Re: [Swprograms] A This Is London email from Richard Cuff

[John Figliozzi <jfiglio1@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

In a very real sense, the BBC is treating its employees with the same  
disdain it treats its listeners. (If you doubt this, just become a  
regular listener to the Write On program.)  It's not a winning  
attitude, though I guess one could say it's at least consistent.  In  
jest, I used to suggest that the BBC's "new" management (i.e.:  
experience gained all or mostly in the commercial realm with little or  
no experience with public service broadcasting) was actually in the  
nature of a Trojan horse.  That is, sent by the commercial sector to  
destroy the public sector.  I still say it; but now not so much in  
jest...

John Figliozzi

On May 26, 2005, at 4:42 PM, Daniel Say wrote:

>> Yes, but what a word...
>>
>> In today's highly polarized testosterone charged
>> political atmosphere, the word "negotiate" is seen
>> by some as weakness--especially by those who
>> perceive themeselves to have the upper hand
>> already--because it infers compromise, another term
>> of alleged weakness according to the prevailing
>> milieu.  So the apparent refusal to use that term
>> and replace it with a commitment to "listen" sounds
>> more like a parent-child relationship with
>> management the parent and labour the child, rather
>> than a relationship of relative equals.
>>
>> In that context, I can understand this
>> reaction--especially when it comes in an atmosphere
>> of non-communication and distrust.  Words do mean
>> something and in this setting they're often fighting
>> words, unfortunately.
>>
>> John Figliozzi > Halfmoon, NY
>
>
> 	Well, in Andy Sennitt's RNW Media Blog,
> 	he opines that BBC WS may lose some listeners
> 	in the rebroadcasting realm
> 	
> 	It is affecting the other non-English service as well
> 	as you'll find out on 31 May etc.
>
>    Linkname: #
>         URL:
> http://medianetwork.blogspot.com/ 
> 2005_05_22_medianetwork_archive.html#111703524212440684
> 	Commentary: More BBC strikes could lose World Service listeners
>
>    Andy Sennitt comments: Monday's strike at the BBC prevented the
>    Corporation from broadcasting its normal extensive news and current
>    affairs programming. The World Service in English was restricted to  
> 5
>    minutes of news every hour. As a result, some radio stations that
>    normally relay the BBC's output decided to broadcast alternative
>    coverage. For example, in the US WBUR-FM (90.9), the Boston
>    University-owned National Public Radio affiliate, opted to air an...
> 	[ more at link above ]
>
> http://media.guardian.co.uk/print/0,3858,5202685-105236,00.html
> The 'N-word' proves too much for BBC bosses
>
> John Plunkett Thursday May 26, 2005 MediaGuardian.co.uk
>
> Richard Sambrook, the head of the BBC
> World Service, today appeared to break with his bosses'
> party line when he suggested the corporation had to
> "negotiate" with unions if the dispute was to be resolved.
>
> Mr Sambrook, who was formerly the deputy director of BBC
> News, wrote in his online diary: "Disputes are only settled
> by discussion and negotiation. It's important to keep
> talking."
>
> BBC management have been steadfast in their refusal to use
> the word "negotiate", promising only to "listen" to the
> concerns of unions.
>
> However, hours after Mr Sambrook's comments appeared
> online, the word "negotiations" was removed from his
> internal weblog.
>
> "Strikes harden positions and widen divides, which is what
> I fear will happen over the next few weeks," said the new
> version. "However, in the end disputes are only settled by
> discussion. It's important to keep talking."
>
> "It was the first time the N-word had been used by a
> manager," said one source.
>
> "However, management were alerted to it and ordered it to
> be pulled."
>
> The BBC refused to comment on the blog, saying only that
> talks were on-going with unions at Acas.
>
> "As soon as we accepted the offer to go to Acas we decided
> not to get in any further discussions about the industrial
> action," said a spokesman. Mr Sambrook was unavailable for
> comment.
>
> Trade union bosses have consistently claimed that BBC
> management has refused to negotiate over the cuts, which
> will total 4,000 jobs and led to a 24-hour walkout on
> Monday. A further 48-hour stoppage is planned for next
> week.
>
> Union leaders and BBC managers arrived at the London HQ of
> the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service for
> talks today. The BBC was represented by Stephen Dando, the
> director of BBC People, and Adrian van Klaveren, the deputy
> director of BBC News.
>
> The deputy director general, Mark Byford, repeatedly
> refused to use the word "negotiations" when he appeared on
> the Today programme on Tuesday. Pressed by John Humphrys
> whether management would be prepared to go to Acas, he
> said. "That isn't on the table yet is it? We'd look at it
> with the seriousness it deserves."
>
> He added: "We'll listen to the unions, we'll discuss these
> changes with them and we would like those strikes next week
> not to happen. If they do we'll make every effort to reduce
> the impact on licence payers - the people that own the BBC
> - but we want to talk with the unions but in a context of
> change and investment in content."
>
>
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