Exposure

The job ad for the new Chair of Ofcom runs to 2,600 words. The ad which led to the recruitment of Lord Burns was just 1,200. 

Among new lines: "The Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport is looking for an outstanding individual to appoint as the new Chair for Ofcom." He/she will "represent Ofcom in discussions with ministers" and lead the task of "ensuring news is reported with due accuracy and presented with due impartiality". 

And there's a whole new section laying out the scrutiny of the appointment. It's almost as if they anticipate some MPs on the DCMS Select Committe looking forward to inflicting flesh wounds.

The pre-appointment scrutiny aspect of the appointment has two parts. First, information concerning the appointment and the Minister’s preferred candidate will be shared with the relevant select committee. As part of this process you will need to be content for your name and your CV to be shared with the select committee as the Government’s preferred candidate. You may also be required to complete a pre-appointment hearing questionnaire which could include, among other things:

declarations of any relevant potential conflicts of interest;

what you see as the priorities and key risks for the organisation;

questions about how you would lead the board and work with stakeholders;

your commitment to standards in public life and how you would handle being in the public eye;

Normally any information provided to the select committee by the Government or a candidate will be published.

Second, it is likely that the select committee will decide to call the Government’s preferred candidate to a public hearing before the select committee to answer questions relating to their suitability to the role. You would not be expected to have an in depth technical knowledge of how the body works or an exact plan of what you would do in the role, however you will be expected to provide a credible representation of your understanding of the work of the body and what your role in its future would be.