BBC Crisis - my view

It's some time since I added to this blog. Life goes on and the Dyke era starts to become history. Despite the protests, the former BBC regime is slowly being replaced by the new one - which is treading a less controversial path. This article by Greg is, all the same, interesting. Prticularly the depth of feeling of betrayal Greg feels. The Observer | Focus | How Blair betrayed me - and the BBC

New DG

Michael Grade, the new chairman, has selected Mark Thompson to be the next Director General. Mark was director of Nations and Regions for a short time. I met him at a BBC event in Bradford called Futureworld. I was impressed with him then and I think he is a good choice now. I hope he hasn't forgotten his months as my boss!

Here's the statement issued by the governors after Mark's appointment:

STATEMENT BY THE BBC’S BOARD OF GOVERNORS

The Board of Governors has today concluded its process to select a BBC Director-General by appointing Mark Thompson. The decision was unanimous.

In considering the requirements of the role, the Governors sought a candidate with unquestionable public service credentials and commitment to the BBC’s editorial mission. They also required a candidate with the qualities to lead the BBC successfully through the Charter review process.

Speaking on behalf of the Board, BBC Chairman Michael Grade said: “We were impressed by Mark Thompson’s analysis of the challenges facing the BBC, and by his track record. We concluded that he was the right person to lead the BBC at this important period in its history.

“All the Governors wish to place on record their immense gratitude to Mark Byford for his outstanding stewardship of the BBC over the last few difficult months.”

and this is Michael Grade's email to all staff:


The Governors have completed their search for the next Director-General
and, on behalf of the Board, I am delighted to announce we have today
appointed Mark Thompson.

I am sure everyone will want to join the Governors in welcoming Mark
Thompson back to the BBC. The Board is delighted he will lead the BBC
into the future.

I want to take this opportunity to thank Mark Byford for leading the BBC
over the last few months. He has done an outstanding job in very
difficult circumstances and all of us owe him our thanks.

I hope this email reaches some of you before you hear the announcement
from the media. I and the rest of the Board were anxious to inform
staff first and we are sorry we were not able to do so during office
hours.



Michael Grade

It's been a few weeks since I added anything to this blog. This story in the Guardian reveals what many of us knew when Greg left the BBC. He was effectively sacked by the governors.
MediaGuardian.co.uk | Radio | Dyke: I was fired by BBC governors

Greg has told Broadcast that he would return as DG if he was asked.
Broadcast - I'd go back if asked

Today there will be protests outside BBC buildings around the country. Staff are still angy about the outcome of the Hutton Report and the response of the BBC governors in accepting Greg Dyke's resignation. This is not a union protest although the unions have organised it. It is for all staff who fear the independence of the BBC has been compromised and challenged by the apparent success of the government and the capitulation of the governors by the governors apology. People will protest is their own time. There is no intention to take programmes off the air or interrupt normal business.
I am in Pebble Mill today - where one of the protests is sceduled to take place. In Hull yesterday staff there were preparing banners for a demonstration outside the new building near Queen's Gardens. They were making their own posters and banners for the event and arranging a rota for staff to stagger their lunch breaks to keep the protest going for several hours.
BBC NEWS | Entertainment | TV and Radio | BBC staff set for Hutton protest
NUJ: BBC journalists hit back at Hutton

Kevin Marsh and Gilligan
femail.co.uk

Today, quite by chance, I found myself in a meeting with one of the BBC governors. Ranjit Sondhi was meeting staff at BBC Radio Lancashire where I was due to have a meeting about the Open College Network. John, Radio Lancashire's Editor, invited me into the meeting because Ranjit had been asking about digital storytelling.

In the meeting of senior staff he invited questions about the outcome of the Hutton Inquiry. Some staff were persistent with their questioning about why Greg had to leave the BBC, and the role the governors played in his resignation. He explained that there were issues raised by both Greg and the Governors about what would be best for the BBC and it had been agreed that Greg's resignation would be in the best interest and would allow the BBC to draw a line under the Hutton Report as quickly as possible. Ranjit was clearly aware of the impact their decision was having on morale and was keen to hear the views of staff in Blackburn.

I was unable to stay until the end of the meeting. My impression from Ranjit, whom I've met on several occasions before, was a deep sense of loss at Greg and Gavin's departures. He said that he hoped a new director general could be appointed who would bring qualities similar to Greg's to the BBC. His ability to communicate at all levels with staff, his commercial acumen and his eye for an opportunity to give the BBC the lead in a competitive environment.

I was impressed with the senior staff at Radio Lancashire and their straightforward questioning of one of the governors. I think Ranjit also appreciated their honest questioning too.

This is the Email Mark Byford sent out to all staff:

This email's going to all staff
-------------------------------
Last week saw some of the most extraordinary days in the life of the BBC and, I guess, for many of us in our own working lives.

We all feel shock and sadness at Greg’s departure. We will miss him hugely. He was loved and admired by us all. He achieved a tremendous amount in four years and created a fantastic impact. Gavyn Davies was also an outstanding Chairman, committed to a strong, public service BBC. He is an honourable man who we shall also miss greatly.

We all love the BBC and what it stands for. Greg has left us a strong legacy. We must now move forward together, using the Values as a guide to the way we behave towards each other and in all we do. The past week has highlighted that we are One BBC. Together we can ensure the BBC is even stronger in the future and will continue to make programmes and provide journalism of the highest standard in our aim to be the most creative organisation in the world.

Can I thank all the teams involved in the Hutton coverage for their professionalism at a particularly challenging time.

This is a difficult period ahead and I ask you all for your support and understanding. The Executive Committee is working hard together to play our part in bringing calm and a sense of stability. But all of us, every member of the BBC, now need to play a part to help lead the BBC through this period. Let’s all recognise WE are the BBC.

The Hutton Report has been published. We made some mistakes. We have accepted that we are going to learn from them.

The independence of the BBC is sacrosanct and will be protected by me and everyone around me. That’s what our audiences expect. The BBC will continue to provide strong and courageous journalism and high quality, innovative and ambitious programming across the board.

So much of what we have achieved in the BBC today has come from Making it Happen. I can now tell you that the 2003 Staff Survey shows that two thirds of you are now behind the changes. That’s fantastic. Let me be clear, the momentum of Making It Happen is unstoppable and we must all ensure during this period we do not take the foot off the accelerator.

Without the Hutton report, this was going to be a very big year for the BBC. Charter Review is now under way and we are going to argue vigorously for a strong BBC, clear in its purpose, enriching people’s lives both around the UK and around the world.

It’s important that recent events only make us stronger, and to do what we do best - making great programmes and delivering great services for all our audiences. Our ambition remains - to be the most creative organisation in the world.

The events of the last week are unprecedented and clearly all the team brief sessions this month rightly will be an opportunity for you to discuss together your own thoughts and feed them back to the Executive Committee. For me personally, one of the really big achievements of Greg was he knew how to communicate – regularly, without fuss and with sincerity. We will keep that going in the coming weeks, I promise.

This has been an incredibly difficult time. None of us have wanted it to happen, but we can get through it together.

We’re going to keep in touch together, regularly, and I plan to let you know how things are progressing later in the week.

Mark

It's after the weekend and Mark has appeared on the Frost programme. Looking serious and determined he affirmed his determination to keep the BBC on track and to raise its journalistic standards. In response to a question from Frost about Gilligan's report being mostly right, Mark responded,"Almost isn't good enough for the BBC."
I'm beginning to wonder what effect Greg's appearances are having on the acting DG's job. Mark, as well as Blair, wants to draw a line under the events of last week and move on. Greg and the country are still have many questions about Hutton, WMD and the influence the government is having on the BBC, threatening its independence.

On the subject of WMD there is to be an inquiry into the intelligence on which the war was based. I heard a comment this morning that this was like Hutton all over again. Jack Straw announcesthe terms opf reference for the inquiry later this morning . President Bush has begun something similar in the US. What happened to the WMD both Bush and Blair were convinced were there? I wonder if the BBC and Greg Dyke will receive an apology from the government if the outcome shows that there never was a threat?

This is the email Greg sent to all staff as he departed.
BBC NEWS | Politics | Greg Dyke's e-mail to BBC staff

Greg Dyke and Mark Byford appeared on Breakfast with Frost this morning. Greg made it clear that it was the governors who decided he should go.
Gilligan has gone too - if he had to go I do wonder why he wasn't the first to offer to resign.

BBC NEWS | Politics | Dyke 'sacked' by BBC governors