jonathan charles
@JCharlesLondon
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Strategic Comms Consultant and Broadcaster. Former MD Comms/ExCom member @EBRD , former BBC News Foreign Correspondent. Presenter @vinylcountdow10 radio show
Joined August 2010
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Really
@BBCNews
- this is the story that this morning deserves a live blog? Not the escalation of fighting in Ukraine? A strange choice for a publicly funded news operation.
@rogermosey
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Lunch in the mountains of Uzbekistan - away from the golden road to Samarkand. The scenery reminds me of many valleys in neighbouring Afghanistan that I have travelled through. Amazingly beautiful.
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3
147
A wonderful memorial service for George Alagiah - a generous
@BBC
colleague, a generous in spirit human being. We all have so many stories of the good times that we spent in his company. His legacy lives on in us all.
3
14
141
Personal news: A big thank you to
@OdileRenaud
for her lovely words at the party to mark me stepping down from my role
@EBRD
next week after almost 12 great years. I look forward to a slightly less frenetic life of strategic communications consultancy and a little broadcasting.
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A strategic misstep by the BBC. There is no market failure to be remedied in launching a gold station. There is market failure in local radio which needs remedying. They could achieve both aims by enhancing BBC Local Radio and giving it a gold playlist.
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A quote from Lenin is revived by The Times today:'There are decades when nothing happens;and there are weeks when decades happen. '
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I remain quite staggered that BBC Local Radio has come to this. It should make us all reflect on where the checks and balances both inside the BBC and
@Ofcom
have failed. When I was in BBC Local Radio, we put a lot of effort into Christmas programming to serve listeners.
Thinking of the BBC Local Radio stations such as
@BBC_Cumbria
and their listeners who aren’t getting any local programming over Christmas and presenters out of presenting jobs. How very sad.
#BBCLocalRadio
. How did this happen?
@rhodritd
@JasonHorton_uk
Chris Burns
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34
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A cartoon from Matt brought a smile to my face - much needed as
#thameslink
cancelled both my morning and evening trains. Unlike many poor commuters, I am at least able to take the tube as an alternative.
2
33
72
A big day for
@EBRD
- the Bank celebrates its 30th anniversary. I’ve been baking with my son but I don’t think our cupcakes will win the staff competition. They make the point though! 🎂🍰
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0
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Another one bites the dust would be an appropriate last tune for the devastation of BBC Local Radio - with decent management it could all be so different. It isn’t a lack of money but a failure of imagination and proper budget control which has brought the network to where it is.
Stand By Pop Pickers! Tonight from 10pm it’s my last BBC show ever. I’m looking forward to playing some of those special songs I’ve shared with you late at night over the last few years on the BBC across the South &
@BBCSounds
Let’s go round one more time.
@BBCBreaking
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Amidst all the gloomy analysis in the papers today, this Sunday Times cartoon made me smile.
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I am delighted to say that I am taking up the Honorary Office of Chair of the
@EBRD
Alumni Association. It will be a pleasure to represent the thousands of former staff who served the Bank and continue to build the already strong relationship between them and the institution.
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3
67
I am back in my
@EBRD
office for the first time in almost 15 months - getting used to lots of social distancing protocols but it’s nice to see it again.
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Conquer your fears about the food crisis - this was really interesting to chair.
#Fearonomics
Subscribe to our podcast
#Fearonomics
. In our first episode
@sguriev
,
@BJavorcik
&
@ebrdcharles
discuss the looming food crisis.
Our experts will help you confront and overcome your fears about the global economy after the outbreak of war on Ukraine.
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Thank you
@Ncknwmn
for raising the laughter levels over breakfast with this week’s
@thesundaytimes
cartoons....marvellous!
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Not that I want to nit pick but..........this was the rehearsal before we go on air when you run through the headlines at high speed to make sure they match the pictures. It wasn’t broadcast.On the other hand, if I had a pound for everytime the clip has been viewed online.....
Tomorrow marks the 10th anniversary of the day
@ebrdcharles
read straight past a full stop on the teleprompter.
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A reminder in
@thesundaytimes
this morning of why
@Ncknwmn
is a great cartoonist. He captures the mood of the nation on a weekly basis.
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8
57
Oh
@Ncknwmn
, you have captured the nation’s mood again with your excellent
@thesundaytimes
cartoon…
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5
55
What is most tragic is that for the same budget, successful BBC Local Radio schedules can be devised which would actually boost ratings. It’s about a failure of imagination and ambition, not funding. It is time for a full, independent inquiry into how this disaster
It gives me no pleasure to see the RAJAR for
@BBC
LR, reach down y/y almost 500k. Share and hours down too. Particularly bad
@BBCRadioLondon
down 38%in 2 yrs but is largely untouched in changes, however a few stations who show increases have been defenestrated of star presenters
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I’ve always admired
@BootstrapCook
as a principled campaigner on food poverty-this is the first time I’ve cooked one of her recipes. It was an excellent peach and chickpea curry.
0
2
50
At the
@EBRD
we moved swiftly to condemn the invasion ordered by President Putin and now we have moved swiftly to offer a financial package to Ukraine and other affected countries-amongst the biggest so far offered by Multilateral Development Banks and international community.
Our €2 billion resilience package in response to the war on Ukraine
Ukraine, its people and economy have our unwavering support.
Our €2 billion to support resilience & livelihoods in Ukraine & countries affected by the conflict.
#SupportingUkraine
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Excellent piece from
@dsmitheconomics
- he is right. We are facing a black swan event winter energy crisis and one that may endure for longer than we think. It will require an ambitious and imaginative response to get people through it.
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17
48
It’s good to hear my old BBC friend
@SimonBatesUK
on
@BoomRadioUK
- sounding in excellent form. It really is a station that knows its audience. Feel happy for the success of
@DavidLloydRADIO
@radioriley
@Paulrobey
and all involved.
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9
46
Turkey is an important
@EBRD
country and we remain committed to our engagement there. 1 billion Euros invested so far in 2017 - more to come
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Both happily and, in this case, sadly
@Ncknwmn
in
@thesundaytimes
always captures the national mood.
0
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As predicted - the RAJAR figures show majority of BBC Local Radio stations have lost audience as a result of the sharp cut in local hours. They include BBC Radio Berkshire which dropped 31% (31,000 listeners). In a commercial operation, heads would roll.
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14
44
It is an important public service that
@hendopolis
and colleagues provide. I never go to sleep, anywhere in the world, without checking out
#tomorrowspaperstoday
. Long may it continue. A big thank you from me.
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1
42
Just one of
@Ncknwmn
excellent cartoons today in
@thesundaytimes
- humour is an essential part of getting people through the terrible
#COVID
ー19 crisis. Clearly, cartoonists qualify as key workers.
1
12
39
As someone who took the well trodden path from
#BBCLocalRadio
to national radio and tv, I recognise the issue
@DavidLloydRADIO
is highlighting. Stations full of decades of experience are being denuded. I hear the impact on local stations now, we will hear it nationally later.
Here's another thought. What is the long term damage to the quality of UK radio generally as so many staff leave so quickly in this ill-advised BBC local radio strategy.
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An excellent disco cartoon from
@Ncknwmn
in
@thesundaytimes
- I know, I am revealing my age by even mentioning the word disco!
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7
40
Excellent
#MothersDay2021
cartoon by
@Ncknwmn
in
@thesundaytimes
- all parents will recognise the theme
1
4
40
If you have been watching the
#Chernobyl
drama, how about catching up on the real story. Watch the BBC documentary about how
@EBRD
has placed a giant lid over the nuclear plant to keep the radiation in. Inside Chernobyl's Mega Tomb: via
@bbciplayer
1
17
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Oh
@Ncknwmn
- you and your
@thesundaytimes
cartoons do make it hard to drink my Sunday morning tea while laughing.
1
12
38
A fascinating New York Times piece on how the BBC and NBC are worlds apart in their approach to
#London2012
http://t.co/6PiSOqjt
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Ensuring that the
#Chernobyl
nuclear plant in
#Ukraine
stays safe while occupied by Russian troops should be an international priority - my message on
@BBCNews
@BBCWorld
with Christian Fraser.
@EBRD
put the new roof over the plant which keeps in the radiation.
1
8
39
Thank you
@SimonBatesUK
- I would further add that the BBC should now accept an external review of the decisions which have brought us to where we are on Local Radio. Clearly, something has gone badly wrong.
Jonathan is entirely right, but can i add that the brutal treatment of long serving and loyal contributors has been entirely unacceptable and the contempt shown for them by the management speaks volumes for the kind of people they are.
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Yes, I have always found on the streets of Kyiv, Kabul and Baghdad over the years they talk of little else but Holly and Phil. I have often been asked “Holly and Phil, we worry about their daily struggle, how are they doing?”
BBC News has just lead with the huffing and puffing at ITV This Morning. Although they clunkily tried to explain who Phil and Holly are, i bet there were puzzled faces in Montreal, Melbourne and Kolkata. Worry not, BBC got to the war in the Ukraine after ten minutes of this.
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I agree completely with
@DavidLloydRADIO
- it should be perfectly feasible to run full BBC Local Radio and increase digital output on current budgets. This isn’t hard as anyone with both broadcasting and business experience will tell you.
3
11
37
Ah,
@Ncknwmn
, as a former BBC presenter, your cartoon in The Sunday
@thetimes
causes me great pain…..but also brought on great laughter over the breakfast table. Thank you!
#GaryLineker
#BBCMOTD
1
6
35
Fantastic view from the new
@EBRD
HQ in Canary Wharf - wonderful to run into many former colleagues and to chat to
@OdileRenaud
- the Bank continues to deliver into a challenging world.
2
3
34
We are very proud of our daughter
@tvzhel
who is a doctor in an Aberdeen hospital. A tough job in difficult times.
#WorldHealthDay
#EBRDfamily
@EBRD
Today is
#WorldHealthDay
!Our
#EBRDfamily
shared photos of relatives & friends who are on the frontline in fight against
#coronavirus
. We want to thank you👨⚕️👩⚕️who are supporting us during the
#Covid19
pandemic.
Thank you for keeping us safe!
#thankyouourheroes
#stayhome
#staysafe
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It is a beautiful, sunny evening as I walk through Little Venice in London. A good way to shrug off the demands of the day and head to the calm of the night.
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35 years ago today - 21st December 1988 - I will never forget the scenes that confronted me as I arrived, as a BBC Reporter, at Lockerbie in Scotland. A Pan Am 747 jet was blown out of the sky over the town. I found streets and fields strewn with bodies, Christmas presents that
2
6
35
Nothing becomes a man like his way of leaving - excellent topical cartoon as usual from
@Ncknwmn
in The Sunday
@thetimes
#BorisJohnson
2
13
36
Just catching up on some document reading but my coworker doesn’t seem too impressed. That is the trouble with
#homeworking
, your colleagues don’t cut you any slack!
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0
34
What a lovely thing to say. It’s been a real pleasure to be Head of Comms
@EBRD
- to paraphrase an old quote ‘you can take the boy out of
@EBRD
but you can never take
@EBRD
out of the boy.’ A huge thank you to my whole team and the whole Bank.
It’s
@EBRDCharles
’s last day
@EBRD
today. He’s been an inspiring Head of Comms, boss & colleague.
But he’s not leaving us altogether. (He will still host
#Fearonomics
. And we will still be able to enjoy his non-EBRD
#VinylCountdown
podcast)
Thank you JC. We wish you all the best!
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One of my biggest issues
@DavidLloydRADIO
with the failure of the BBC to put up someone to respond is what it tells us. As someone who helped to lead an institution during a time of change, if you believe in something you go out and defend it. No matter what. BBC Local Radio
At least with the BBC not putting anyone up to respond re local radio changes on today's
@BBCR4Feedback
, we were spared the usual patronising nonsense. There is a statement though.
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12
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There’s something about December
#Londonsnow
which makes me feel like an extra in a Charles Dickens novel.
#snow
3
1
32
Highly entertaining- a colleague in Belgrade tells me I appear in a new Serbian tv drama tonight about Slobodan Milosevic. They use a BBC clip of me reporting outside his besieged house exactly 20 years ago this week, just before his arrest.A very tense and dramatic weekend.
1
2
33
I would love to see the BBC Local Radio strategy written down on paper
@NickyHorne
- maybe there is some justification that I am missing. I have written a lot of strategies over the years and right now I just can’t see it. What is deafening is the silence of BBC management.
.
@tonyblackburn
is right, now “there is no such thing as LR”What is the point of an ersatz national network masquerading as local when it’s vastly inferior to
@bbc
national and paying lip service to local? It’s madness and it makes me want to weep.
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This must be one of the best beaches that I have been on anywhere in the world. It’s not Greece, France, Spain or the Caribbean. It is The Hebrides in Scotland. It’s sunny ☀️ and barely a soul in sight.
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0
29
Great topical cartoon from
@Ncknwmn
in The Sunday
@thetimes
this morning. It’s a good job there aren’t many of the milkman left that we used to see in my childhood-they’d need an armed escort. The Brinks Mat robbery would have nothing on knocking off a milk float.
#inflation
1
8
30
This was a really fascinating episode to make on the risks to globalisation. I had never heard of ‘Friend-shoring’ before!
@EBRD
podcast
#Fearonomics
New episode of our podcast
#FEARonomics
is out!
Death of globalisation?
Brexit, Covid-19 and war on Ukraine...
What's next?
Listen to
@BJavorcik
@sguriev
&
@ebrdcharles
discuss are there any alternatives...
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Thoroughly enjoying
@SimonBatesUK
and
@MikeReadUK
on
@BoomRadioUK
marking 60th anniversary of Top Of The Pops. There’s a lesson here for current BBC Local Radio management - good programming isn’t about money, it’s about imagination and ambition.
2
5
30
This is a damning indictment of
@Ofcom
and they may well have left themselves vulnerable to a judicial review -
@DavidLloydRADIO
is right to question the way that BBC Local Radio changes have been handled and to call for an investigation.
The consultations by
@ofcom
into modernising the BBC's Operating Licence have been poor. I had not realised quite how poor until studying every word. I believe the exercise was not compliant with Ofcom's own Consultation Principles. (Letter to Ofcom below)
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A mark of Jacques Delors good humour when I was a BBC Europe Correspondent: Letting myself into a dark Luxembourg hotel room late at night, I turned on the light to find Jacques Delors in bed. The hotel had double booked us. He was very gracious. I made my excuses and left.
Delors’ contribution to the European cause rivals those of Jean Monnet, Walter Hallstein and Robert Schuman, the founding fathers of the European Economic Community, launched in 1958.
Jacques Delors1925-2023
@FT
@lionelbarber
@TonyBarber8
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3
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It’s a beautiful evening in the Scottish Highlands - a wonderful weekend lies ahead. There are few more picturesque locations in the world.
5
0
31
Whatever your views on Scottish independence,it is hard not to be proud of such an example of democracy.Possible 90% turnout.
#indyref
4
49
31
You just have to love
@Ncknwmn
in
@thesundaytimes
- only he could roll the
#jubilee
into today’s problematic world to make a single joke. Marvellous!
1
6
30
The great pleasure of
@BoomRadioUK
is the breadth of music played (alongside the excellent presenters). This track wouldn’t be played anywhere else.
@SimonBatesUK
is elevating my Sunday afternoon.
4
3
30
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9
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What shocks me
@NickyHorne
are not the technical failures, they are bad enough, but the fact that nobody is being held accountable for the omnishambles which now sum up BBC Local Radio. In three decades in the BBC, I never saw anything like this and I would like to think that
6
8
28
I think it’s a reminder
@NickyHorne
that, in life, timing is everything- the localness has been removed from much of BBC Local Radio just as winter is coming on and the output is more needed than ever. Big local news stories are increasing in our more complex world.
Red weather alert for Southampton - danger to life - and
@BBCRadioSolent
has National late show on from Salford ! Disgrace. Shameful.
@Ofcom
THIS IS CLEAR BREACH OF OPERATING LICENCE. DO. YOUR. JOB.
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Very sad to hear about the death of my former BBC colleague, George Alagiah. He was always the friendliest and most generous of individuals, whether on the road or in the newsroom. He was the most human of journalists-caring about the world we live in.
3
3
27
All set up and ready to go with a mini broadcast position in the kitchen - about to appear on BBC1/World News with
@SallyBundockBBC
to discuss what happens now with
#Brexit
after that Brussels dinner
7
1
28
Ah,
@Ncknwmn
, you have surpassed yourself today. Excellent cartoons in
@thesundaytimes
. My laughter is ringing around the house.
2
13
28
A cup of green tea and the papers - getting ready to review them on BBC1/World News with
@SallyBundockBBC
- we have the choppy markets,
#coronavirus
, plunging oil prices and more. Join us!
5
2
27
Fascinating dissection of the Northern Ireland economy by
@dsmitheconomics
in the Sunday
@thetimes
- it would appear to be benefitting from being both in the UK economy and the EU Single Market. I know many companies which moved there.
4
11
27
