Why I became a Governor
I became a Governor for a number of reasons. Firstly, because it's a great opportunity. How often do you get the chance to join something that's successful, effective and valued, and widely recognised as the best of its kind in the world? Secondly, as a consultant working with different levels of change management in public and voluntary organisations, to find out how the BBC was dealing with strategic issues around change; how Building Public Value was to be brought to life, taking on board issues like diversity, quality, and getting audiences more engaged and involved. And thirdly, I saw it as a rare chance to both learn more about the media and influence its impact: to learn about the BBC and all the issues it has to deal with; and to help influence how it develops in the future.
I am, for example, deeply committed to the process of consultation; making sure big strategic decisions are firmly rooted in the hopes and aspirations of all licence fee payers and reflecting the diverse needs of our multicultural society. I am keen to see how the BBC implements policies and deals with dissatisfaction. How, for example, do you reassure people that you've heard and taken their complaints on board, even if you can't respond exactly as they'd like, perhaps due to conflicting priorities? I thought the kind of work I'd done over the years, at the upper levels of many public and voluntary organisations, might help me help the BBC address these kinds of issues as it prepared itself for the future.
The BBC is important to me first and foremost as a citizen. With so much information proliferation, most of it driven ultimately by advertising or other commercial pressures, the value of an independent source of news and space for debate cannot be overstated. Just as a citizen, I want an information resource I can trust. But the BBC also continues to hold the line for quality and for excellence in public broadcasting, not just in news and current affairs, but in entertainment too. We all need to be entertained!
If there's one area I'd like to see the BBC address more effectively, it's the way it approaches equality and diversity in the workplace, portrayal on air, and reaching out to young people and ethnic minority audiences. We tend to pride ourselves on impartiality and independence - and rightly so. But the BBC must also recognise its responsibilities both in reflecting and in helping shape the future face of the nation. I think it's commendably aware of the need to reflect the diversity of Britain today, but recognition and effective action are two different things. And that's at least part of why I wanted to become a Governor - to help the BBC act more effectively in those areas. I think it's got its heart in the right place - now I'd like to help ensure that action follows belief.
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