THE deadline for applications for the top job at BBC Scotland news has been extended from today to early next month. The post of head of News and Current Affairs fell vacant when Blair Jenkins quit last month, amid speculation that he objected to further job cuts at the Corporation.
While his stand-in, Alasdair MacLeod, is the man the ‘clever money’ is on to get the job permanently, a deadline of September 3 has been set, if only to accommodate possible applicants on holiday.
Among BBC Scotland staff, Mark Coyle – editor, BBC Scotland News Interactive – is understood to be in the running.
Spike sought from other possible internal candidates, including Susan Donald and Huw Owen, whether they might be going for the job, but none was available to deny or confirm.
Of the possible external candidates, Atholl Duncan, currently Scottish Water’s spin doctor, was similarly unavailable for comment.
He’s a former TV editor at Queen Margaret Drive.
Currently executive editor, Political Programmes, MacLeod is considered to have the necessary management experience, allied to a cool head.
Interviews, or ‘boards’ in BBC parlance, will be held by the end of September and an appointment is expected early in October.
