There’s been a serious whirl of newsroom revolving doors of late. While Jeremy Paxman considers switching to Channel 4, BBC News has been leading a serious talent raid against ITV.
It all started last November when James Harding, director of BBC News and current affairs, persuaded ITV’s deputy news editor Jonathan Munro to break off a 26-year relationship with the network in exchange for becoming the BBC’s head of newsgathering.
Since jumping ship Munro has been quick to follow Harding’s example, successfully luring away three of his former colleagues. ITV News social affairs editor Penny Marshall joined the Beeb in March and was promptly rewarded with the newly created post of education editor.
This week two more new recruits headed over to Broadcasting House: Lucy Manning, ITV News’ UK editor, is joining as a special correspondent, while ITN’s senior news editor Ed Campbell will oversee investigations as the Beeb’s special correspondents editor.
So isn’t the BBC worried that ITV will launch a counter-attack? “We’re gathering the best journalists we can,” says a Beeb spokesman. “ITV can speak for themselves.”
Over to Gray’s Inn Road. “We wish them the very best in their new roles,” said a spokesperson for ITV News. So no plans for retaliation? “Certainly not,” she laughed. “We’re far too grown-up for that.”
In fact, from what The Londoner hears, the Beeb’s real problem is coming from within. “BBC News has just announced that it is doing another round of lay-offs — as many as 500,” a current affairs insider tells us. “Yet it’s appointing new people from ITV. Why didn’t the BBC promote from within?”
