The new editor of Today is to be Sarah Sands, editor of the London Evening Standard.
During five years in charge of the Evening Standard, Ms Sands backed the Conservative candidates Boris Johnson and Zac Goldsmith for mayor of London and the Conservative party in the 2015 general election. She backed Britain to remain in the EU in the Brexit referendum.
Professor Charlie Beckett, from the London School of Economics, said Ms Sands would have to adapt quickly. “Once at the BBC (or any other broadcaster), newspaper editors have to fit into an ecology that is regulated for impartiality and temper their instincts, especially on a show like Today which is subject to so much oversight from the public and politicians,” he said.
Ms Sands dismissed concerns over her political impartiality, saying she wasn’t an “ideological person”.
The louder parts of the Left on Twitter are not happy at a "Tory" being appointed and, naturally, an 'Establishment-supporting', anti-Brexit Today editor will not appeal to many on the Right either.
So expect complaints from two sides (not "both sides", of course, as there are more than two sides here) against a third side: the 'soggy BBC consensus'.
"Professor Charlie Beckett, from the London School of Economics, said Ms Sands would have to adapt quickly. “Once at the BBC (or any other broadcaster), newspaper editors have to fit into an ecology that is regulated for....[insert DNA, left at the door LOL claim here]".
ReplyDeleteTell it often enough, Prof, it has truthiness on, trust me.
Hey, backing Boris and Goldsmith is about as hard-Right as Hall and Purnell will dare let in the door. Baby steps! Being anti-Brexit is probably the deciding factor that got her approved in meetings.
ReplyDeleteLet's see how she gets on once her own stamp is put on programming and the angle of the questions put to guests. She not Jewish, is she? That would bring out even more complaints than her being 'a Tory'.