this aim, we are introducing the role of Head of Creative Diversity; with the remit of focusing on initiatives related to on-air talent portrayal, commissioning, monitoring and reporting to further strengthen a culture at the BBC of Diversity and Inclusion.
Reporting to the Director of Content, this is an exciting opportunity to champion diversity in the creative community and to work with key industry stakeholders to deliver the BBC’s on-screen diversity ambitions. Working closely alongside the Workforce Diversity & Inclusion team within HR, this role will be a crucial part of the BBC’s ambitious Diversity & Inclusion strategy.
Over at reality, the BBC is advertising for a Head of Creative Diversity, but with responsibility for driving a culture of Diversity and Inclusion. The job reports to Director of Content, Charlotte Moore, who wants someone with a programming background, but HR have put in a lot of stuff that points to someone with HR experience. Let's see who wins out... Here's the main blurb...
At the BBC we want Diversity and Inclusion to be a natural part of what we do, embedded in our culture, and in our commissioning and creative processes. We have made great progress, but there is more to do.
To support this aim, we are introducing the role of Head of Creative Diversity; with the remit of focusing on initiatives related to on-air talent portrayal, commissioning, monitoring and reporting to further strengthen a culture at the BBC of Diversity and Inclusion.
Reporting to the Director of Content, this is an exciting opportunity to champion diversity in the creative community and to work with key industry stakeholders to deliver the BBC’s on-screen diversity ambitions. Working closely alongside the Workforce Diversity & Inclusion team within HR, this role will be a crucial part of the BBC’s ambitious Diversity & Inclusion strategy.
Shelf-full
Your favourite auntie, Charlotte Moore, BBC Director of Content says: “Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without finding an extra little something beneath the tree and this year we want to offer something for everyone, with more than 100 box sets just waiting to be unwrapped. It’s a very special collection of British programming that we know people will love and a chance for everybody to spoil themselves with some real treats over the Christmas period.”
There may be some nostril-flaring at Ofcom over this. They want a formal public interest test conducted before the BBC goes further down this route. Imagine the ruckus if, in the early days of DVDs, the BBC had loaned all licence fee payers 100 box sets for a month from December 12. Our Price and HMV might as well have stopped filling shelves.
Last Christmas' stats show that from Christmas Day to New Year's Eve, iPlayer served up a total of 69.2 million requests and 25.6 million hours of content, up from 58.6m requests and 22.5m hours watched over the same period last year. The increase was put down to box sets, with seasons of Peaky Blinders racking up a total of 8 million requests, and the final episode of season 4 - 'The Company' - pulling in 1,397,000.
I'm not sure of the BBC's long-term strategy here. Maybe they think this regular move will dent Amazon and Netflix subscriptions, but what does it do to their own ambitions of secondary fees from a streaming service, Kangaroo 2 - or plans to break up UKTV ?
There may be some nostril-flaring at Ofcom over this. They want a formal public interest test conducted before the BBC goes further down this route. Imagine the ruckus if, in the early days of DVDs, the BBC had loaned all licence fee payers 100 box sets for a month from December 12. Our Price and HMV might as well have stopped filling shelves.
Last Christmas' stats show that from Christmas Day to New Year's Eve, iPlayer served up a total of 69.2 million requests and 25.6 million hours of content, up from 58.6m requests and 22.5m hours watched over the same period last year. The increase was put down to box sets, with seasons of Peaky Blinders racking up a total of 8 million requests, and the final episode of season 4 - 'The Company' - pulling in 1,397,000.
I'm not sure of the BBC's long-term strategy here. Maybe they think this regular move will dent Amazon and Netflix subscriptions, but what does it do to their own ambitions of secondary fees from a streaming service, Kangaroo 2 - or plans to break up UKTV ?
Stoolies
Other hacks were busy elsewhere, but Matthew Elliott, formerly of Vote Leave, is re-defining himself as a journalist, and was in attendance.
He tweeted "Interested to learn that people over 40 tend to think the BBC is biased to the left, and people under 35 think it’s biased to the right."
This, Matthew, is a simple product of the Corbyn/Farage division of large chunks of British society.
Tuesday, December 4, 2018
Career points
The Daily Mail in Scotland is concerned that the two main presenters of the upcoming Scottish Nine are on different salaries.
An 'industry source' reckons Martin Geissler might be on £80k and Rebecca Curran £60k.
A BBC spokesman, without confirming the numbers, acknowledges there is a difference: "Martin is a very experienced journalist from ITN; Rebecca, by comparison, came to the BBC Scotland from STV a couple of years ago. Clearly Rebecca is a talented and successful journalist but she is at a different point in her career. There is currently a differential in salary, however we have agreed a plan with Rebecca which means she will be on the same pay as Martin in two years".
An 'industry source' reckons Martin Geissler might be on £80k and Rebecca Curran £60k.
A BBC spokesman, without confirming the numbers, acknowledges there is a difference: "Martin is a very experienced journalist from ITN; Rebecca, by comparison, came to the BBC Scotland from STV a couple of years ago. Clearly Rebecca is a talented and successful journalist but she is at a different point in her career. There is currently a differential in salary, however we have agreed a plan with Rebecca which means she will be on the same pay as Martin in two years".
Distant drum
The finale of The Little Drummer Girl on BBC1 will have to go some on catch-up to repay the investment. Against the ratings monster of I'm A Celebrity on Sunday night, it was watched by just 2.6m (11.6% share) according to the overnight ratings. The first episode, at the end of October, has consolidated to 8.1m.
Pure barry
Val the BBC Thought-Leader has been on tour again; this time facing the annual Scottish HR Leadership Group Dinner, a light supper for 140 at the Sheraton in Edinburgh.
Mrs Hughes D'Aeth chose knitwear, presumably Scottish, for the event; here she is flanked by Sandy Begbie, in charge of HR at Standard Life and Tor Farquhar, HR boss at Tata Steel.
Mrs Hughes D'Aeth chose knitwear, presumably Scottish, for the event; here she is flanked by Sandy Begbie, in charge of HR at Standard Life and Tor Farquhar, HR boss at Tata Steel.
Somewhere over
She hands over to Sarah James, who has been the Strictly Come Dancing Series Editor for the last two years and was Series Producer before that.
Louise's previous work included Channel 4's Right to Reply with Roger Bolton; The Farm, the reality series that featured Rebecca Loos entertaining a pig; and Let's Dance for Comic Relief.
Monday, December 3, 2018
Labelled
An inexplicable mix-up at Radio 4 yesterday. Schedules were adjusted to include a half-hour obit of President George Bush Senior. The programme, at 1.30pm, was introduced, and back announced as being presented by Godfrey Hodgson, journalist and historian.
The presenter was in fact former BBC Washington and New York Correspondent David McNeil, who recalls putting the thing together nearly 20 years ago. He's not best pleased.
The presenter was in fact former BBC Washington and New York Correspondent David McNeil, who recalls putting the thing together nearly 20 years ago. He's not best pleased.
Big Issue
A bizarre edition of Newswatch this weekend indulged in 10 minutes of navel-gazing about the failure of the 'BBC News Gallows' outside Parliament to get rid of anti-Brexit posters from the background - and then finished with two-minutes on the Newsnight 'vicar'.
Anyone got any big issues for the programme to discuss ? I thought so.
Anyone got any big issues for the programme to discuss ? I thought so.
Just kidding
It's three years and four months since the charity Kids Company collapsed. It's a year since it was first reported that the Insolvency Service would be disqualifying the charity's directors. It's seven months since one of them, Sunetra Atkinson, accepted a two and a half year ban.
The Charity Commission, even under pocket battleship (and former Beeboid) Baroness Stowell, seems to be deferring to the Insolvency Service, and the Insolvency Service is taking an age to bring civil proceedings against the remaining seven directors and Camila Batmanghelidjh. The seven are being represented by Bates Wells Braithwaite; Ms Batmanghelidjh has the services of Gunnercooke.
Meanwhile Gina Miller has told the FT that she was ahead of the game in spotting problems at the charity: “I actually complained about Kids Company back in 2009 and I was told in no uncertain terms by senior members of the government that I was jealous of Camila".
The Charity Commission, even under pocket battleship (and former Beeboid) Baroness Stowell, seems to be deferring to the Insolvency Service, and the Insolvency Service is taking an age to bring civil proceedings against the remaining seven directors and Camila Batmanghelidjh. The seven are being represented by Bates Wells Braithwaite; Ms Batmanghelidjh has the services of Gunnercooke.
Meanwhile Gina Miller has told the FT that she was ahead of the game in spotting problems at the charity: “I actually complained about Kids Company back in 2009 and I was told in no uncertain terms by senior members of the government that I was jealous of Camila".
Sunday, December 2, 2018
Entrepreneur
Tortoise Media founder James Harding (right, in fundraising jeans) explains a few point to ex-Google CEO Eric Schmidt, at the Centre for Entrepreneurs Inaugural Annual Lecture in the Royal Institution.
Thinker
Rethinking Frames of Public Media is a grand title for something. That something turns out to be an adjunct to the Gaudeamus Romanian Book Fair in Bucharest.
The sideshow was organised by Radio Romania, and featured the thoughts of Graham Ellis, Production Controller, BBC Radio & Music, Deputy Director Radio, Chair of the EBU Radio Committee, member of the EBU Media Steering Group, President of the Prix Italia 2018, member of the Vatican Secretariat for Communications, BBC Royal Liaison Officer, Lieutenant of the Royal Victoria Order. How does he fit it all in ?
The sideshow was organised by Radio Romania, and featured the thoughts of Graham Ellis, Production Controller, BBC Radio & Music, Deputy Director Radio, Chair of the EBU Radio Committee, member of the EBU Media Steering Group, President of the Prix Italia 2018, member of the Vatican Secretariat for Communications, BBC Royal Liaison Officer, Lieutenant of the Royal Victoria Order. How does he fit it all in ?
Off message ?
Which BBC working mum vetted the 2018 seasonal ident, Christmas Time Together ?
Last year, we had a happy, dancing animated father and daughter. This year's effort, filmed over four days in October around Cromer (including building a helter-skelter on the pier) starts off 'noir', with a hard-pressed working mother ignoring her schoolboy son. By some mysterious interaction of video screens - the mother's work computer, and the boy's arcade game - she realises she's got her priorities wrong, and rushes to the boy's side.
This stereotype has irritated more than one significant Twitter commentator. Expect a short version to be running soon.
Last year, we had a happy, dancing animated father and daughter. This year's effort, filmed over four days in October around Cromer (including building a helter-skelter on the pier) starts off 'noir', with a hard-pressed working mother ignoring her schoolboy son. By some mysterious interaction of video screens - the mother's work computer, and the boy's arcade game - she realises she's got her priorities wrong, and rushes to the boy's side.
This stereotype has irritated more than one significant Twitter commentator. Expect a short version to be running soon.
Queens
Two Brits made NBC's Saturday Night Live show: Claire Foy from The Crown played the UK Queen of US News Broadcasting, Katty Kay, in a skit on Morning Joe, the MSNBC breakfast show. She makes intermittent appearances with attempts at breaking news about Trump....
Saturday, December 1, 2018
A month of Sounds
BBC Director of Radio, Educations, Sounds, Podcasts and More James Purnell has posted a progress report on the Sounds app, one month on from launch.
He says 1.2m people are using Sounds to listen to an average of over 2.5 hours of radio, podcasts and music mixes per week. There's no comparison offered with the Radio iPlayer. RAJAR tells us that across the UK 6.9m adults listen to at least one podcast every week; 28 million people have downloaded one form of radio app.
A BBC-commissioned sample survey of 1,300 found that 4 out of 5 who had used the app rated it as Excellent or Very Good and over three quarters said they would recommend it. Again, no comparison offered with fading Radio iPlayer. Google Play store reviews rate Sounds at 2.3 stars, compared with 3.7 for Radio iPlayer.
Changes have been made: the auto-play function now offers the next in a series. There are plans to add a sleep timer, make it easier to subscribe to content, introduce a sharing button, add more text about shows and display recent tracks played on live stations in the app.
He says 1.2m people are using Sounds to listen to an average of over 2.5 hours of radio, podcasts and music mixes per week. There's no comparison offered with the Radio iPlayer. RAJAR tells us that across the UK 6.9m adults listen to at least one podcast every week; 28 million people have downloaded one form of radio app.
A BBC-commissioned sample survey of 1,300 found that 4 out of 5 who had used the app rated it as Excellent or Very Good and over three quarters said they would recommend it. Again, no comparison offered with fading Radio iPlayer. Google Play store reviews rate Sounds at 2.3 stars, compared with 3.7 for Radio iPlayer.
Changes have been made: the auto-play function now offers the next in a series. There are plans to add a sleep timer, make it easier to subscribe to content, introduce a sharing button, add more text about shows and display recent tracks played on live stations in the app.
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