Speech given at the Newspaper Society Annual Lunch
Monday 4 May 2004
Printable version
Not checked against delivery
Thank you for inviting me to speak to you today.
You won't be surprised to learn there are quite a few
challenges leading the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ at the moment, especially given events at
the start of this year.
But there's certainly a few perks too - lunch at The
Savoy as a guest of this society being one of them.
I'm delighted to be here and to have this opportunity
to speak to you and your guests.
The local and regional press are without a doubt one
of this country's great assets – something I know you've been marking
this week with Local Newspaper Week.
The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's Business Editor, Jeff Randall, recently interviewed
in the Independent, said the following about the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Director General's
job: "I have seen some big management jobs in my time. I have spent
a lot of time looking round industries and businesses but this has got
to be one of the most difficult jobs to do properly.
"You are under fire 24 hours a day, seven days
a week, 52 weeks a year. You need energy in shed loads and you have
got to have a skin with the texture of titanium."
My roots are in local journalism – albeit broadcast
rather than print. Being here today in these surrounding certainly feels
a long way from the grubby newsroom in Leeds where I started out.
I'd gone to work for the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ as a holiday job, expecting
no more than a few week's work but immediately fell in love with local
broadcasting and the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ.
Twenty-five years on I'm still with the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ… and I have
to say, still loving it.
I like to think I've learnt a lot in that time but some
of the most important lessons of my career were learnt in that newsroom:
that accuracy is everything; that
impartiality is much more than a nice idea and that being the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ means
that every report in every programme must stand up to scrutiny.
Those values remain the same but there's been enormous
change in our industry during those 25 years and particularly in the
last decade.
For the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ I don't recall a more challenging or important
time than right now.
Broadcasting is undergoing a revolution, thanks to digital
technology.
Where there was scarcity of supply, there's now abundance.
Television and radio have become interactive and increasingly
personalised services.
And as a result, people's expectations of broadcasting
are being totally transformed.
And for the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ there have never been so many or such
profound questions to be answered:
How do we adapt to enormous social and technical changes?
What should we do, and just as important, what shouldn't we do?
How should we be funded?
And, of course, the biggest question of all: What is the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ for?
As you know, the process for reviewing the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's Royal
Charter is now underway. The process runs to 2006 which gives all of
us much time to consider these and many other questions.
In addition we've the ongoing Ofcom review of public
service television – the first part of which was published a fortnight
ago.
Μύ
[Ofcom
review of public service television broadcasting - Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ statement]
And, of course we expect the report from Philip Graf
on the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's online services to be published soon.
I know this is an issue which concerns members of this
society and I will come on to talk about the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's developing role at
the community level in a moment.
But first, in light of the fact that yesterday was World
Press Freedom Day I'd like to say a few words about the independence
of the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ and why it matters.
They call this the information age. Digital television,
radio and interactive services present us with bewildering amounts of
words and pictures.
The big question is, are we any better informed as a
result? In theory at least, the proliferation of media here and around
the world should offer citizens more of a chance to be informed and
to broaden the debate.
Plurality in the provision of news remains the cornerstone
of any informed democracy. Surely then, the more the merrier?
Increased competition certainly can lead to innovation
and improvements in choice. But the economics of broadcasting can also
lead to decreased investment, less range and less ambition.
We have a world in which more and more news providers
slug it out for increasingly fragmented audiences.
And in this world, I guess it's hardly surprising that
some simply resort to telling people what they want to hear.
Or offering a one sided view of what's an increasingly complex world.
Or marginalising certain opinions and accepting unchallenged, the views
of some but not others.
This may be an information age but information itself
isn't enough. It's the veracity, accuracy, objectivity and diversity
of views which matter as we search for answers in an uncertain world
and audiences search for trust and reliability.
This is a world in which I see the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ as an independent
broadcaster, locally, nationally and internationally, as increasingly
important, not less.
For more than 80 years, our reputation has been based
on the principle of providing fair, accurate and impartial news and
information to audiences everywhere.
Many things may have changed in that time but our commitment
to that simple principle has not.
Internationally, as global debate in many areas becomes
increasingly polarised, the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's reputation as an impartial voice is
actually gaining in value.
The World Service has always been at the heart of our
proposition overseas.
But as audience habits change, particularly in the developing
world, our global television news channel Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World and our international
facing websites are taking on new significance.
Interactivity is making these services more connected
with audiences and with each other. We're creating more opportunities
for global conversations which foster tolerance and understanding and
serve as an antidote to intolerance, prejudice and hate.
Looking around the world today, I can't think of a better
time for the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ to be fulfilling its historic mission to help Nation
Speak Peace unto Nation.
But of course it's this nation that the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ speaks to
first and foremost, enriching people's lives with programmes which inform,
educate and entertain and with rigorous, independent journalism at the
heart of supporting and informed democracy.
Independence and a commitment to free speech has always
been a Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ hallmark.
Having said that, it's not always been easy. Throughout
our history we've often had to fight for our right to tell it like it
is.
Over the years, politicians of every persuasion have
occasionally sought to influence the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ, to reduce the range of opinions
we air, particularly at times of national crisis.
The Falklands, the Tripoli bombings and Kosovo have
all seen politicians turning up the heat on the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ β€“ and the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ standing
firm.
This principle of independence from all political and
commercial pressures runs deep within the organisation and the people
who work there.
It's also something that matters to our audiences.
In spite of the explosion of choice now on offer, eight out of ten people
watch or listen to Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ News every week and, according to independent
research, still trust us more than any other broadcaster.
From Newsbeat to Newsnight our programmes must contribute
to creating an informed society – not telling people what to think but
presenting them with hard facts, even-handed interviewing, context setting
and analysis which allow them to draw their own conclusions and make
their own judgements.
The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ is not unique in its ability or desire to do
this. We are fortunate in this country to have a broadcast and print
media committed to high standards.
Local papers are in many ways the bedrock of this system
and deservedly enjoy high levels of public trust.
But the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ is unique in being constituted as a wholly
independent entity, free from government control, proprietor influence
and the need to please shareholders or advertisers.
What's also unique about the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ is that it's effectively
owned by the people of this country.
This is a privileged position for us and we owe it to
the people of this country to repay the investment they make through
the licence fee.
We repay this investment by upholding the highest standards
and meeting the public's demands.
And they expect independence, accuracy, fairness and
impartiality; they expect that we tell the truth, that trust is the
foundation stone; that we always act in the public interest; that we
test the arguments on all sides of any debate and that we won't shy
away from admitting mistakes or recognising that sometimes we could
do better.
What also matters to our audiences is that the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ
remains relevant to their lives.
There've been plenty of predictions that the digital
age meant the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's days were numbered.
But far from fading away, what we've actually seen is
a new modern Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ emerging, one which is in tune with serving all who
play it.
Clearly we have to recognise that people are travelling
at different speeds on the journey to a full digital Britain. But more
than half the nation now have multi-channel digital television; half
the nation is now connected to the Net.
By seizing the opportunities of digital, we're remaining
as relevant as ever.
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ ONE, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ TWO and our analogue radio networks of
course remain our core services but we're also offering the increased
choice and variety that modern audiences demand to ensure we maintain
our overall reach.
More than nine out of ten are still turning to the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ
each week.
Freeview, a Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ inspired idea to offer subscription-free digital television,
is now the fastest growing platform in the UK and is now in nearly four
million households.
Our digital television channels are growing in terms of reach and reputation,
thanks to programmes like Little Britain on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ THREE and The Alan Clark
Diaries on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ FOUR.
And more than 1.5 million people a week are listening to our digital
radio networks.
At a local level, we see the same story – a Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ becoming
more relevant and more in tune with people's lives.
This is partly thanks to modernisation and substantial
extra investment in our regional television and local radio services.
But it's also got a lot to do with using digital technology
and the internet to get closer to our audiences.
I'm conscious that this is an area of particular interest
to this society so I would like to focus a little more on explaining
why this is perhaps more important to the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ than ever before.
There was a time when ITV was top dog by a mile when
it came to regional television news. It had far better resources - more
cameras, more crews, better studio facilities - and the lion's share
of audiences.
When I joined that Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ regional newsroom in Leeds 25
years ago, ITV regional news was the gold standard and the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ was not
only judged to be second best, we were even judged by some not to be
serious about regional news at all.
People said we did it because we had to. How times have
changed. Today it's ITV which is retreating in the regions, closing
studios, losing staff and centralising its operations.
It's the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ which is devolving more money and resources,
building new studios, getting closer to communities and championing
new ideas.
And people are voting with their feet – or at least
their fingers via the remote control and the radio dial.
The appetite for regional news is as strong as ever.
Indeed, many would argue that as our world grows increasingly global,
that appetite for local roots and a sense of place gets stronger.
More than six million viewers now regularly choose to
watch the 6.30 regional news on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ ONE – more than watch any other
news output on British TV.
And well over ten million people regularly listen to
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ local radio across England and our national stations in Scotland,
Wales and Northern Ireland.
But what's really transforming what we can do for audiences
locally has been the same thing that's helping us connect better nationally
and internationally. And that's to create a multi media offering to
complement what we do on television and on radio.
The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's Where I Live websites are at the heart of
this extra dimension. And of course it's this aspect of our presence
on the web that particularly concerns you – something you've also made
clear in your submission to Philip's review of our online services.
As Philip's report is due out soon, I'd like to wait
to see what he has to say before responding in detail. But I do want
to use this opportunity to make clear our priorities in this area.
First is that our services have to be distinctive. That
doesn't mean that everything we do will be unique but I do believe our
emphasis should be on providing audiences with something different.
That's why we've invested in Video Nation sites giving
people the chance to make their own video diaries and reports.
We've created a place where users generate their own
content from photo galleries to junior football match reports.
And we've used our sites to launch local social action
campaigns on important issues, from debt to domestic violence.
Creating more of these opportunities for people to generate
their own content, particularly video content, is where our distinctiveness
can lie.
And let's remember these sites are still relatively
new and are still evolving. The continued take-up of the internet, and
of broadband in particular, offers scope for us to increase the emphasis
on giving people a chance to use digital technology to make their own
films – or what we call digital storytelling.
We've already had considerable success with initiatives
such as our Voices project last year and aim to pursue this route in
the future.
In this way, we're creating new outlets for our audience's
creativity. Our goal is firmly to remain an online broadcaster, complementing
rather than conflicting with the services provided elsewhere.
In doing so, I believe we can help promote media literacy
and drive take-up of digital media, particularly the internet and broadband.
Internet access in this country is currently around
50%. Curiosity or necessity will bring many more people online in the
years ahead but others will need persuasion and sometimes a helping
hand.
The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ is known for great content which is the best
incentive to get the unsure to take the plunge.
Research by Mori suggests that Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ services were a main
factor in some two million people accessing the internet for the first
time.
I don't believe anyone gains from a digitally divided
nation, one in which a minority are left behind as the rest of us enjoy
the benefits of increased choice, flexibility and interactivity.
That's why I think it's important that the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ offers
support for those who want to get online.
Our nationally available Webwise courses were completed
by more than 14,000 people last year.
But our local and regional services are also working
hard to bring more people into the online world.
We're creating Open Centres which provide basic internet
training and access and a fleet of special buses to take the same facilities
to outlying towns and villages.
We're committed to getting people over that first hurdle
of trepidation that I suspect we've all felt at one time or another
when confronted with new technology.
Where they go after that is anyone's guess. I hope they
visit bbc.co.uk but I also hope they enjoy everything of quality the
web has to offer, and that includes your sites too.
Finally, let me say a word or two about the relationship
between your newspapers and the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's local TV and radio operations.
As I said at the beginning, I started out in local journalism
and know what a competitive environment it is.
We're not, of course, direct rivals in the way that
the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ competes with local commercial radio and the ITV regional centres.
Even so, we all want to be first to the big story. Nothing
wrong with that – it's natural and competition and choice are a good
thing for our audiences and your readers.
But let's also recognise that we are also very often
on the same side. We're all passionate advocates for the value and importance
of local communities, for the celebration of identity, diversity and
a sense of place.
We're all committed to celebrating what's special about
the thousands of towns and villages of this country.
It's these beliefs that drive our journalists and yours
to their best work.
I believe we have more in common than we sometimes think.
We're certainly both part of the social fabric of our local communities.
With this in mind, I'm genuinely interested in exploring
the opportunities for collaboration that exist between us.
We've already seen up and down the country some great
examples of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ and local newspapers working successfully as partners:
the 'Great Merseysiders' joint venture between Radio Merseyside and
the Liverpool Echo;
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Spotlight's annual Local Champions in the South West with the Western
Morning News;
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio Nottingham's similar initiative with the Nottingham Evening
Post;
and The Big Read competition we ran with several newspaper groups in
the South East.
These are great ideas but also just a fraction of what
could be possible.
So let's remember how much we have in common.
With this in mind let me leave you with a radical and
slightly subversive thought. I believe we can all do more to acknowledge
each other's scoops, original fundraising successes, landmark campaigns
or community initiatives.
I think it's become a habit rather than conscious decision
not to.
The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ could certainly do better in this regard. I
see no reason why we shouldn't be more diligent in name-checking papers
when following up your exclusives or reporting your major contributions
to community life.
In the same way, I'm sure it wouldn't hurt local newspapers
to do likewise for us.
I believe this is a bridge worth building. Who knows,
this could be the beginning of a beautiful new friendship! I for one
would like to think so.
Thank you.
