Former Panorama editor Rachel Jupp has been appointed as director, BBC News and Current Affairs. She is currently director, BBC News Documentaries and Long Form Journalism. She will start her new role this month.
Jupp was picked from a shortlist of four candidates, which also included Jonathan Munro, who had been acting in the role since Deborah Turness’s departure almost a year ago alongside then-DG Tim Davie in the wake of the fallout from the Donald Trump/Panorama speech editing affair, and Channel 4 News editor, Esme Wren.
Matt Brittin, BBC director-general, said: “Rachel is an outstanding editorial leader, widely regarded for her news judgement, fairness, and high standards. She brings a clarity of vision for the future, and the determined, collaborative approach needed to strengthen BBC News.
“In a world of infinite choice, audiences are fragmenting, trust is scarce and facts are contested. BBC News remains the most used and most trusted news provider around the world and across the UK. It is our duty to recommit to the BBC’s distinctive journalistic mission while reinventing how we serve audiences, and to rise to these challenges. In Rachel, we have someone who can do both, with a fresh perspective to lead BBC News into a new era.
“I would like to thank Jonathan Munro for his professionalism and leadership of BBC News in the past eleven months. I have been personally grateful for his deep experience, calm head and steady hand. He will return to his substantive role as Deputy Director of News and BBC News Global Director when Rachel starts.”
Jupp added: “I’m honoured to be asked to lead BBC News. I want to champion our vital, independent and impartial journalism, deepen the trust people have in the BBC and meet our audiences wherever they are. I’m grateful to Matt for this opportunity, and I’m looking forward to working with our dedicated, brilliant teams across the UK and around the world.”
As director of BBC News, Jupp will be responsibile for a team of 4,500 people, broadcasting to around half a billion people across the world in more than 40 languages. Figures show that seven out of ten UK adults use BBC News each week, while the broadcaster is consistently rated among the world’s most trusted international news provider.
She will be a member of the BBC’s Executive Committee (ExCo), and take home a salary of £400,000.
Jupp has more than 20 years of experience in news and current affairs, spanning television, streaming and digital journalism. In the last three years she has developed and led the BBC’s approach to AI, based in the US. Pbeyond her stint on Panorama, other previous roles include editorial executive for BBC Content and deputy editor of Newsnight. She joined the BBC in 2013 from ITN where she spent nine years, including working internationally, and was head of home news at Channel 4 News.
