Post by Teddy Bear on Sept 26, 2010 0:42:34 GMT
An insight into the world of the BBC through the eyes of one of their own broadcasters, John Simpson.
BBC bosses are like New York bedbugs, says veteran broadcaster John Simpson
By Paul Revoir
Last updated at 4:58 AM on 25th September 2010
Veteran BBC broadcaster John Simpson has attacked the corporation’s bloated management, claiming: ‘We have managers like New York City has bedbugs.’
The 66-year-old World Affairs Editor said the endless use of management consultants had resulted only in ‘more and more layers of management’.
During a talk at the National Theatre on Thursday night, Simpson claimed that valuable services such as BBC World News were kept ‘chronically’ short of money, yet there were hordes of managers.
His outburst comes as New York is in the grip of an infestation of the bloodsucking bedbugs, which has affected shops, theatres and homes.
Mr Simpson, who joined the corporation in 1966, when he was in his early 20s, also said current moves to cut 20 per cent of senior managers would have ‘no noticeable impact on programmes’.
Earlier this week the BBC’s own flagship current affairs show Panorama revealed there are 97 managers at the broadcaster earning over £160,000 and 331 of them on more than £100,000.
The programme also drew attention to BBC director general Mark Thompson’s total pay of £838,000.
Mr Simpson said: ‘Every few years we have management consultants coming in... If you brought lawyers in their solution would be more lawyers, if you brought chemists in, chemistry would be something to do with it, if you bring management consultants in their solution to all the problems is “let’s have some more managers”.
‘So every time we have more and more layers of management.’
The war correspondent, who has reported from Iraq and Afghanistan, also attacked plans to let the Government spending watchdog look at the BBC’s accounts, claiming such a move would ‘eat away’ at its independence.
A BBC spokesman declined to comment on Mr Simpson’s remarks.
The BBC has been given the go-ahead to sell off a stake in its magazine business, which publishes titles including Radio Times and Top Gear.
The corporation wants possible investors to make ‘formal expressions of interest’ before Christmas.
Its commercial arm, BBC Worldwide, said in April it was ‘seeking a partnership’ with another company to run the magazine business but the plan has only just been approved by the BBC Trust.
By Paul Revoir
Last updated at 4:58 AM on 25th September 2010
Veteran BBC broadcaster John Simpson has attacked the corporation’s bloated management, claiming: ‘We have managers like New York City has bedbugs.’
The 66-year-old World Affairs Editor said the endless use of management consultants had resulted only in ‘more and more layers of management’.
During a talk at the National Theatre on Thursday night, Simpson claimed that valuable services such as BBC World News were kept ‘chronically’ short of money, yet there were hordes of managers.
His outburst comes as New York is in the grip of an infestation of the bloodsucking bedbugs, which has affected shops, theatres and homes.
Mr Simpson, who joined the corporation in 1966, when he was in his early 20s, also said current moves to cut 20 per cent of senior managers would have ‘no noticeable impact on programmes’.
Earlier this week the BBC’s own flagship current affairs show Panorama revealed there are 97 managers at the broadcaster earning over £160,000 and 331 of them on more than £100,000.
The programme also drew attention to BBC director general Mark Thompson’s total pay of £838,000.
Mr Simpson said: ‘Every few years we have management consultants coming in... If you brought lawyers in their solution would be more lawyers, if you brought chemists in, chemistry would be something to do with it, if you bring management consultants in their solution to all the problems is “let’s have some more managers”.
‘So every time we have more and more layers of management.’
The war correspondent, who has reported from Iraq and Afghanistan, also attacked plans to let the Government spending watchdog look at the BBC’s accounts, claiming such a move would ‘eat away’ at its independence.
A BBC spokesman declined to comment on Mr Simpson’s remarks.
The BBC has been given the go-ahead to sell off a stake in its magazine business, which publishes titles including Radio Times and Top Gear.
The corporation wants possible investors to make ‘formal expressions of interest’ before Christmas.
Its commercial arm, BBC Worldwide, said in April it was ‘seeking a partnership’ with another company to run the magazine business but the plan has only just been approved by the BBC Trust.