Timeline: 2023 Week 17

A round-up of the week’s stories and observations.

• MON 24TH APR (12.45PM)
  New trail design debuts on UK BBC News Channel
• MON 24TH APR (10.35PM)
  BBC weatherman’s small tribute to Len Goodman
• TUE 25TH APR (9AM)
  BBC Radio Foyle staff express no confidence in BBC NI senior management
• THU 27TH APR (11.20PM)
  Two departures from BBC News Northern Ireland
• FRI 28TH APR (10.15AM)
  BBC chairman resigns: report says he broke transparency rules

Monday 24th April

12.45pm New trail design debuts on UK BBC News Channel

We’re now starting to see the new BBC News ‘Chameleon’ template for trails appear on the UK BBC News Channel. With the service icon for News at the end.

10.35pm BBC weatherman’s small tribute to Len Goodman

A nice touch from Darren Bett this evening during the weather segment on the BBC News at Ten, on the day the death was announced of former Strictly Come Dancing judge, Len Goodman.

Darren told viewers of Tuesday’s minimum temperature, in the style of Len Goodman’s trademark “Seveeeeeen”.

Tuesday 25th April

9am BBC Radio Foyle staff express no confidence in BBC NI senior management

Members of the National Union of Journalists at BBC Radio Foyle have expressed no confidence in BBC senior managers Rhodri Talfan Davies, Adam Smyth and Kevin Kelly.

After months of negotiations between the union and BBC Northern Ireland management over programme and staff cuts at the station, there was a partial implementation of the original proposed changes yesterday.

The two-hour weekday breakfast programme has been replaced by a thirty-minute programme and the News at One has been dropped from the schedule.

The union claims that some staff remain at risk of redundancy and that no guidance has been provided on the editorial direction of the new breakfast programme.

A BBC spokesman said Radio Foyle’s role as a newsgathering and production hub had been secured. The production of some Radio Ulster programmes will move to Radio Foyle.

The BBC spokesman said: “We have confidence in BBC staff and the plans that we have introduced.”

He added that the BBC’s plans benefited from “detailed engagement” with staff and trade unions and this would continue. The immediate priority was the enhancement of BBC digital provision, he said.

EXTERNAL LINK: NUJ BBC Foyle chapel express no confidence in BBC Northern Ireland senior management.

Thursday 27th April

11.20pm Two departures from BBC News Northern Ireland

BBC News Northern Ireland has announced the departure of two long-standing members of staff.

Political correspondent Stephen Walker and lead director David McCoy leave the corporation today.

Both men have been with the BBC for over 30 years.

Friday 28th April

10.15am BBC chairman resigns: report says he broke transparency rules

BBC chairman Richard Sharp has resigned after a report found he broke transparency rules in his dealings with Boris Johnson during the application process for the BBC job.

Sharp will remain in the post until June when his replacement is expected to take over.

EXTERNAL LINK: BBC chairman Richard Sharp resigns after Boris Johnson loan row.

RELATED ARTICLE: Timeline: 2023 Week 16.

RELATED ARTICLE: Timeline: 2023 Week 18.

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