Memo to BBC staff from Acting Director General, Mark Byford:

This email is going to everyone
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For those of us standing close to Michael Grade last Friday as we
welcomed him back to the BBC as the new Chairman, it was tangible just
how much the BBC means to him and just how much he believes in it as the
creative powerhouse of Britain.  It was an emotional event not only for
Michael but also for the many staff who were able to be there at the
Media Centre to watch his impressive press conference in which his own
pride, passion, delight, commitment and warmth shone through.

It is a fantastic appointment.  Michael is one of the major world
figures in broadcasting and the wider creative industry, with an
outstanding record of achievement.  He has a deep understanding of
broadcasting and firmly believes in the BBC and its place at the heart of
national life.  He is passionate about creativity, talent and ambition in
programmes.  I know he will enjoy the full support of everyone in the
organisation.  Although it may have been a difficult and challenging
start to 2004 for the BBC, Michael's appointment emphasises that
independence, creativity and a firm commitment to the BBC's public
purposes must be the driving force of this wonderful organisation.  He
spoke brilliantly on why the licence fee is a strength not a weakness in
defining the BBC.  It's clear we have an outstanding, charismatic and
confident Chairman to take us on the journey to Charter Renewal. Michael
arrives on 17th May.

Meanwhile, the BBC must continue to focus on what it is here for ...
making outstanding programmes of ambition, innovation and originality
which stretch and delight our audiences.

Believe me, everyday as Acting Director-General, you feel truly
privileged and proud to lead this organisation as you witness in person
such fantastic and awe-inspiring examples of outstanding programme
making, creativity and professionalism.  During the last month alone I've
seen the craft, precision and care that's taken in recording The Archers;
the fun and enthusiasm of the presentation and production talent at Blue
Peter; the expertise, courage and insight of our political and security
teams in Northern Ireland; the brilliance of Parky when interviewing
George Michael, Bill Nighy and Jon Culshaw, backed by such a magnificent
production and resources team; the intellectual ambition and relevance of
Wole Soyinka's Reith Lectures this year on the Climate of Fear; the huge
affection audiences have for Ed Doolan on Radio WM in Birmingham; and the
pride of all those in regional television who won Ruby Awards at a truly
uplifting ceremony in Cardiff.

When you watch and listen to what's on offer, you remember again and
again why this is the greatest broadcasting organisation in the world
packed with talent, creativity, courage and commitment for example, in
the past month: our outstanding coverage of the Madrid bombings, the
assassination of Sheikh Yassin and the dreadful violence in Baghdad; the
harrowing Panoramas on the Zimbabwe killing camps and Rwanda ten years
on; the superb coverage by Radio 2 of the South by South West Music
Festival; the World Service's ground breaking production of its Outlook
programme live from China in partnership with Radio Beijing; the Grand
National reaching ten million people around the UK and the FA Cup semi-
final connecting with seven million people, both in the same afternoon!

And let's all say a Happy 10th Birthday to Radio Five Live; and a Happy
40th Birthday to BBC Two!

Finally it's been the month that marked the sad death of one of the
greatest broadcasters ever in the history of the BBC ... Alistair Cooke
... who reminds us all of the BBC's heritage and its quest for high
standards.  May he rest in peace after a life giving such pleasure and
insight to millions of people around the world via the BBC.  I will never
forget when he rang me personally "as the person at the top" to tell me
he'd recorded his last Letter From America.  "It's been a wonderful
journey", he told me, "but it's come to an end."

Thanks for all your support and great work.  Keep up the momentum!

Mark

(Note: Private Eye has awarded its "Order of the Brown Nose" to Mark Byford for this email.)