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Rona Fairhead vows to defend BBC’s independence Rona Fairhead vows to defend BBC’s independence
(35 minutes later)
Rona Fairhead has started work as chair of the BBC Trust, sending an email to staff vowing to defend its independence and to act on behalf of licence fee payers rather than BBC insiders.Rona Fairhead has started work as chair of the BBC Trust, sending an email to staff vowing to defend its independence and to act on behalf of licence fee payers rather than BBC insiders.
In an enthusiastic email that stressed the importance of the BBC to her life, the corporation’s first female chair nevertheless pointed out the challenges ahead, including cost cutting and sorting out the mistakes of the past.In an enthusiastic email that stressed the importance of the BBC to her life, the corporation’s first female chair nevertheless pointed out the challenges ahead, including cost cutting and sorting out the mistakes of the past.
Recent scandals such as the corporation’s handling of the Jimmy Savile scandal, which led to the departure of the last director general, controversial executive payoffs and the high costs of its Digital Media Initiative were only alluded to in a line that talked about the management’s need to “rectify some of the high profile issues of the past”.Recent scandals such as the corporation’s handling of the Jimmy Savile scandal, which led to the departure of the last director general, controversial executive payoffs and the high costs of its Digital Media Initiative were only alluded to in a line that talked about the management’s need to “rectify some of the high profile issues of the past”.
Director general Tony Hall and his team are “under no illusions about the challenging environment; the changing viewing patterns, the explosion of choice and the rapid changes in technologies and markets”, she wrote. “They understand that they need to operate efficiently and to rectify some of the high profile issues of the past, while building this compelling future.”Director general Tony Hall and his team are “under no illusions about the challenging environment; the changing viewing patterns, the explosion of choice and the rapid changes in technologies and markets”, she wrote. “They understand that they need to operate efficiently and to rectify some of the high profile issues of the past, while building this compelling future.”
A woman forced to deny any friendship with the chancellor George Osborne in her grilling by the culture, media and sport select committee, Fairhead failed to mention any political challenges just seven months ahead of an election and negotiations for charter renewal due in 2016. In referring to “Tony and his team” she sparked possibly inadvertent comparisons with the BBC sitcom W1A where the director general was only referred to by his first name, although the former chief of the Financial Times Group signed herself simply “Rona”.A woman forced to deny any friendship with the chancellor George Osborne in her grilling by the culture, media and sport select committee, Fairhead failed to mention any political challenges just seven months ahead of an election and negotiations for charter renewal due in 2016. In referring to “Tony and his team” she sparked possibly inadvertent comparisons with the BBC sitcom W1A where the director general was only referred to by his first name, although the former chief of the Financial Times Group signed herself simply “Rona”.
Her role would be to support the licence fee payers, she wrote, though the trust would also “defend vigorously” the BBC’s independence from interference, governmental or otherwise. “In this role, we can help the BBC remain the gold standard in journalism, produce the highest quality, boldest programmes and remain the beating heart of the UK’s creative and digital world. We need to defend vigorously the BBC’s independence while holding it accountable to its audience and to its public service mission and ensuring it continues to meet the changing needs of its audiences.”Her role would be to support the licence fee payers, she wrote, though the trust would also “defend vigorously” the BBC’s independence from interference, governmental or otherwise. “In this role, we can help the BBC remain the gold standard in journalism, produce the highest quality, boldest programmes and remain the beating heart of the UK’s creative and digital world. We need to defend vigorously the BBC’s independence while holding it accountable to its audience and to its public service mission and ensuring it continues to meet the changing needs of its audiences.”
The email also said that Diane Coyle, who has been acting chairman since Chris Patten stepped down unexpectedly due to ill health earlier this year, is expected to leave at the end of her second two term as a trustee in May next year. The email confirmed that Diane Coyle will quit as acting chairman, a role she took up when Chris Patten stepped down unexpectedly due to ill health earlier this year. Coyle is one of the Trustees expected to leave at the end of her second term as a Trustee in May next year.
Referring to her relatively unusual business background for someone at the top of the BBC, where chairmen to date have tended to come either from broadcasting or political backgrounds, Fairhead wrote: “My background is in media, but the broadcasting world is new to me and I am eager to learn more.”Referring to her relatively unusual business background for someone at the top of the BBC, where chairmen to date have tended to come either from broadcasting or political backgrounds, Fairhead wrote: “My background is in media, but the broadcasting world is new to me and I am eager to learn more.”
She will spend Thursday chairing her first joint meeting of the trust and executive board.She will spend Thursday chairing her first joint meeting of the trust and executive board.