I've rather stalled in the exploration, started here, of how the BBC might be developing its new local multi-media services to fulfill its Charter remit of "sustaining citizenship and civil society". BBC people I bump into say I know as much as they do .... but then it is a big place.
I floated the idea of an event as part of RSA Networks, but was told staff were already working on something - please wait. Maybe not much will happen until the BBC Trust has completed its review of bbc.co.uk, leaving the way open for new ideas on local news.
Meanwhile Lucy Hooberman opens the window on work she has started at BBC Future Media and Technology, provisionally called Behind the Scenes. The project was announced last September by Director General Mark Thompson, when people were more focussed on editorial breaches in competitions and voting:
The Director-General informed the Trust that he has commissioned a major new online project which will enable the public to explore how contemporary media content is produced. The BBC believes this will be a major contribution to media literacy in Britain. Roly Keating, the Controller of BBC Two, and Chris Burns, Executive Editor, Factual Programmes, BBC Audio and Music, have been asked to lead this work. Both are senior programme makers with substantial and distinguished experience.
Lucy explains how she is looking at what other organisations are doing, tagging her researches on del.icio.us, and monitoring what others are saying about the BBC and its Internet blogging. She adds:
But I’d love to hear about what else is going on in this area. Who’s doing what? And any ideas about what you’d like to know about too.
This seems to be another good example of BBC staff reaching out directly to what used to be known as audience (now including content producers) to find out what we want, and what we can contribute. Will BBC Trustees - until now absent from the blogosphere - feel the need to join in?
Previously: What's the role of trustees now we are networked?
Update: Lucy has now written more on the BBC Internet Blog
Technorati Tags: bbccouk, bbcinternetblog
This is interesting stuff, isn't it? I'm now subscribed to Lucy's blog.
The civil society stuff is potentially even more fascinating though, and I would imagine there is enough material already out there to sustain the discussion for a long time!
Posted by: Dave Briggs | March 10, 2008 at 02:09 PM