James Harding the former Times editor has been confirmed as the BBC's director of news and current affairs and will be paid 340 000 a year.
The corporation said on Tuesday morning that Harding will replace Helen Boaden who moved to the director of radio job this week.
The ex Times editor will take up his post in August the corporation said. He will visit the BBC's New Broadcasting House in central London later on Tuesday.
Fran Unsworth the BBC head of newsgathering will carry on as acting director of news until Harding joins the corporation.
Harding said in a statement The BBC's newsroom strives to be the best in the world trusted for its accuracy respected for its fairness and admired for the courage of its reporting. I am honoured to be a part of it.
The BBC said Harding's salary would be 340 000 and that his appointment followed an open recruitment process. His basic salary is the same as his predecessor Boaden but taxable benefits took her total income up to 354 000.
The Guardian revealed in February that the new BBC director general Tony Hall was talking to Harding about a role in news and the move was all but confirmed late on Monday night.
Hall said I am delighted that James will be joining as the new director of BBC News and Current Affairs. High quality journalism sits right at the heart of the BBC making this is an absolutely critical role.
James has a very impressive track record as a journalist editor and manager. I believe he will give BBC News a renewed sense of purpose as it moves away from what has been an undeniably difficult chapter. As an organisation the BBC will also benefit from his external perspective and experience which he will share as a member of the BBC's executive team.
Harding resigned abruptly as Times editor after five years in December telling shocked staff he did so after being told that Rupert Murdoch wanted to replace him.
He took a holiday immediately after the furore surrounding his Times departure and has kept a low profile ever since. However he is believed to have been approached about a number of potential jobs in the media and politics.
Harding will take over a BBC News division still recovering from last autumn's Jimmy Savile crisis and now embroiled in controversy over John Sweeney's Panorama documentary on North Korea.
In a strongly worded report on the corporation's handling of the Savile affair published in December the former head of Sky News Nick Pollard was particularly scathing about BBC News saying Harding's predecessor Boaden should have taken greater responsibility as her division went into virtual meltdown in October and November
Boaden offered to resign at the height of the scandal last year but the offer was not accepted by the former director general George Entwistle.
BBC News is also adjusting to its recent move from Television Centre to its vast new double atriumed newsroom in the 1bn New Broadcasting House redevelopment in central London.
To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email media guardian.co.uk or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000. If you are writing a comment for publication please mark clearly for publication .
To get the latest media news to your desktop or mobile follow MediaGuardian on Twitter and Facebook
{ 0 comments... Views All / Send Comment! }
Post a Comment