Next time BBC DG Tim Davie and BBC Director of Nations Rhodri Talfan-Davies have a routine meeting, and the topic of leadership skills comes up, maybe they should have a mirror handy.
The current proposed changes in local and regional journalism have been in development for over a year, and yet, the delivery to those affected has been fumbled, the balance sheet is unexplained, and a shared, clear vision is almost entirely missing. Truss/Kwarteng lessons ?
First, the absence of a caring side. This is a brutal, old school cull, using HR techniques from the last century. Rename the jobs, because, apparently, all current staff don't match the new requirements to crew the new boat - except, transparently, it's the same old boat, just doing fewer trips, with not even a plan to hand for some new vessel. Thus, in the run-up to Christmas, all jobs in English local radio between receptionist and executive producer are now 'at risk'. (By the way, technical staff working on the Oxford and Cambridge tv opt-outs have been told they are redundant from December 16). And, as staff prepare for the interviews that will split friends and colleagues, they have no idea who will be making the choices, because there are to be six new regional 'audio editors'.
Roughly four staff on every station will be going - inevitably, the afternoon/drive teams will feel most vulnerable, but in many stations, there's some rotation, so breakfast and mid-morning teams and their presenters are in the mix, whilst still trying to sound positive/rational at the microphone.
Here's one of the exciting slides shown to presenters - using the words 'local bases' to disguise the new regional shows. Note Thursday evenings are entirely repeats.
What do we know about the online future ? The Nations and Regions approach has been unsteady over the years, squabbling over brands and strategy. The favoured Twitter handles and Facebook pages are associated with the 6.30pm regional television shows, mostly trailing tv output. On the tv shows, there's almost compulsory trailing back to local radio, but, of course, should they switch to radio, say, at 7pm, they'll get regional output. There are even hints that the 'local' radio bulletins after 2pm will be made at regional centres.
Much current social media traction for BBC local journalism comes from the Twitter/Facebook/Instagram accounts of hard-working local radio presenters and producers; they must feel their efforts are really valued. It is very much a one-way street. Go to the BBC News website, select local, and search 'Merseyside'; no return.
When the BBC started local radio, there was a gradual roll-out. The 'growing value' of a switch to online has no pilot, model or exemplar in place. Unless the vision is unveiled, it looks like another chase for clicks and eyeballs, where big numbers are common but often meaningless, and a move away from the genuine engagement of radio. Look at the sort of people who boast about their online impact, when their broadcast presence is lacking viewers and listeners.
Until there's a 'vision', the suspicion is that new staff will be simply re-chunking material from the 6.30pm tv shows, for a slot in the corner of the iPlayer front page. Tell us there's more than that, Rhodri, and we might get it.
Anyone remember the last time the BBC proposed a major switch to online local coverage ? The New Media Association (of newspapers) strangled it.
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