DONALDA MacKinnon ticked several boxes to be appointed Director of BBC Scotland. She has a strong programming background, played a key part in major projects such as Edinburgh Festivals coverage and has good references for her managerial abilities.
She is a former head of Children’s and Gaelic services at BBC Scotland, a trustee on the board of Children in Need and a board member of the Royal Television Society, Scotland. A Gaelic speaker from Harris (useful with BBC Alba a key part of the corporation) Ms MacKinnon becomes the first female head of BBC Scotland.
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Her CV includes responsibility for teams producing the likes of Still Game and we are sure she will be game for the challenges ahead. The first is likely to be the long running, but never quite beginning, saga of the Scottish Six. The BBC has been testing various formats for the mooted evening news programme and a decision will have to be made soon. Also sitting conspicuously in the pending tray will be the need to address doubts in some quarters about the corporation’s impartiality in Scotland. These first arose during the independence referendum and may have come sometimes from partial sources. However, despite overall high approval ratings in viewer studies, reports have shown that, rightly or wrongly, doubts remain. To counter this, Ms MacKinnon, who might face a second independence referendum on her watch, must demand perpetual integrity. Balance is rarely achieved by resting on laurels.
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A less vexatious pending item might be the creation of a second Radio Scotland channel devoted to music and culture, which could prove popular with listeners. Ms MacKinnon will surely have a listener in Ken MacQuarrie, her predecessor who is the BBC’s Director, Nations and Regions. Thus, we hope, Glasgow can speak peace unto London, and Ms MacKinnon can ensure Scotland has the broadcaster she deserves.
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