New Controller for BBC News Channel

Sam Taylor is to lead the BBC News Channel, known to most by its former name of News 24, he will also oversee BBC News at One.
Sam Taylor, 37, joined the BBC as a news trainee in 1997, and has worked as a producer and editor on the BBC News Channel, before becoming editor of BBC News at One and editor of BBC Newswire, the Corporation’s multimedia internal news service.
As an output editor on BBC One bulletins, he helped shape the BBC’s coverage of some of the biggest stories of recent years – 7/7, the London Olympic Bid, the 2005 election and the death of Dr David Kelly. Most recently he has been responsible for the design and delivery of the BBC’s plan to move its newsrooms from Television Centre and Bush House into one building at New Broadcasting House (NBH), and has led the development of BBC News output on social media.
His strong track record in television news combined with a deep expertise in digital news media mean he is very well placed to lead the News Channel, and take forward its role at the heart of the BBC’s live and breaking news services on all platforms.

Mary Hockaday, Head of the BBC Newsroom, says today: “This was a competition with high quality candidates. Sam won out because he has great news judgement in line with BBC News editorial values and a real sense of the channel’s strengths and how to build on them. He takes a creative approach to leadership combined with great integrity.  A real track record in covering hard news takes nerves of steel.  Having clear strategic vision and knowledge of the new media landscape takes intellect and editorial flair. Sam combines all these qualities. He is a creative leader with his feet on the ground.”

The BBC News Channel, the corporation state, is the most watched news channel in the UK, with an average weekly reach of 9.3 million adults in 2012. Over an average month, 33 per cent of UK adults will tune in. From early 2013 it will join BBC Network and Global News in NBH, with new HD-capable studios and a newsroom designed for the digital age.

Sam Taylor says:  “I am delighted to take on this role. The BBC News Channel has been part of my life since its launch 15 years ago. I’m taking over a channel that in the past few years has become the clear market leader, and is more respected and widely available than ever before. I’m looking forward to taking the channel and its very strong team into New Broadcasting House where not only will we have a fantastic new studio, we will also be able to work even more closely with colleagues across the BBC – and ensure that our audience gets the very best live, breaking and developing journalism, wherever and whenever they want it.”

He will take up his role later in the month.