BBC News Director ‘steps aside’

BBC News Director Helen Boaden and her deputy Stephen Mitchell are to step aside pending report from Pollard inquiry.
The BBC confirmed this morning that they will step down from their positions while the investigation into why Newsnight dropped a report into the Jimmy Savile allegations continues.
The corporation stated that the pair had nothing to do with the “failed Newsnight investigation into Lord McAlpine” and states that they are expected to return to their positions once the inquiry has reported back.
Fran Unsworth will replace Boaden and Ceri Thomas will take over from Mitchell while Pollard investigates. Thomas is currently editor of Radio 4’s Today programme.
Director of BBC Scotland Ken MacQuarrie has reported his finding into the Newsnight programme, broadcast on 2 November and has listed four actions to be taken:
1. To address the lack of clarity around the editorial chain of command, a decision has been taken to re-establish a single management to deal with all output, Savile related or otherwise.
2. Helen Boaden has decided that she is not in a position to undertake this responsibility until the Pollard review has concluded. During this period Fran Unsworth will act as Director of News. In line with this decision, Ceri Thomas will act on a temporary basis as Deputy Director in place of Stephen Mitchell.
3. To address the pressure on the Newsnight team Karen O’Connor has agreed to take on the role of Acting Editor of Newsnight.
4. Consideration is now being given to the extent to which individuals should be asked to account further for their actions and if appropriate, disciplinary action will be taken.
On Saturday, George Entwistle resigned as director general of the BBC, being replaced by Tim Davie on an interim basis. The chairman of the BBC Trust, Lord Patten, has said he intends to find a replacement for Entwistle ‘within weeks’.