The Londoner can disclose that incoming BBC2 Newsnight editor Ian Katz, deputy editor of the Guardian who takes up his new post in September, had to beat off 53 other applicants to land the £150,000-a-year job. The Corporation revealed this in a Freedom of Information request, along with the names of the four BBC executives who interviewed shortlisted candidates — acting director of news Fran Unsworth, BBC2 controller Janice Hadlow, head of news programmes Ceri Thomas and HR chief Dan Goad.
It is a testament to Katz’s prowess that he was able to see off such stiff competiton, despite having no experience of editing a TV programme. The former Newsnight editor Peter Rippon was forced out after a report into Jimmy Savile was dropped on his watch.
Katz, husband of Mumsnet co-founder Justine Roberts, is a Newsnight aficionado and has strong views on its presenters Kirsty Wark, Jeremy Paxman et al. Last year he tweeted “Kirsty Wark ridiculous suggesting Tom Baldwin appointment by Ed Miliband analogous to Cameron hiring Coulson”.
The new BBC director-general Tony Hall is thought to have taken a close personal interest in his appointment.
As Newsnight audiences traditionally dip during the summer months, it has been agreed that Katz will start at Newsnight during the political party conference season, when viewers return from summer holidays. He will undergo training this summer to bring him up to speed with BBC editorial guidelines.
