BBC
LONDON—The British Broadcasting Corp. appointed James Harding, the former editor of the Times of London newspaper, as director of news and current affairs, replacing Helen Boaden who stepped aside last year in the wake of a probe into the BBC's handling of a report on the late TV host Jimmy Savile.
Mr. Harding resigned from the Times in December, saying it was made clear to him that News Corp NWSA +0.56% ., the paper's parent company, wanted a new editor. News Corp. owns Dow Jones & Co., publisher of The Wall Street Journal.
New BBC Director-General Tony Hall, who took
up his role April 2, said Mr. Harding's "very impressive track record as
a journalist, editor and manager" will help give BBC News "a renewed
sense of purpose as it moves away from what has been an undeniably
difficult chapter."
"As an organization, the BBC will also benefit from his external perspective and experience which he will share as a member of the BBC's executive team," Mr. Hall said.
Mr. Harding, who was appointed editor of the Times in 2007 at the age of 38, said he was "honored" to join the broadcaster. The BBC newsroom, he said, "strives to be the best in the world, trusted for its accuracy, respected for its fairness and admired for the courage of its reporting."
Mr. Harding, who was also previously Washington bureau chief of the Financial Times, will start in his new role in August and will receive a total package of £340,000 ($520,000), according to the BBC. He couldn't immediately be reached for comment.
The BBC also said Ms. Boaden has taken up a role as director of BBC Radio.
She had to step aside for a period from November last year while an independent panel reviewed the BBC's management of the Savile affair. The probe centered on the BBC's spiking of an investigation by its Newsnight public-affairs program into allegations of child sexual abuse against the now-deceased Jimmy Savile. It concluded that the cancellation of the investigation was "seriously flawed" but not made "for any improper reason" or because of managerial pressure, clearing the BBC of allegations of a coverup,
Ms. Boaden returned to her job late last year and moved to radio in February. She wasn't immediately available for comment Tuesday.
LONDON—The British Broadcasting Corp. appointed James Harding, the former editor of the Times of London newspaper, as director of news and current affairs, replacing Helen Boaden who stepped aside last year in the wake of a probe into the BBC's handling of a report on the late TV host Jimmy Savile.
Mr. Harding resigned from the Times in December, saying it was made clear to him that News Corp NWSA +0.56% ., the paper's parent company, wanted a new editor. News Corp. owns Dow Jones & Co., publisher of The Wall Street Journal.
Agence France-Presse/Getty Images
James Harding, former editor of the Times of London, seen here in the British capital on Jan. 17, 2012.
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"As an organization, the BBC will also benefit from his external perspective and experience which he will share as a member of the BBC's executive team," Mr. Hall said.
Mr. Harding, who was appointed editor of the Times in 2007 at the age of 38, said he was "honored" to join the broadcaster. The BBC newsroom, he said, "strives to be the best in the world, trusted for its accuracy, respected for its fairness and admired for the courage of its reporting."
Mr. Harding, who was also previously Washington bureau chief of the Financial Times, will start in his new role in August and will receive a total package of £340,000 ($520,000), according to the BBC. He couldn't immediately be reached for comment.
The BBC also said Ms. Boaden has taken up a role as director of BBC Radio.
She had to step aside for a period from November last year while an independent panel reviewed the BBC's management of the Savile affair. The probe centered on the BBC's spiking of an investigation by its Newsnight public-affairs program into allegations of child sexual abuse against the now-deceased Jimmy Savile. It concluded that the cancellation of the investigation was "seriously flawed" but not made "for any improper reason" or because of managerial pressure, clearing the BBC of allegations of a coverup,
Ms. Boaden returned to her job late last year and moved to radio in February. She wasn't immediately available for comment Tuesday.
