Post by Teddy Bear on Mar 14, 2010 21:38:59 GMT
Would you go on a course for 2 days, and spend £50 on 'How to Use Facebook'? Probably not, as most PC users have figured it out for themselves. However in their usual 'wisdom the BBC have paid an estimated £23,000 so far and are willing to spend more to train their staff to use it.
Good to know your' licence fee money is going to a good place.
It's more and more stuff like this that probably accounts for the fact that in a recent poll of 3000 viewers, 70% expressed dissatisfaction with the BBC, with half wanting to abolish the licence fee altogether.
Good to know your' licence fee money is going to a good place.
It's more and more stuff like this that probably accounts for the fact that in a recent poll of 3000 viewers, 70% expressed dissatisfaction with the BBC, with half wanting to abolish the licence fee altogether.
BBC lavishes thousands of pounds teaching staff how to use Facebook
By Paul Revoir
Last updated at 8:29 PM on 12th March 2010
The BBC has spent tens of thousands of pounds on teaching staff how to use Facebook.
The corporation is holding classes for large numbers of its 23,000 workforce, despite the fact that using the social networking site is second nature to millions.
Hundreds of BBC workers have already signed up for the sessions, in which they learn how to set up accounts on Facebook, as well as Twitter and Bebo.
BBC Facebook
Facebook fortune: How BBC Radio 5 Live connects on the social networking site
Since November, the BBC has run 69 sessions of the Making The Web Work For You tutorial for a total of 476 'delegates'.
As it says the two-day course costs 'less than £50' per person - this may mean it has spent almost £23,800.
Signing up for Facebook is free, however, and critics are baffled that the BBC has decided to spend money on the classes.
Philip Davies
MP Philip Davies said the course was a 'waste of money'
Staff are also angry at what they see as an unnecessary use of licence fee money during a time of economic hardship.
And politicians say it is further evidence that the broadcaster has too much money.
Conservative MP Philip Davies, who sits on Parliament's Culture, Media and Sport select committee said: 'It's just an absolute waste of money, it is ridiculous.
'These are the actions of an organisation that has so much money it does not know what to do with it.'
One worker said: 'We're meant to be belt-tightening. It is an astonishing waste of money. Teenagers who can barely read or write have managed to teach themselves.'
Others have pointed out that most staff already know how to use the sites and thousands are even members.
Unlike many private sector employers, the BBC does not restrict its workers' use of social networking sites.
This is not the first time the broadcaster has been accused of wasting time and money on teaching staff the obvious.
Following the TV phone-in scandals across the broadcasting industry, the BBC sent about 17,000 employees on courses teaching them not to deceive viewers in programmes.
The cost of running the two-hour classes - called Safeguarding Trust - was said to have been in the region of £500,000.
The BBC has also come under fire for wasting money on overzealous health and safety procedures.
This included round-the-world sailor Sir Robin Knox-Johnston revealing the 'absurd' rules he, Sir Ranulph Fiennes and John Simpson were subjected to when they filmed adventure series Top Dogs.
They were given a 'huge' document warning about hazards such as tripping over, and sent on a 'hostile environment course'.
Yesterday the BBC defended the Web courses, claiming they helped journalists 'develop effective and comprehensive internet research and social media skills'.
Most of the cost was covered by 'fixed resource' and there were just 'some minimal' costs in using freelance training support.
'The aim is to help journalists find original stories, case studies and pictures using the latest Web techniques,' a spokesman said.
'It is not about how to set up a Facebook account.'
By Paul Revoir
Last updated at 8:29 PM on 12th March 2010
The BBC has spent tens of thousands of pounds on teaching staff how to use Facebook.
The corporation is holding classes for large numbers of its 23,000 workforce, despite the fact that using the social networking site is second nature to millions.
Hundreds of BBC workers have already signed up for the sessions, in which they learn how to set up accounts on Facebook, as well as Twitter and Bebo.
BBC Facebook
Facebook fortune: How BBC Radio 5 Live connects on the social networking site
Since November, the BBC has run 69 sessions of the Making The Web Work For You tutorial for a total of 476 'delegates'.
As it says the two-day course costs 'less than £50' per person - this may mean it has spent almost £23,800.
Signing up for Facebook is free, however, and critics are baffled that the BBC has decided to spend money on the classes.
Philip Davies
MP Philip Davies said the course was a 'waste of money'
Staff are also angry at what they see as an unnecessary use of licence fee money during a time of economic hardship.
And politicians say it is further evidence that the broadcaster has too much money.
Conservative MP Philip Davies, who sits on Parliament's Culture, Media and Sport select committee said: 'It's just an absolute waste of money, it is ridiculous.
'These are the actions of an organisation that has so much money it does not know what to do with it.'
One worker said: 'We're meant to be belt-tightening. It is an astonishing waste of money. Teenagers who can barely read or write have managed to teach themselves.'
Others have pointed out that most staff already know how to use the sites and thousands are even members.
Unlike many private sector employers, the BBC does not restrict its workers' use of social networking sites.
This is not the first time the broadcaster has been accused of wasting time and money on teaching staff the obvious.
Following the TV phone-in scandals across the broadcasting industry, the BBC sent about 17,000 employees on courses teaching them not to deceive viewers in programmes.
The cost of running the two-hour classes - called Safeguarding Trust - was said to have been in the region of £500,000.
The BBC has also come under fire for wasting money on overzealous health and safety procedures.
This included round-the-world sailor Sir Robin Knox-Johnston revealing the 'absurd' rules he, Sir Ranulph Fiennes and John Simpson were subjected to when they filmed adventure series Top Dogs.
They were given a 'huge' document warning about hazards such as tripping over, and sent on a 'hostile environment course'.
Yesterday the BBC defended the Web courses, claiming they helped journalists 'develop effective and comprehensive internet research and social media skills'.
Most of the cost was covered by 'fixed resource' and there were just 'some minimal' costs in using freelance training support.
'The aim is to help journalists find original stories, case studies and pictures using the latest Web techniques,' a spokesman said.
'It is not about how to set up a Facebook account.'