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From: Mark R Davies}
Sent: Tue 16/06/2015
To: Tom Wechsler}, 7
Subject: Fwd: Plans/actions taken to mitigate Panorama
Hi Tom
I will updte it in the morning and resend: it should work ok from a word doc
m
Sent from my iPad
Begin forwarded message:
From: Paula Vennells <777
Date: 16 June 2015 22:
“>, Tom Wechsler
g P, Alisdair Cameron oo GRO
Subject: Re: Plans/actions taken to mitigate Panorama
1am so lucky to have such great colleagues to work with!
Thank you Mark this is very clear and helpful. I'm grateful for all the obvious thinking and
planning going on.
Thanks also to Jane for her rigour and drive on the legal and mediation side.
If the outcome could be judged by integrity and commitment then the programme would have
been pulled by now.
I'm reassured by your note Mark. It's a good brief for both Al and I, if we are drawn into a
Sparrow discussion over dinner.
Tom, could you reformat the planning grid, so that I can view easily on iPad tomorrow. (I can see
the gist of it but not easily.)
Cheers,
Paula
Paula Vennells
Chief Executive
Post Office Ltd
Paula
This is the latest position:
The programme is due to air on June 29. Our approach is as follows:
Panorama engagement
We have been engaging with Panorama's producers/reporters on a daily basis. We
held a two hour on the record briefing session with them last Tuesday. They have
since sent a long set of questions, to which we responded in detail today. They have
not put any new allegations to us. They withheld a number of questions from the
briefing [a strong point if we are to argue bad faith].
We have been engaging at this level in order to seek to flush out whether they have
any new information. As they appear not to, we are now escalating to Panorama
editor level. I have requested a meeting with him (Ceri Thomas). We are speaking
tomorrow. Subject to that conversation, I will be escalating to his superiors and
ultimately James Harding, director of news and current affairs. This will take place
tomorrow. This is in addition to an ongoing dialogue with Malcolm Balen, who
heads editorial complaints.
This is the right sequence of events: to have gone higher before flushing out the
reporters [and giving us a strong evidence base off which to make representations]
would likely have led to 'doorstepping' tactics.
We are also keeping the possibility of an on camera interview with Angela alive, but
have concluded that Panorama plans to use this only to put questions about
individual cases to us, in order to create a television moment [where we do not
answer]. We have not, however, informed Panorama of this position in order to keep
channels open.
Panorama has approached BIS, Fujitsu and Second Sight. We have written tonight to
Second Sight reminding them of their terms of engagement. We are liaising with
Fujitsu and BIS.
Brunswick are up to date with developments and support our approach. They have
conducted media training with Angela.
Legal avenues
We met with external legal teams last Wednesday and are in daily contact. Our media
lawyers are preparing a letter for BBC lawyers which we will deploy tactically at the
right moment: we don't want to go too early while there is still a chance, albeit
limited, that they will pull the programme, or move it. If and when we do deploy, this
will be a robust approach highlighting the BBC's lack of evidence and continued.
focus on the issue. We are working up details of how much we will say about
individual cases, particularly on a lawyer to lawyer basis, without losing the moral
high ground.
Communications planning
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It is critical if Panorama does broadcast the kind of programme we expect that we
have communicated our messages, confidently, to our people and particularly all
those who communicate with customers and teams who connect with
postmasters/branch staff. I have drawn up a very comprehensive plan which I will
send to you. In short I have consulted with relevant GE and other senior colleagues
and will be holding a series of conference call briefings next week as well as ensuring
materials and lines to take are communicated. I have drawn up a detailed day by day
plan of action. This will include a filmed interview with Angela for internal and
external use and a (subject to your view) a message from you.
We will also take a robust external response. If Panorama seeks to generate publicity
for its programme we will go into all out attack. We will also for possible use
develop a proactive statement to run ahead of the programme to set out our position
in advance and raise questions about the programme. We will agree to media bids if
other BBC outlets run the story: I will do these and be robust. We will also arrange a
live social media session when Panorama is airing to issue in real time corrections and
clarifications.
I have copied the current overall plan below: you will see one or two gaps where
colleagues were unsure of right person/people, and indeed today it has gone to
colleagues across the business for input. I am planning as you will see to update GE
at the end of the week, but given your request I am sending this to you now with a
health warning it is work in progress. And as I am on ipad it may appear oddly. I
hope it gives a sense of the comprehensive nature of the plan. One issue not here
which I am considering is whether we will need customer facing branch collateral: my
instinct is not, but we will prepare for all eventualities. Pete and I are in touch and
discussing all relevant points from his perspective.
T hope this helps.
Mark
PANORAMA — COMMUNICATIONS
PLANNING GRID
This grid sets out plans for informing colleagues of
the forthcoming Panorama programme on Horizon
and external communications tactics. It sets out roles
and responsibilities and a timeline. All named below
should please check their responsibility and raise any
queries with Mark R Davies or Melanie Corfield.
Business Who? How? When Materials _ Business lead co1
area/channel ?
BMs, AM, CMs and RMs plus Conferenc June Note and Roger Gale
Crown/WHSmith WH Smith BDMs ecall plus 23 _ lines to take
lines to
take
Agency
Multiples
Supply Chain
FS community
Service centres,
customer complaints
Contract teams
Social media
[strategy]
Advertising
plan[contingency]
Public statement
Commercial
stakeholders
[Tracy to complete please? Who
will be on the call?]
[Kevin S: can you guide as to
right people please?]
[TBC]
To discuss with Nick K and team
NBSC/POEX/FSC/HRSC/compl
aints teams/social media teams
John Breeden, Lin Norbury, Paul
Inwood , Contract Advisors
Darren Jones/MD
National media
Press Association/BBC
+ Bol
*RMG
- DWP
* DVLA
+ Home Office
+ POMS
+ FRES
+ Suppliers
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Conference June 2 Note and Kevin Seller/Mich
e call plus 3 lines to take ~Larkin/Drew McE
lines to
take
Conference TBC Note and Kevin Seller
e call plus lines to take
lines to
take
Email June Note and Mark Ellis
update 25 lines to take
Conferenc TBC Note and Nick Kennett/Kev
e call? lines to take ~Cooper/Carmel
Email McCarthy
update
Conference TBC Note and Amanda Stevens/
e call plus lines to take Connor/Rod Isma
lines to
take
Angela to TBC Lines to take Angela VDB
brief
Meet/ema TBC Standard Darren Jones
il Twitter
response/line
sto
take/Angela
film/statemen
t
Full page TBC Copy Pete Markey/MarI
advert Davies/Mel
Corfield/Keith Gu
Press June Statement Mark Davies/Mel
notice 25 (proactive) Corfield
(TBC
)
E Note Martin G:
m J : Nick Ken
a u le
i n ve
1 e 1
2 of
5 co
nt
People stakeholders
Other stakeholders
BIS
MPs
Central teams
GE/ET
Board
* Other [Colleagues to
advise]
*CMA
*CWU
+ NFSP
*Go On UK
+ POAC
+ Children in Need
+ [OTHER?]
Richard Callard/ministers
MPs
+ BIS select committee
+ Tier 1 MPs
+ Sparrow MPs
All central team colleagues
Group Executive/Executive
Team
PO Board
Call/email June
25
Call/email June
Call/email Daily
Email
Email
Email
Email
25
June
29
June
25
June
22
June
25
June
29
June
30
June
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ne
Speaking Nick Beal/Tom M
note
Mark Davies (Go
OnUK)
POAC (Jane Hill)
Children in Need (
Taylor)
Speaking
note/email
Materials for Mark Davies/Patr
minister Bourke/Tom Wes
Note Jane Hill
Statement/lin Mark Davies/Paul
es to take Swanton/Mel Cor
Overall Mark Davies/Jane
plan/updates
Overall Paula Vennells/M:
Senior leaders
ALL
Subspace
Online/News
TIMETABLE
Tuesday, June 16
Wednesday, June 17
Thursday, June 18
Friday, June 19
Monday, June 22
25
June
29
June
30
SLT/Band 4s Email June
June
29
All colleagues (PO) June
25
Subspace June
News 26
Email to Panorama editor
Email to BBC Executives
Brunswick check step
BIS check step
BIS select committee chairman elected
Contact new BIS chairman (if not AB)
Update for Group Executive
Contact with Panorama re interview
Provide GE/ET with core materials for
commercial stakeholders for ongoing
briefing
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plan/updates Davies/Tom Wesc
ane Mc/Alwen Ly
Update/lines Mark Davies
to take
Message Mark Davies/Paul
from Swanton
Paula/Angela
film
Message Mark Davies/Rich
from Weaver/Paula Sw
Paula/Angela
film
Mark Davies
Mark Davies
Melanie Corfield
Mark Davies
Jane Hill
Jane Hill
Mark Davies
Mark Davies
Mark Davies/Melanie
Corfield
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Tuesday, June 23 Briefing with Crown/Agency teams Mark Davies/Patrick
Bourke/Melanie
Corfield
Wednesday, June 24 Legal letter Susan Barty
Record AVDB interview (for internal Melanie Corfield/Mark
channels/social media) Davies/Angela VDB
Briefing with service centres/customer
complaints Mark Davies/Patrick
Bourke/Melanie
Corfield
Thursday, June 25 Board update note Mark Davies/Alwen
Email to SLT/Band 4s Lyons
Issue Press Association statement Mark Davies
GE Update Melanie Corfield/Ruth
Stakeholder contact (unions/NFSP) Barker (TBC)
Other stakeholder contact Mark Davies
Tom Moran/Nick Beal
Various as plan
Friday, June 26 Subspace News Richard Weaver
Communications Conference call (timing On call rota/Mark
TBC) Davies/Melanie
Corfield
Saturday, June 27 Monitoring On call rota/Mark
Communications conference call (timing I Davies/Melanie
TBC) Corfield
Sunday, June 28 Monitoring On call rota/Mark
Communications Conference Call Davies/Melanie
(evening) Corfield
Monday, June 29 CEO email to business (inc AVDB video) Mark Davies
— PANORAMA DUE TO MP email Jane Hill
BROADCAST [Memoview?] Jonathan Knox
Proactive media bid approach Melanie Corfield
Live Twitter rebuttal/response from Mark Davies/team
@postofficenews
National advertising? Mark Davies
Tuesday, June 30 GE/Board update Mark Davies
SLT/Band 4 update Mark Davies
National advertising?
MATERIALS REQUIRED
[All to be cleared with Mark Davies and
Sparrow team]
Panorama emails
Core note for internal teams
Lines to take for customers
Lines to take for postmasters/colleagues
Social media copy
Advertising copy
Public statement/lines to take
MP note
Paula note
Team
Mark Davies/Melanie Corfield
Mark Davies/Melanie Corfield
Mark Davies/Melanie Corfield
Mark Davies/Darren Jones
Melanie Corfield
Mark Davies/Melanie Corfield/Ruth
Barker
Jane Hill
Mark Davies
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Angela film Melanie Corfield
Board/GE/SLT/Band 4 notes Mark Davies
Subspace copy Melanie Corfield/Richard Weaver
Legal letter (s) Susan Barty
Media training Brunswick/Mark Davies
Sent from my iPad
ennells
wrote:
Dear all,
I would really appreciate the detail of what we have done, who we have
engaged with, our legal activity, our view, why and what tack we have
taken and why, etc., to mitigate the Panorama coverage of Sparrow.
And how to answer the Board's likely question of what more could we
have done, have we tried a serious legal approach and if not, why not?
Remember they are not experts in either of your disciplines and may be
worried. They will be best reassured if we can demonstrate we have
taken control and how (Angela, lines, etc).
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By tomorrow midday pls.
Sorry to ask but important I manage it well for us.
Thanks, Paula
Paula Vennells
Chief Executive
Post Office Ltd
Paula
Sent from my iPad