Ofcom recruits RTÉ's deputy director-general as content director
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Version 0 of 1. Ofcom has appointed Kevin Bakhurst, a former BBC news executive and currently the deputy director-general of Ireland’s public service broadcaster, RTÉ, as its new content group director. He will join the communications watchdog in October as it prepares to assume responsibility for overseeing the regulation of the BBC. Bakhurst had been regarded as the favourite to become RTÉ’s director-general before the appointment in April this year of Dee Forbes, who took up the post last month. In an Irish radio interview Bakhurst denied that his failure to secure the RTÉ job was the reason for leaving. “This didn’t influence my decision”, he said. “I went for that position and Dee is there now... “I would have been delighted to carry on working with her. That wasn’t a factor... when these big jobs come up you have to give them serious consideration.” Bakhurst spent 23 years with the BBC after joining as a researcher in 1989. He went on to hold a series of key jobs in the news division, including editor of the 10 O’Clock News, deputy head of the BBC newsroom and controller of the News Channel. He joined RTÉ in September 2012 to oversee its news and current affairs division at a time when it was, said the Irish Times, suffering from low morale after two scandals. In one case, a documentary programme had libelled a priest and in the other, a presidential candidate complained of sabotage when an RTÉ presenter quoted a tweet containing a false allegation live on air. So Bakhurst was charged with restoring faith in the broadcaster’s investigative journalism. His first act was to oversee the development of a new investigations unit, which had a measure of success with programmes on the charity sector, mistreatment in creches and abuse in care homes. He appeared to be on a roll when promoted to be deputy director-general in early 2014. However, he has also been criticised for RTÉ’s failure to take up certain stories and for an alleged lack of balance in news output, particularly over Ireland’s water charges controversy. These were among the complaints aired with some bitterness on Twitter, at #BakhurstLegacy, following the announcement of his departure. Bakhurst views his record very differently. He said he had spent “a wonderful four years” at RTÉ and was proud of its investigative reporting and daily news coverage. He said: “It has been an absolute privilege to work for the national broadcaster during a time of change and renewal and I wish Dee Forbes and the whole organisation the very best for the years to come.” Forbes praised Bakhurst for leading the news and current affairs division through a period of “immense change and development”, saying his contribution had been significant. Bakhurst said of his new post: “I’m joining Ofcom at an exciting time.” And Sharon White, Ofcom’s chief executive, spoke of Bakhurst bringing “significant editorial experience and leadership qualities, which will greatly benefit Ofcom.” |