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Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Nadine Carroll who wrote (26936)	1/29/2004 1:17:40 PM
From: gamesmistress	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 793964

Nope, two to go. Don't forget Richard Sambrook: The BBC's management led by director general Greg Dyke and head of news, Richard Sambrook was lambasted by Lord Hutton for failing to investigate Andrew Gilligan's notes of his meeting with David Kelly to check whether they matched his report on the Today programme. guardian.co.uk I don't think anyone in management would publicly back Gilligan now, but there's always the union (and look who the head of the union told this to! just shows you, huh????: Back Gilligan or face dispute, union tells BBC Claire Cozens Wednesday January 28, 2004 The BBC must back Andrew Gilligan or face an industrial dispute by its journalists, the head of the National Union of Journalists warned today as it emerged that the BBC reporter will face strong criticism in Lord Hutton's report. The NUJ president, Jeremy Dear, said the union would take "whatever action is necessary" to protect Gilligan and cautioned the corporation against sacking or even disciplining its correspondent. "Our reaction would be to immediately back him, to represent him at any subsequent hearings, and to argue with our members that they should take whatever action is necessary to protect his position," he told the al-Jazeera website. media.guardian.co.uk Of course the staff don't get it: Staff walk out in protest (Filed: 29/01/2004) Some BBC staff have staged an hour-long walkout in protest at the resignations of Greg Dyke and Gavyn Davies. Staff gathered outside Broadcasting House, central London, and Television Centre, west London, to voice their anger at losing their director-general and chairman of governors. Many of the 400 workers outside Television Centre held banners saying "Bring back Greg" with a picture of Mr Dyke superimposed on to a figure of the BBC's Children in Need mascot, Pudsey Bear. Harry Matharu, 42, who works in the technology department, said outside Broadcasting House: "I'm totally shocked and devastated, just like the majority of staff in the BBC. "Greg has done more for the BBC than anyone else. He's approachable, caring and listens to staff at all levels. "I think it's a major tragedy for the BBC that he's gone, and I don't think Greg and Gavyn should have resigned. "The Hutton Report misses out so much information and focuses on a narrow area and we are scrutinised to the highest level." Richard Curtis, 35, an engineer at Radio 4, said: "My main concern is that with the climbing down, the news gatherers will stop their task of questioning the Government and holding it to account." Martin Montague, 31, a producer on digital radio station BBC7, said: "Greg should never have gone, he's done so much for the corporation. "I know that people in local radio think he walks on water because of all that he's put into that. As for the Hutton Report, the word whitewash comes to mind." The protest, which began shortly after 3pm, was supported by the National Union of Journalists. Jeremy Dear, its secretary-general, said: "The NUJ is very worried that the BBC is giving in to pressure from the Government rather than standing up for independent journalism." telegraph.co.uk (Hey, if they all walked out, could they be fired? And replaced? No, I guess not...)

To: Nadine Carroll who wrote (26936)	1/29/2004 2:04:16 PM
From: gamesmistress	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 793964

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!