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New BBC director general begins task of mending corporation's reputation New BBC director general begins task of mending corporation's reputation
(6 months later)
Tony Hall will begin the job of repairing the BBC's battered reputation when he takes up the role of director general on Tuesday. Lord Hall, who started out as a BBC trainee 40 years ago, will spend part of his first day speaking to staff at the corporation, which has been beset with problems since the Jimmy Savile sex abuse scandal came to light last September.Tony Hall will begin the job of repairing the BBC's battered reputation when he takes up the role of director general on Tuesday. Lord Hall, who started out as a BBC trainee 40 years ago, will spend part of his first day speaking to staff at the corporation, which has been beset with problems since the Jimmy Savile sex abuse scandal came to light last September.
The former BBC news executive also has to contend with low staff morale – highlighted by last week's strike in a row over jobs, workload and claims of bullying.The former BBC news executive also has to contend with low staff morale – highlighted by last week's strike in a row over jobs, workload and claims of bullying.
When the previous director general George Entwistle stepped down in November after a Tory peer was mistakenly implicated in child abuse claims in a BBC2 Newsnight report, Hall was the only candidate contacted by the BBC Trust. Before being offered the £450,000-a-year post, he had been chief executive of the Royal Opera House, a job he took up in 2001.When the previous director general George Entwistle stepped down in November after a Tory peer was mistakenly implicated in child abuse claims in a BBC2 Newsnight report, Hall was the only candidate contacted by the BBC Trust. Before being offered the £450,000-a-year post, he had been chief executive of the Royal Opera House, a job he took up in 2001.
Birkenhead-born Hall, who was made a crossbench peer in 2010, admitted there was "a lot of hard work ahead" when announcing his first appointments earlier this year, but said he was creating a team that would "define the BBC and public service broadcasting for the next decade". He had previously spoken of building a "world-class team for this world-class organisation", saying he cared about it passionately.Birkenhead-born Hall, who was made a crossbench peer in 2010, admitted there was "a lot of hard work ahead" when announcing his first appointments earlier this year, but said he was creating a team that would "define the BBC and public service broadcasting for the next decade". He had previously spoken of building a "world-class team for this world-class organisation", saying he cared about it passionately.
The new director general, who was head of BBC news and current affairs from 1996 to 2001, "has a honeymoon period - but it could be a short one", according to media commentator Raymond Snoddy. The former presenter of the BBC News channel's NewsWatch said on Sunday: "Tony Hall arrives with a ocean of good will behind him as the 'right person' to sort out the mess the BBC is in following the Savile and Newsnight scandals.The new director general, who was head of BBC news and current affairs from 1996 to 2001, "has a honeymoon period - but it could be a short one", according to media commentator Raymond Snoddy. The former presenter of the BBC News channel's NewsWatch said on Sunday: "Tony Hall arrives with a ocean of good will behind him as the 'right person' to sort out the mess the BBC is in following the Savile and Newsnight scandals.
"Reality starts tomorrow. He will soon be judged on how well he succeeds – or not – in improving trust in the BBC and restoring morale while coping with real falls in income. Just round the corner there will also be the start of negotiations for a new licence fee settlement and royal charter.""Reality starts tomorrow. He will soon be judged on how well he succeeds – or not – in improving trust in the BBC and restoring morale while coping with real falls in income. Just round the corner there will also be the start of negotiations for a new licence fee settlement and royal charter."
Snoddy warned that "the next new row will probably break out before long", however. Snoddy warned that "the next new row will probably break out before long", however.
Broadcaster and media consultant Steve Hewlett said: "In a sense, he couldn't have a better start - arriving when it's all gone wrong, and it's not your fault. If you've got an idea of what to do about it, it's not a bad position to be in. There's the sense things can only improve.Broadcaster and media consultant Steve Hewlett said: "In a sense, he couldn't have a better start - arriving when it's all gone wrong, and it's not your fault. If you've got an idea of what to do about it, it's not a bad position to be in. There's the sense things can only improve.
"He knows the organisation. He's no fool. He'll get the right people around him. If anyone can do this, he's the top of the list. I've some confidence it will go well.""He knows the organisation. He's no fool. He'll get the right people around him. If anyone can do this, he's the top of the list. I've some confidence it will go well."
Hewlett said Hall's first challenge was to build an executive team that could command staff respect, something the new director general has already started doing. He praised the appointment of former Labour cabinet minister James Purnell as the BBC's new director of strategy and digital, saying Hall had chosen a "smart operator" who is a "very capable thinker, with a genuine long-term view".Hewlett said Hall's first challenge was to build an executive team that could command staff respect, something the new director general has already started doing. He praised the appointment of former Labour cabinet minister James Purnell as the BBC's new director of strategy and digital, saying Hall had chosen a "smart operator" who is a "very capable thinker, with a genuine long-term view".
Confidence from the license-paying public also has to be repaired, who expect the organisation to be run with strong leadership, Hewlett added, with other issues Hall including the negotiation of a new royal charter.Confidence from the license-paying public also has to be repaired, who expect the organisation to be run with strong leadership, Hewlett added, with other issues Hall including the negotiation of a new royal charter.
"I think Tony Hall is onto this, and the appointment of James Purnell shows that he is," he said."I think Tony Hall is onto this, and the appointment of James Purnell shows that he is," he said.
Two outstanding appointments Hall still needs to make are those of director of news and director of television, adding to what is an already busy to-do list as he prepares to make his return to the BBC.Two outstanding appointments Hall still needs to make are those of director of news and director of television, adding to what is an already busy to-do list as he prepares to make his return to the BBC.
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