The Press Recognition Panel (PRP) is seeking an executive director to lead the organisation that was created as a legal body by the royal charter on press regulation.
A statement on its website asking for people to apply for the post says:
“During this first year, there will be a significant programme of work to complete to prepare the panel for receipt of applications from press regulators to be recognised.”
I couldn’t help smiling at that. It suggests that there are several press regulators just aching to be “recognised”.
In truth, only one regulator currently exists - the Independent Press Standards Organisation - and Ipso’s founders, the overwhelming majority of newspaper and magazine publishers, have made it abundantly clear that their body will not seek royal charter recognition.
There is an alternative regulator in the process of being created, Impress. Although it is determined to abide by the recommendations of the Leveson report, there is no certainty that it would apply for recognition.
So I hardly think the executive director of the PRP is going to be run off his or her feet. That “significant programme of work” is more likely to involve trying to convince someone, anyone, to consider setting up a regulator in order to justify the PRP’s existence.
Anyway, should anyone fancy this job - with a salary in the region of £90,000 to £120,000 - they need to know they will be responsible for a team of three staff and operate a not-yet-agreed annual budget.
The successful candidate, says the website, will need to have “in-depth senior executive experience and understanding of regulation, as well as strong leadership skills and ideally a track record of setting up a new organisation.”
He or she will be working under the chairmanship of Dr David Wolfe and a board of five others (see names here). The website continues:
“It is envisaged that the successful candidate will need to commit five days a week to the role, although we are happy to consider more flexible arrangements, including job share... The initial tenure will not exceed one year, with the possibility of extension.”
You have until 9 January to apply and can download a copy of the application pack here. You can also ask for more information by email.
