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Analysis - Profile - A newsman in the headlines.
Paul Revoir
David Mannion is poised to become the next editor-in-chief of ITV News. If he takes the job he'll face a tough initiation, as ITV looks to make savings in the regions.
People who report or produce the news tend to hate being a story themselves.
But the past few weeks have seen David Mannion grabbing a few headlines as it became clear he was being lined up for the position of editor-in-chief of ITV News as part of the shake-up of the soon to be merged ITV.
It was thought that ITV's controller of news and current affairs, Steve Anderson, could be offered the post, but even as he discussed details of the new role, including future funding, Mannion was reportedly being offered the job by ITV News Division chief executive Clive Jones. Some at Network Centre believe the situation was badly handled, an impression given by the fact that Anderson has called in his lawyers. Mannion, who is ITV's news editor, is refusing to comment on the job offer (which he has yet to accept) and is currently overseeing the relaunch of News at Ten, which will move to 22.30 next month.
But Anderson's high-profile fallout with ITV's chiefs has fuelled suggestions that the company will look to reduce the cost of news and move away from some of its regional news responsibilities.
While ITV's big plan for the future remains to be seen, Jones' plans for the news operation are expected to be unveiled in the coming months - and they will be the subject of fierce scrutiny by many who believe ITV's present priority is to drive down costs in areas such as news and regional programmes.
Anderson and some of his news colleagues believe that the new structure, where the editor-in-chief is effectively responsible for national news and the 25 regional and sub-regional broadcasts in Carlton and Granada all at once, is unworkable. One insider comments: "It is going to be an extremely demanding job because there's so much output all the way from Border to Westcountry. Some people are viewing it as a poisoned chalice."
There is also a sense that removing the controller of news responsibilities from the Network Centre, which may prompt Anderson to quit ITV, could mean the network losing its own news champion. As one ITV newsman comments: "Mannion can only put pressure on Network Centre as a supplier from outside not as a controller within it."
When asked about Mannion's appointment, Anderson would only say: "David and I are close colleagues and close friends. I am sure he will do a great job and I wish him the best."
According to colleagues, among Mannion's strengths are his ability to understand audiences and come up with ideas. Former ITN chief executive Stewart Purvis says: "He wants to see his thoughts on screen - but he doesn't want to write the running order. He wants to make an impact."
Mannion is said to be a keen enthusiast for the reorganisation of the news division and wants more money to be put into newsgathering rather than spent on "bricks and mortar" in the regions - but he will probably have to find it through cost cutting. He also believes that now is a good time to overhaul the outdated on-screen appearance of many regional news offerings. It is claimed that the cost of the national news is £35m a year as opposed to £75m for all the regional offerings.
One colleague adds: "He is not one to be protective about offices in Salisbury but he would say: 'Have I got enough people to cover the news?'
"David wants to make the shows as good as possible and he is realistic about the budgets at ITV."
But Mannion might be expected to have mixed feelings about taking out costs from regional news, where he started his career. He is described as "old school" and "gutsy" in his news values and is not naturally inclined to pull money out of news operations. But he does want a state-of-the-art news operation and this comes at a cost.
One says: "David is not a cost-cutting initiator, but he will carry out cuts if he has to. He won't sit there sharpening his knife - that will come from Charles Allen and Clive Jones."
But another senior source said that Mannion's passionate and headstrong beliefs about the news may provide a combustible mix when those around him may be looking to restructure the business. One said: "It will be a heady mix with David Mannion as an 'action man' journalist having to attend a round of cost-cutting meetings."
The appointment would mark the end of a tough 12 months for Mannion.
ITV is widely regarded as having had a good war in its coverage of Iraq and the audience figures backed that up. But, for Mannion, the most dramatic and personally difficult event of the war was the tragic death of his ITV colleague and best friend Terry Lloyd.
Mannion has also overseen an improvement in the fortunes of the ITV News Channel, although it still lags behind News 24 and Sky News.
Sky News head Nick Pollard, who worked with Mannion at ITN, says: "He is an old-fashioned, gutsy journalist. He has got a good way with people and the nose for a story and has come up the hard way. ITV's news has been at its best when David Mannion has been there in a position of influence."
But the debate about ITV's plans and resources for regional news is not going to go away. Like it or not, Mannion is going to feature in a few more headlines yet if he becomes ITV's news chief.
Source:broadcastnow.co.uk
Paul Revoir
David Mannion is poised to become the next editor-in-chief of ITV News. If he takes the job he'll face a tough initiation, as ITV looks to make savings in the regions.
People who report or produce the news tend to hate being a story themselves.
But the past few weeks have seen David Mannion grabbing a few headlines as it became clear he was being lined up for the position of editor-in-chief of ITV News as part of the shake-up of the soon to be merged ITV.
It was thought that ITV's controller of news and current affairs, Steve Anderson, could be offered the post, but even as he discussed details of the new role, including future funding, Mannion was reportedly being offered the job by ITV News Division chief executive Clive Jones. Some at Network Centre believe the situation was badly handled, an impression given by the fact that Anderson has called in his lawyers. Mannion, who is ITV's news editor, is refusing to comment on the job offer (which he has yet to accept) and is currently overseeing the relaunch of News at Ten, which will move to 22.30 next month.
But Anderson's high-profile fallout with ITV's chiefs has fuelled suggestions that the company will look to reduce the cost of news and move away from some of its regional news responsibilities.
While ITV's big plan for the future remains to be seen, Jones' plans for the news operation are expected to be unveiled in the coming months - and they will be the subject of fierce scrutiny by many who believe ITV's present priority is to drive down costs in areas such as news and regional programmes.
Anderson and some of his news colleagues believe that the new structure, where the editor-in-chief is effectively responsible for national news and the 25 regional and sub-regional broadcasts in Carlton and Granada all at once, is unworkable. One insider comments: "It is going to be an extremely demanding job because there's so much output all the way from Border to Westcountry. Some people are viewing it as a poisoned chalice."
There is also a sense that removing the controller of news responsibilities from the Network Centre, which may prompt Anderson to quit ITV, could mean the network losing its own news champion. As one ITV newsman comments: "Mannion can only put pressure on Network Centre as a supplier from outside not as a controller within it."
When asked about Mannion's appointment, Anderson would only say: "David and I are close colleagues and close friends. I am sure he will do a great job and I wish him the best."
According to colleagues, among Mannion's strengths are his ability to understand audiences and come up with ideas. Former ITN chief executive Stewart Purvis says: "He wants to see his thoughts on screen - but he doesn't want to write the running order. He wants to make an impact."
Mannion is said to be a keen enthusiast for the reorganisation of the news division and wants more money to be put into newsgathering rather than spent on "bricks and mortar" in the regions - but he will probably have to find it through cost cutting. He also believes that now is a good time to overhaul the outdated on-screen appearance of many regional news offerings. It is claimed that the cost of the national news is £35m a year as opposed to £75m for all the regional offerings.
One colleague adds: "He is not one to be protective about offices in Salisbury but he would say: 'Have I got enough people to cover the news?'
"David wants to make the shows as good as possible and he is realistic about the budgets at ITV."
But Mannion might be expected to have mixed feelings about taking out costs from regional news, where he started his career. He is described as "old school" and "gutsy" in his news values and is not naturally inclined to pull money out of news operations. But he does want a state-of-the-art news operation and this comes at a cost.
One says: "David is not a cost-cutting initiator, but he will carry out cuts if he has to. He won't sit there sharpening his knife - that will come from Charles Allen and Clive Jones."
But another senior source said that Mannion's passionate and headstrong beliefs about the news may provide a combustible mix when those around him may be looking to restructure the business. One said: "It will be a heady mix with David Mannion as an 'action man' journalist having to attend a round of cost-cutting meetings."
The appointment would mark the end of a tough 12 months for Mannion.
ITV is widely regarded as having had a good war in its coverage of Iraq and the audience figures backed that up. But, for Mannion, the most dramatic and personally difficult event of the war was the tragic death of his ITV colleague and best friend Terry Lloyd.
Mannion has also overseen an improvement in the fortunes of the ITV News Channel, although it still lags behind News 24 and Sky News.
Sky News head Nick Pollard, who worked with Mannion at ITN, says: "He is an old-fashioned, gutsy journalist. He has got a good way with people and the nose for a story and has come up the hard way. ITV's news has been at its best when David Mannion has been there in a position of influence."
But the debate about ITV's plans and resources for regional news is not going to go away. Like it or not, Mannion is going to feature in a few more headlines yet if he becomes ITV's news chief.
Source:broadcastnow.co.uk