It's been a tough 12-months for BBC news staff, what with all of those jobs being axed and budgets being cut, but BBC news director Helen Boaden thought she would round off the year with a cheery message to rally the troops. However, it seems she hasn't quite grasped the depth of feeling among staff as, just minutes after she sent the email at midday today, one wag had already butchered it and forwarded it on as the "real version" complete with gallows humour.
Compare this ...
From: Helen Boaden Sent: 21 December 2007 12:03 Subject: Thanks for all your hard work
Dear All,
As some of you prepare to disappear for the Christmas break - and many of you get ready for keeping BBC news on air over the holidays, I want to thank everyone for their work and dedication during a difficult year.
From the kidnap of Alan Johnston to the anxiety over job losses following our reorganisation of news, there haven't been many months when it's felt like "business as usual". Yet despite the challenges to us as an organisation, your focus on doing the best for our audiences has been fantastic. We have done a huge amount of really excellent journalism across all platforms and for all audiences. Whatever your job in BBC news, you should feel proud of being part of that.
2008 is likely to be just as tough in its own way. But we should all take heart from the fact that people in great numbers and across the world continue to trust BBC news and to rely on us to deliver for them.
Thanks again for all your hard work and special thanks to those of you working over Christmas and the New Year.
Warmest good wishes,
Helen.
...with this...
Subject: Thanks for all your hard work. The real version
Dear All,
As management prepare to disappear for the Christmas break - and many of you get ready for keeping BBC news on air over the holidays, I want to thank everyone for their work and dedication during a difficult year.
From the kidnap of the BBC news website by advertisers, to the petty grumbles over job losses following our disorganisation of news, it's felt like "business as usual".
Yet despite the challenges to you as a workforce, our focus on doing the best for our own careers has been fantastic.
We have done a huge amount of really imaginative job creation to come up with new senior posts across all platforms.
Whatever your job in BBC news, you should feel proud of being part of that - for however long you've still got it.
2008 is likely to be just as tough in its own way - for you, not me - but we should all take heart from the fact that people in great numbers have volunteered for redundancy and we will be adding to that with compulsories despite the fact that people across the world continue to trust BBC news and to rely on us to deliver for them.
Thanks again for all your hard work and special thanks to those of you working over Christmas and the New Year - and next year it'll be without UPA.
Warmest good wishes,
Helen
