Posted on 01/29/2004 6:37:45 AM PST by Pikamax
Greg Dyke resigns
Owen Gibson Thursday January 29, 2004
Dyke: 'Me going provides an opportunity for a new start'
BBC director general Greg Dyke today dramatically resigned as the corporation struggles to deal with the biggest crisis in its 82-year history.
He is the second senior figure at the corporation to quit in the past 24 hours in the wake of Lord Hutton's devastating critique of the way the corporation handled the Kelly affair.
Staff caught on camera in the scrum that engulfed him as he left Broadcasting House at lunchtime today were seen in tears.
In an impromptu press conference outside Broadcasting House, Mr Dyke said: "I hope this draws a line under this. I'm going, Gavyn [Davies] is gone. Me going provides an opportunity for a new start."
"During this whole affair my sole aim as director general of the BBC has been to defend editorial independence and act in the public interest."
Mr Dyke said he had tendered his resignation to the board of governors last night and, following a three-hour emergency meeting, it accepted his decision.
"My position has been compromised following Gavyn Davies' decision to go I felt I too should offer my resignation to the board of governors, which I did last night.
"I have enjoyed my time at the BBC enormously and I am proud of what we've achieved together over the last four years."
"With the departure of Gavyn Davies and myself and the apology I issued on behalf of the BBC yesterday I hope that a line can now be drawn under this whole episode."
"Throughout this whole affair, my sole aim as director general of the BBC has been to defend our editorial independence and to act in the public interest."
His voice cracking with emotion, Mr Dyke then read out one of the emails he had received from one of his employees that morning, which he said "moved him".
"These are some of the emails I have received from people within the BBC: 'No matter what the future brings please know you have made us proud to be part of the BBC and we will support you whatever you do'," it said.
"There is a lot to be said about the Hutton report but I don't think it's appropriate for me to say it today. I will probably say it or write it at some stage, my views."
"I think the BBC is an incredibly important organisation in this country. This has been an unpleasant and difficult time for it and I hope with me going that's the end of it and it can get on and do its job, which is to serve the public."
"I think mistakes were clearly made by the BBC and that's life. I think my going is actually quite important in preserving the BBC's independence. You honestly have to believe that a line has to be drawn under this."
"The single most important thing about the BBC is not the BBC, it's the people out there who the BBC serve. That's our job. The preservation of the BBC is not important unless we have the trust of the people out there."
Mr Dyke's decision marks an ignominious end to a five-year reign at the head of the BBC to become the latest casualty of Lord Hutton's damning indictment of the corporation's journalism, management and regulation.
He joined the BBC in November 1999 and was a controversial director general from the start, with many criticising the government for appointing a Labour party member and who had help bankroll Tony Blair's leadership campaign following the death of John Smith.
After the John Birt regime, however, his ebullient leadership style involving "cut the crap" and "let's make it happen" initiatives was welcomed by staff,who had felt creativity had been repressed for far too long under the weight of bureaucracy.
"His departure will be demoralising in the first instance. There will be perfectly good candidates to take over, but the BBC is going to have a tough couple of months," said Barry Cox, his close friend and deputy chairman of the BBC.
"Firstly, I think it is said, and when one stands back I think it is very unfortunate that the BBC has lost both Gavyn Davies and Greg Dyke at the same time. It would seem to me to be both unfortunate and disproportionate," he added.
His resignation has come as a bombshell to staff - Mr Dyke had restored moral and re-energised the creative community, said one.
Another said: "It's been total depression both today and yesterday. You could have heard a pin drop coming to work. Everyone was very depressed and upset."
"There is real sympathy for Dyke and Davies, but ultimately Gilligan is seen as to blame for all of this. There is no way people will go on strike for him."
Outside Broadcasting House today Mr Dyke said: "I think the BBC is an incredibly important organisation in this country and this has been unpleasant time. I think my going is important in preserving the BBC's independence.
"You honestly have to believe that a line has to be drawn under this. The preservation of the BBC is irrelevent unless we have the trust of the public.
"I offered an apology yesterday. It's now up to the governors. I am now leaving.
"I think mistakes were clearly made by the BBC."
Mr Dyke and Mr Davies have been forced to carry the can for what Lord Hutton described as "defective" editorial systems and allowing Radio 4 Today reporter Andrew Gilligan to broadcast "unfounded" and "grave" allegations without checking the facts.
Mr Dyke, who earns £464,000 a year and was on holiday when Gilligan made his original report, will be remembered as a reforming director general but one whose lack of political nous and attention to detail led to his downfall.
Bull, Dyke.
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