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Jeremy Paxman complaining about the TV industry being moneygrabbing

33 replies

ipanemagirl · 25/08/2007 13:10

I understand that he thinks TV should be driven by high moral standards and not just grubbing for cash.
But it's easy to say that when you earn a million pounds a year Jez! Lots of people in the media lower down the food chain would be happy just to make a living!

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littlemissbossy · 25/08/2007 13:17

yes hilarious isn't it? it was reported last year that he earns £800K for newsnight and £240K for university challenge and he's an author which no doubt sell better on the back of him being in the public eye

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ipanemagirl · 25/08/2007 16:22

Why DOES he need to be paid so much by the bbc? I mean, it's not as if there's any real competition to bag Paxo is there? He'd hardly leave in a huff to do some ITV news/infotainment heap of steaming shallowness on the other side would he?
So why don't he git vocational wages like missionaries and VSO people? He LOVES University Challenge, he'd do it for 25% of that salary. Hang on.... he does have to go to Manchester for afew days to record that so maybe he does think he deserves to be paid 24 grand a programme for being forced to leave the M25 to go somewhere very scary other than Glos, Surrey, Dorset, Cornwall, Norfolk, or Scotland to Fish.
I don't mind him making money from his books although i slightly wince at his promoting them all over the beeb; but for programmes like Newsnight - why not just put an offer on the table and say here you go Jezza - take or leave - or be off with you!
I think he deserves what? About 100k a year maybe 150? 200 is my final offer! Not bloody 800k!!!!
I think it's so funny that he clearly sees himself as some noble guardian of truth shrouded in some mythic mist in his own mind galloping off to strike down the evil scheming lying bastard politicians and hubrisladen public figures when really - this speech is full of hubris. The grandeur of his own opinion of himself is amazing! Talk about biting the hand that feeds you! I do partly agree with what he says but still, it doesn't sound right coming from someone earning that hideous amount.
I think the cynicism of someone like Michael Grade just dumping the bbc when he got a little bit more money and the water got a bit choppy - that is the height of amoral behaviour. Surely Grade should have taken on the BBC as if he cared and could make a proper commitment. very shallow. But Paxo, how he's tumbled in my esteem!

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Original poster
ipanemagirl · 25/08/2007 16:23

Forgive rant littlemissbossy!
Slightly hysterical Paxman outrage on my part!

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constancereader · 25/08/2007 18:46

The thing that really annoyed me was the way he was critical of lots of things but used the opportunity to defend his own agressive interviewing style. He said that journalists and politicians are not on the same side - but surely the opposing sides should be the party in opposition to the government, not the journalist? What gave him a mandate to be the opposition? I didn't vote for him.

Don't get me wrong, I don't want a fawning interviewing style either. But I do think that to be so agressive is rude and is less likely to result in a politician being honest. Investigative journalisim does not equate with rudeness. Eddie Meyer (sp?) is an example of a probing interviewer who manages to have an in depth discussion without resorting to abuse.

OK, rant over for me too!

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ipanemagirl · 25/08/2007 19:42

I agree constancer, and in addition I hate the sneering! He's the worst sneerer in current affairs!

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constancereader · 25/08/2007 20:28

Yes! Agree about the sneering. The Today presenters are pretty bad too.

It is Mair btw ..

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ipanemagirl · 25/08/2007 21:36

I like Eddie Mair too ( I had no idea how it was spelt though! )

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expatinscotland · 25/08/2007 21:37

He's a hypocritical twonk.

beansprout · 25/08/2007 21:39

Eddie Mair is fab.

Is Paxo really paid that much!?

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ipanemagirl · 25/08/2007 21:42

That's what was reported, I don't know if he denied it - don't think he did. It is a ridiculous amount for someone who would probably do the job for signficantly less. I guess whoever negotiates these things has no grasp of market forces.
Where's Paxo gonna go exactly? There isn't anywhere else! Pay him sensibly but don't bloody give him millions!

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dweezle · 26/08/2007 16:29

I'd rather Paxo received the money than Chris bloody Tarrant - I forget how much he was supposed to be getting for presenting 'Who wants to be a millionaire' (obviously he does ) but it was an OBSCENE amount for doing nowt......talentless git

Monkeytrousers · 26/08/2007 18:46

He is making an argument for better news, not dissing journalists but the execs who set the agendas.

It is acually highly commedable of him. Not many people have the courage to bite the hand that feeds them.

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ipanemagirl · 26/08/2007 21:18

It is commendable of him monkeyt - I agree, and he's one of the few people with enough clout to speak and be taken seriously by the powers that be.

However - I think it is inexcusable to pay anyone that much out of license payers money. This is effectively a tax on working people, some of whom find it hard to pay every year. It seems unethical for BBC journalists to be paid astronomical sums when they have no where else to compete for their services! Honestly where would Paxo go? The license payers are paying his salary and in my opinion it should be in the same region as highly paid public servants like doctors or politicians. Chris Tarrant can be paid anything he likes because the market is paying for him. The market is NOT paying for Paxman - we are - and his salary should reflect a more vocational commitment. He has enough spinoffs to make up whatever he needs for the house in Tuscany!

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Monkeytrousers · 27/08/2007 23:36

He could go to any number of places couldn't he? And get paid much more I think. If the BBC didn't pay competitive salaries like this then other broadcasters would and the BBC would have the dregs. He is well worth the money for the fact that he has the balls to do this. I?d maybe have questioned it previously.

Heathcliffscathy · 27/08/2007 23:38

what monkeytrousers said.

expatinscotland · 27/08/2007 23:40

Hey, MT is back! Cool!

MrsMar · 28/08/2007 14:32

I think paxo earns his money far more than the thousands of faceless managers reaping bonuses and huge salaries each year for cutting jobs - and don't believe that guff about senior management not taking their bonuses this year, they've just had a 30% pay rise instead, so that's ok. Meanwhile, the people who actually make the programmes are made redundant or have below inflation pay rises year on year. Now THAT'S a criminal use of the licence fee!

docket · 28/08/2007 14:43

sorry to lower the tone but i quite fancy paxo...

Monkeytrousers · 28/08/2007 16:24

You would say that MrsMar. How is Andrew BTW?

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ipanemagirl · 28/08/2007 18:29

Monkeytrousers, honestly where would he go that would have the gravitas of Newsnight? There really isn't anywhere is there? He could have a column that a small number of people would read but Newsnight is his unique home. I think he's brilliant don't get me wrong, utterly excellent. But I honestly do not believe that a PUBLIC SERVICE broadcaster needs to pay retention size fees for a man with nowhere plausible to go. I think these guys just have amazing agents who ramp up the contracts beyond what is ethical.

If he were working in the private sector - pay him whatever the market dictates. But he isn't!
I think he should be paid a lot but not that much!

Jonathan Ross - now he could leave but again, he couldn't have the same freedom from interference and advertising breaks that he gets on film 2007 - I mean he would HATE to give that up. Let alone all the self indulgent series he gets to do (at what cost to all of us) about Japan and bloody Hollywood legends yawn. 18 million in 2006. If that's true then that is a preposterous failure of a public service broadcaster - unbelievable. But I've also worked for JR's agent and he is clearly sharper than anyone working in negotiating these bloody contracts! How does that kind of negotiation go exactly? Is it "How much would you like Mr Ross?"!!

I have nothing at all against either individual. I worked with JR and he was one of the most delightful presenters I've ever worked with and PAID for starbucks coffee for a bunch of us underlings - unprecedented generosity.
Paxman I had to deal with a couple of times through work - he was excessively charming I nearly had to lie down after each call and fan myself awake.
But a public service broadcaster needs to say to some of these greedy *** "Ok, this is the offer, it's not the same as out there and if it's not enough then go!" Don't get me started on Moyles!
There are plenty of excellent people to fill their shoes! I think it's very insulting to assume that less pay would leave the corporation with rubbish people. Life would go on without Paxman and he would be miserable if he left his lofty heights imho!

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cornsilk · 28/08/2007 18:31

I always get him confused with the smug one from Top Gear.

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ipanemagirl · 28/08/2007 18:32

I'd hate to even think what that bloke get paid cornsilk! What's his name?

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ipanemagirl · 28/08/2007 22:14

Jeremy Clarkson, I've just remembered his name!
I've seen online he earns about a million.

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Monkeytrousers · 28/08/2007 22:40

Well he could go to the US - mega bucks and kudos to be had there!

Maybe you are right that public service broadcasting shouldn't be under the influence of the markets, but it is, like everything today.

Monkeytrousers · 28/08/2007 22:42

ph, and hi Exsplat!