Here's more on the wildcat strike by the BBC staffers:
BBC staff protest at Dyke exit
Thursday January 29, 2004
Greg Dyke today admitted he didn't want to leave the BBC as more than 1,000 staff walked out to stage protests outside BBC buildings in London and elsewhere in the country including Swindon, Cardiff and Belfast.
Between 700 and 900 walked out of BBC TV Centre in White City. Police had to be called to control the crowds, who were chanting "We want Greg, We want Greg".
"It's a very emotional experience for me. I love working here. I leave with enormous regret and I am very sad. But I think this is the right decision," Mr Dyke said as he did a grand tour of the corridors of White City at around 5pm.
Footage of his farewell tour on BBC News 24 showed the outgoing director general being followed round like the Pied Piper of Hamlyn.
Asked whether he should not pay heed to the popular protest, Mr Dyke said: "Sadly the director generalship is not a popularity contrast. We got very badly criticised by the Hutton report. Whether that's fair or not is for another time. But if you are that badly criticised it is right for the director general to go."
One BBC staff member said: "It's absolutely mental, there's pandemonium down here. I have never seen anything like it."
Mr Dyke said he had also received more than 1,000 emails from staff and well-wishers who pleaded with him not to leave.
He left his offices at Broadcasting House in central London to make the five-mile journey to west London to talk to staff who had gathered on the pavements in support.
"I don't think they are protesting. They just want to say they are sad. Leading organisations is all about the relationship between people. I've had all sorts of people crying in my office. And I've had more than 1,000 emails saying they are sorry," Mr Dyke said.
Asked whether he wanted to leave, Mr Dyke said: "No, but in the end if you screw up you have to go."
Separately, his long-time friend Peter McHugh, the programming director of GMTV, said: "It's a sad day for journalism, the BBC and TV in general. He was an inspirational and charismatic leader. I think he decided to go to preserve the BBC from further attack. But there aren't many bosses who can get their staff outside the offices protesting when they go."
Rest at: media.guardian.co.uk
Here's a thought, people! Get together with your hero and start your own network! Competition! Yes! |
