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Rachel Jupp has been appointed as the BBC’s Director of News and Current Affairs, taking over one of the biggest news jobs in the world almost a year after the resignation of Deborah Turness.
Jupp, who is currently director of BBC News Documentaries and Long Form Journalism, will start his new job later this month, according to the BBC. She oversees approximately 4,500 employees across news operations that reach audiences in more than 40 languages worldwide.
The appointment puts Jupp in charge of the BBC’s domestic and international news operations as the broadcaster continues to adapt its journalism to changing audience habits.
“I am honored to have been asked to lead BBC News,” Jupp said in a statement on Monday, saying she wants to promote the broadcaster’s “independent and impartial journalism” and deepen audience trust.
Jupp replaces Turness, the former president of NBC News who resigned as Head of BBC News and Affairs in November last year along with the BBC’s director-general at the time, Tim Davie. Their departure followed criticism of a “Panorama” documentary that included parts of President Donald Trump’s January 6 speech from 2021.
The BBC later apologized for the edit, saying it created the wrong impression that Trump had made a direct call for violent action. Trump later sued the broadcaster for the documentary, while the BBC has tried to dismiss the lawsuit.
Jonathan Munro has been the interim director of BBC News since Turness left.
Jupp joined the BBC in 2013 after working at Channel 4 News and has held senior editorial roles including deputy editor of “Newsnight” and, most notably, editor of “Panorama”. Most recently she helped lead the broadcaster’s work around next generation artificial intelligence.
Her appointment gives the BBC a permanent head of news as it continues to navigate issues of trust and impartiality as it restructures its global news operations and cuts costs.
