(Ben replies: “That would be telling!”)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4132752.stm

I can imagine that Mark Lawson doesn’t use the internet very often, or doesn’t think much of it – that’s certainly reflected in his choice of questions, some of which are quite ridiculous (I’m all for critical, but informed questioning, but this certainly isn’t it!).

However you need to know that the BBC overall is in a pretty good place. It is slowly but definitely incorporating new media into its fabric, partly as a result of this apparently endless battering-down-of-prejudices which people like you have to keep participating in. The appetite, if not the understanding, is there and growing.

Stay with it: it’s all about turning round a supertanker; but turning round it is.

Personally, I think that the user content sent in to interactive news operations on 7th July was a real turning point. Suddenly, even for the most die-hard old media types, having a good online operation was to be embraced and celebrated, rather than treated with reluctant tolerance, a bit like an aunt at Christmas.

And a personal addendum: you’re right about me wanting to get more ‘old media’ experience in order to position myself at the future junctions of old and new media. But it’s not quite for the reasons you say.

A little more depressingly, it’s partly because it still seems that, if you want to move on, old media is more respected than new in organisations such as the BBC. What’s more likely to get someone like me promotion in years to come? Being Deputy Editor of the Six O’Clock News or UK Editor of the BBC News website? (Both hypothetical situations, of course, but you get the point.)

My children would probably respect me more for the latter; but my current bosses?

All of which is completely ironic, because the depth, variety and flexibility of covering and getting news via the internet is so much more satisfying and consumer-centric than TV news. But TV news it is for me now…..

I used to be the original Marketing Director in Europe for Netscape. Imagine how it was for me trying to explain what a broswer was. Imagine having to try and explain the internet.

In my career I have faced many similar brick walls but like the Berlin Wall they all fall down eventually. It takes longer than we want or expect. But on a positive note the BBC is making great stirdes with RSS, Podcasts etc.

I have also just heard your beta pod and would like to speak with you shortly about my new project iRiSS.fm but that’s under another NDA

Sam