What is this Common Platform then?

Interesting chat in the Broadcast Centre cafeteria with Lucy Hooberman from BBC Research & Innovation (which is part of Future Media & Technology). She’s not an engineer: she’s one of the people in the organisation responsible for stimulating innovation and change. We talked about Common Platform. She’s been wondering what it is. Specifically, is it:

• A neutral record of change at the BBC?
• A campaign?
• A programme of activity aimed at driving that change?

Could it be all three?

Lucy also wondered how it might relate to the campaigning style of some of the proponents of Ofcom’s now-defunct Public Service Publisher concept a couple of years ago (I participated in Ofcom’s mock tender process for the PSP—fascinating). I think she’s warning me that campaigning for things is a good way to alienate people—even if the idea is the right one—especially at a complicated place like the BBC and sometimes in the wider industry.

Point taken Lucy. As to those questions: I hope to record what I learn (confidentiality permitting). I also have a fairly explicit ‘agenda’: I believe the BBC should open up to the people and communities that fund it and that the Corporation has a enabling role to play in economy and society (so I guess it’s a campaign of sorts). And I want to set up and leave behind some interesting activity, something that’ll go on working after I’ve gone. All three then!