This forum has steered clear of this issue so far - on the basis that there was far too much reaction to it already.  But this email to all staff by Mark Thompson, Director General, is worthy of inclusion:

From: Mark Thompson
Sent: Thursday, October 30, 2008
Subject: The Russell Brand Show on BBC Radio 2 - statement from BBC
Management

This email is going to everyone

Dear All,

This morning I reported to a meeting of the BBC Trust Editorial Standards Committee on the circumstances surrounding a broadcast of the Russell Brand Show on BBC Radio 2 on 18 October.

I made it clear that there had been a serious breach of editorial compliance that allowed grossly offensive material to be broadcast, which should never have happened. I also reiterated my regret that any suffering had been caused to Andrew Sachs, his granddaughter and family as a result, and expressed regret that the broadcast had caused serious public offence.

Tim Davie, Director of BBC Audio & Music, reported on the known facts behind the making of the programme, its content and what had occurred during the editorial supervision and compliance of the broadcast.

I accepted the resignation of Lesley Douglas, the Controller of BBC Radio 2 this morning.

The presenter, Jonathan Ross, will be suspended from all broadcasting for the BBC for a 12 week period, ending in mid-January 2009. He will not be paid by the BBC during this period: the fees that would have been paid will be deducted from his BBC contract.

The ultimate editorial responsibility for BBC programmes lies with producers and editorial managers. The consequences of errors of judgement are therefore more serious for managers.

Nonetheless, Jonathan Ross's contribution to this edition of the Russell Brand show was utterly unacceptable and cannot be allowed to go uncensored or without sanction. A twelve week suspension is an exceptional step, but I believe it is a proportionate response to Jonathan's role in this unhappy affair.

Jonathan Ross has already made a comprehensive and unreserved personal apology to Andrew Sachs and his grand-daughter. I believe that he fully understands the seriousness of what has happened. I have made very clear to him the central importance of the clause in his contract about not bringing the BBC into disrepute. We agree that nothing like this must ever happen again and that tight discipline will be required for the future.

At the meeting with the BBC Trust, I outlined a series of proposed management actions to be carried out as a matter of urgency. After discussion, the Trust approved the following actions:

* A comprehensive review of compliance procedures across all radio output in the Audio & Music division to be carried out immediately by the Deputy Director-General, Mark Byford, with recommendations for action to be delivered to the BBC Trust by December.

* With immediate effect, the Director of BBC Audio & Music, Tim Davie, will ensure that all programmes are re-assessed for editorial risk and all those identified as representing a high risk have additional and strong oversight.

* Special sessions will be held over the next six weeks, led by myself and Mark Byford to highlight to all senior editorial leaders and compliance staff across the BBC the serious editorial and compliance failures identified in this case, and the lessons to be learnt to prevent it happening again.

* BBC management's Editorial Standards Board will lead a study into where the appropriate boundaries of taste and standards should lie across all BBC output. The conclusions will be reported to the BBC Trust and will inform the revision of the BBC's Editorial Guidelines which is currently underway and is scheduled to be completed in 2009.

All the best,
Mark Thompson
Director-General

This email was sent to NUJ members on November 4, 2008:


Dear colleagues

The NUJ BBC London branch committee has composed the following response, and motion, to yesterday's email from DG Mark Thompson:
This is has been sent to Mark Thompson, as well as to Ariel and NUJ full-time officials.

----------------------------

Mark Thompson's latest defence of huge salaries for Executive members has been condemned as mistimed and completely inappropriate, by the Committee of the BBC London Branch of the NUJ.

The Committee was responding to an email sent to all staff by Mr Thompson yesterday in which he commented on the press coverage given to the row over the Russell Brand/Jonathan Ross programme on BBC Radio 2.

Mr Thompson said that changing economic conditions meant that the BBC would pay less for entertainment talent in the future and that, given the current economic climate,  the BBC would need to make additional savings.

However he made it clear that those savings would not apply to the BBC Executive stating that their current salaries reflected the need to "attract and retain the best talent in the industry".

The NUJ Branch is amazed that after all the criticism of senior BBC management's handling of the Ross/Brand affair, Mr Thompson chooses this moment to defend Executive pay, which increased by 4 times the rate of inflation last year.

Committee member and NUJ NEC member Nick Serpell commented. "It is perhaps a sign of just how out of touch Mark Thompson is with the staff he claims to lead if he feels this is a good moment to remind us how well paid he and his colleagues are. Given the inept way in which the Brand/Ross affair was allowed to spiral out of control, one has to wonder whether these high salaries do actually attract talented leaders".

Committee motion:
"This Branch of the NUJ deplores Mark Thompson's latest defence of the high levels of pay received by members of the BBC Executive.

After the completely inept handling of the Ross/Brand affair, we are amazed that Mr Thompson  has taken this moment to justify these high salaries as necessary to "attract and retain the best talent in the industry". It seems to us that the events of the last two weeks show a complete lack of talent at the top.

We also note, with surprise, that while Mr Thompson has indicated that the salaries for presenters will be cut in the future, no such restraints appear to apply to himself and his fellow Executive members.

The majority of hard working staff at the BBC have watched, in amazement, as the organisation for which they work, and for which they care a great deal, is pilloried in the press because senior management failed to deal effectively with the Ross Brand affair.

To then send out a note to those same staff, justifying the high salaries received by that same senior management implies a complete lack of judgment and lack of concern for the majority of staff who have been let down by the BBC leadership.

This branch calls on Mark Thompson to announce that the same pay cuts which will apply to "talent" in the future, will also apply to members of the BBC Executive and, furthermore, that, given these massive management failures, no member of the Executive will receive an above inflation pay rise next year."


NUJ BBC LONDON BRANCH