Purnell to the BBC on £295k

[amateur51]

The Newsreader on BBC24 has just confided that this was the main subject of conversation today amongst her BBC colleagues so maybe that's the reason, mangerton ... ?

Everyone was 'shocked' she declared.

The staff at the BBC obviously believes it's own hype about these sporting celebrities as if they all lead wonderfully admirable and wholly fulfilled lives, unlike the rest of humanity.

To be fair to those working on 24-hours news programmes they are 'aware' of these stories from the first and can watch them as they develop hence their fascination.

When was the last time a Paralympic athlete was up on a murder charge, scotty? Potentially much more of a story than 'Old Man Decides To Retire', surely

[mangerton]

The Newsreader on BBC24 has just confided that this was the main subject of conversation today amongst her BBC colleagues so maybe that's the reason, mangerton ... ?

Everyone was 'shocked' she declared.

The staff at the BBC obviously believes it's own hype about these sporting celebrities as if they all lead wonderfully admirable and wholly fulfilled lives, unlike the rest of humanity.

Yes, that is very probably the reason.

[scottycelt]

To be fair to those working on 24-hours news programmes they are 'aware' of these stories from the first and can watch them as they develop hence their fascination.

When was the last time a Paralympic athlete was up on a murder charge, scotty? Potentially much more of a story than 'Old Man Decides To Retire', surely

[Russ]

It's not obvious what Purnell's job will be other than provide a further level of interference to current posts.

Russ

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

..to carry on Birt's works no doubt ...

if you change the n in his surname to a c it seems a much better appointment

and if you make Birts Works Birks Works it sounds much better too ..]

[mercia]

When was the last time a Paralympic athlete was up on a murder charge

yes, its going to be quite an exclusive club isn't it

[french frank]

It's not obvious what Purnell's job will be other than provide a further level of interference to current posts.

The press release says:

"James Purnell, currently a senior producer at Rare Day and adviser to the Boston Consulting Group, has been appointed as Director, Strategy and Digital. He is a former Secretary of State for Culture, and is on the board of the British Film Institute and the Royal National Theatre. He is returning to the BBC, having been Head of Corporate Planning in the 1990s. He will lead on developing the BBC's strategy, in the build up to the BBC's centenary. To that end, his remit will include running the Policy & Strategy, Digital, Public Affairs & Communications, and Marketing & Audiences divisions."

That seems to include Davie's original job in Marketing, Audiences and Communications (Davie seems to have a similar remit now, but grander). I doubt 'digital' can be the equivalent of 'Future Media' since he isn't technically qualified ... . Policy and Strategy seem to be the bits tied up with the Beeb's forthcoming centenary.

I agree, not obvious what he will be doing.

[amateur51]

The press release says:

"James Purnell, currently a senior producer at Rare Day and adviser to the Boston Consulting Group, has been appointed as Director, Strategy and Digital. He is a former Secretary of State for Culture, and is on the board of the British Film Institute and the Royal National Theatre. He is returning to the BBC, having been Head of Corporate Planning in the 1990s. He will lead on developing the BBC's strategy, in the build up to the BBC's centenary. To that end, his remit will include running the Policy & Strategy, Digital, Public Affairs & Communications, and Marketing & Audiences divisions."

That seems to include Davie's original job in Marketing, Audiences and Communications (Davie seems to have a similar remit now, but grander). I doubt 'digital' can be the equivalent of 'Future Media' since he isn't technically qualified ... . Policy and Strategy seem to be the bits tied up with the Beeb's forthcoming centenary.

I agree, not obvious what he will be doing.

But why such an astonishingly high salary? I thought this was a time of austerity? Is his (largely unspecified) role really worth eight (probably more) NHS nurses? Or two chief exectives of housing associations?

[french frank]

But why such an astonishingly high salary? I thought this was a time of austerity? Is his (largely unspecified) role really worth eight (probably more) NHS nurses? Or two chief exectives of housing associations?

Well, it did occur to me that the breadth of the remit perhaps required 3 people, each on £100,000. But they'll probably appoint them too, as junior managers

[amateur51]

Well, it did occur to me that the breadth of the remit perhaps required 3 people, each on £100,000. But they'll probably appoint them too, as junior managers

[Vile Consort]

Goodness knows, but the first 15 mins of PM tonight were devoted to Pistorius, of whom I'd never heard until today. "Man suspected of shooting woman in flat".

Ah ... so it isn't just me then!

[handsomefortune]

Recreations: walking, food, travel. No obvious arts interests, then.

appointed to an important job by the BBC at £295 p.a.

two pounds ninety five would be ideal anotherbob!

all the more money spare to reward the highest journalistic standards.

as for 'excellence' it's been an abysmal start to the twenty first century as far as i can see, and i hope they include this specific point at their centenary megaburbble fest.(which should really be our centenary but somehow isn't any more ).

"bbc" think best bet, create more posts with a different selection of aspirational lemmings in order to maintain tippy top down power structure, and thrape it till it gives out no more cash:the logic of pub fruit machine players .....it's really gr8 for a tiny minority!