February 21, 2013

Former Newsnight editor Peter Rippon takes on ‘significant challenge’ as BBC Online Archive editor

Former Newsnight editor Peter Rippon is take on the “significant challenge” of BBC Online Archive editor four months after he was forced to step aside over his role in the Jimmy Savile documentary scandal.

The announcement comes after former Radio Five controller Adrian Van Klaveran – the man who approved Newsnight’s Lord McAlpine report – was moved to a non-news position following publication of the Pollard Review in November and was last month made controller of the corporation’s coverage of the centenary of the First World War.

Rippon maintained the Jimmy Savile documentary containing allegations of child abuse was pulled for editorial reasons, not because the potentially damaging revelations coincided with a planned tribute to the star.

The Pollard Review into the controversy found that no undue pressure was put on him by senior management, a conclusion which was challenged by Newsnight reporters Meirion Jones and Liz Mackean

Rippon maintained he was guilty only of "self-censorship”.

Today the BBC said in a statement: “As editor, BBC Online Archive, Rippon will develop and lead the BBC’s Journal of Record initiative, to create the definitive online archive collection of the BBC’s television and radio journalism.”

Chief operating officer for BBC Future Media and BBC Online, Andy Conroy, commented: “Over the past few years, the BBC has been making more of the BBC Archive available to audiences online – including a permanent collection of Desert Island Discs, and archive collections for channels such as BBC Four.

“This is an exciting opportunity to build a public record of the BBC’s world-leading television and radio journalism on BBC Online over 80 years. It is a significant challenge that requires an experienced leader and editor, and I’m delighted that Peter will be joining us to develop the BBC’s Journal of Record.”

Rippon takes up the post on 25 February and reports to Conroy.