Ofcom has today announced two appointments to the Board of MG ALBA, the body responsible for ensuring the availability of high-quality television programmes in Gaelic.
John Morrison has been appointed as the new Chair of MG ALBA and will begin his four-year term on 1 January 2023. A native Gaelic speaker from North Uist, John founded Morrison Media in 2012, a communications company that offers strategic public relations, public affairs and media training consultancy services.
Prior to this, John was a journalist with the BBC for over 20 years where he held a number of high-profile roles including Europe correspondent and Chief Political correspondent while he has worked on a range of Gaelic programmes including Reothart and Eòrpa. He continues to present the weekly sports programme Spòrs na Seachdain on BBC Radio nan Gàidheal
John’s non-executive experience includes ten years (2013 - 2022) on the Board of Sabhal Mòr Ostaig and three years as the Scotland representative on the UK Public Affairs Board of the PRCA, a position he has now stood down from.
Ingrid Henderson will join the Board from 12 December 2022 for a term of four years, serving as the Bòrd na Gàidhlig nominee. Based in Lochaber and involved in many aspects of traditional music, Ingrid has nearly thirty years of experience performing, teaching, writing and recording in the Gaelic arts field and currently runs Old Laundry Productions, a recording studio and record label based in Glenfinnan.
Ingrid also brings with her experience in both broadcasting and education, having served as a musical director on BBC ALBA’s flagship Ceilidh na Bliadhn’ Ùire amongst other programmes while she has taught at the University of the Highlands and Islands, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig and the National Centre of Excellence in Traditional Music. She currently chairs the Glenfinnan Community Facilities SCIO
Both appointments have been agreed by Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills following an independent selection process by Ofcom in Scotland.
I would like to congratulate John and Ingrid on their appointment to the board. I am confident that their background and extensive bank of experience will be a huge benefit to MG ALBA in helping it build on the excellent work of recent years.
Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills
BBC ALBA has been a huge success, bringing a wide range of Gaelic programmes to a diverse and loyal audience. It has also helped to support and develop the creative industries, especially in the Highlands and Islands.
John Morrison, New Chair of MG ALBA
In an increasingly competitive digital world, MG ALBA, working with the BBC, has to protect and grow this essential Gaelic service. It will be challenging but I am delighted to be involved.
I’m delighted to see John and Ingrid joining the MG ALBA board as we near 100 years of Gaelic broadcasting.
Glenn Preston, Ofcom Scotland Director
John’s blend of experience in broadcasting and public affairs make him well placed to lead MG ALBA’s Board through the coming years while Ingrid’s close ties to Scotland’s culture will bring a fresh perspective to the work of the Board.
Notes to editors
- Under the Communications Act 2003, the remit of MG ALBA (the operating name of Seirbheis nam Meadhanan Gàidhlig, or Gaelic Media Service) is to ensure that a wide and diverse range of high-quality television programmes in Gaelic are made available to people in Scotland.
- As outlined in section 183A(5)(b) of the Broadcasting Act 1990, MG ALBA board members must include a member nominated by Bòrd na Gàidhlig.
- Further information about appointments to the Board of MG ALBA can be found in the Memorandum of Understanding between the UK Government, Scottish Government, Scottish Parliament and Ofcom.
Tha Ofcom an-diugh air dà shuidheachadh ainmeachadh air bòrd MG ALBA, am buidheann a tha an urra ri bhith a’ dèanamh cinnteach gu bheil cothrom aig daoine air prògraman telebhisein Gàidhlig de dh’àrd-chàileachd.
Tha Iain Moireasdan air a bhith air a shuidheachadh mar an Cathraiche ùr air MG ALBA agus tòisichidh e a theirm ceithir bliadhna air 1 Faoilleach 2023. Neach a tha fileanta sa Ghàidhlig bho Uibhist a Tuath, chuir Iain air chois Morrison Media ann an 2012, companaidh conaltraidh a bhios a’ tabhann ceanglaichean poblach ro-innleachdail, seirbheisean cùisean poblach agus co-chomhairleachadh trèanaidh sna meadhanan.
Ron sin, bha Iain na neach-naidheachd aig a’ BhBC airson còrr air 20 bliadhna agus bha grunnan dhreuchd le ìomhaigh àrd aige a’ gabhail a-steach a bhith mar neach-naidheachd Na h-Eòrpa agus mar am Prìomh Neach-naidheachd Poilitigeach agus tha e air a bhith ag obair air raon de phrògraman Gàidhlig a’ gabhail a-steach Reothart agus Eòrpa. Tha e a’ leantainn air adhart a’ riochdachadh prògram spòrs gach seachdain Spòrs na Seachdain airBBC Radio nan Gàidheal.
Tha fèin-fhiosrachadh neo-ghnìomhach Iain a’ gabhail a-steach deich bliadhna (2013 - 2022) air Bòrd Sabhal Mòr Ostaig agus trì bliadhna mar riochdaire Alba air Bòrd Sheirbheisean Poblach na RA de PRCA, dreuchd a tha e a-nis air a leigeil seachad.
Bidh Ingrid Nic Eanraig a’ tighinn air a’ Bhòrd bhon 12 Dùbhlachd 2022 airson teirm de cheithir bliadhna, a’ frithealadh mar an neach a chaidh ainmeachadh le Bòrd na Gàidhlig. Stèidhichte ann an Loch Abar agus an sàs ann an iomadh taobh de cheòl traidiseanta, tha fèin fhiosrachadh aig Ingrid thar còrr air trichead bliadhna de bhith a’ taisbeanadh, a’ teagasg, a’ sgrìobhadh agus a’ clàradh ann an raon nan ealain Ghàidhlig agus tha i aig an àm seo a’ ruith Old Laundry Productions, stiùidio clàraidh agus leubail clàraidh a tha stèidhichte ann an Gleann Fhionnainn.
An cois Ingrid tha fèin-fhiosrachadh a’ tighinn cuideachd a thaobh craoladh agus foghlam, leis gun do fhritheil i mar an stiùiriche-ciùil air prògram suaicheanta BBC ALBA Cèilidh na Bliadhn’ Ùire am measg phrògraman eile fhad ’s a bha i a’ teagasg aig Oilthigh na Gàidhealtachd ’s nan Eilean, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig agus aig an t-Sàr Ionad Nàiseanta Ceòl Traidiseanta. Tha i an-dràsta mar chathraiche air Goireasan Coimhearsnachd Ghleann Fhionnainn SCIO.
Tha an dà shuidheachadh air a bhith air an aontachadh le Shirley-Anne Somerville BPA, Rùnaire a’ Chaibineit airson Foghlam agus Sgilean an dèidh pròiseas taghaidh neo-eisimeileach le Ofcom ann an Alba.
“Bu mhath leam meal an naidheachd a chur air Iain agus Ingrid airson a bhith air an suidheachadh air a’ bhòrd. Tha mi misneachail gum bi an cùl-fhiosrachadh agus an raon air leth farsaing de fhèin-fhiosrachadh a tha aca na bhuannachd air leth mòr do MG ALBA ann a bhith a’ cuideachadh a’ togail air an t-sàr obair a tha iad air a bhith ris thar nam beagan bhliadhnaichean a chaidh seachad.”
Shirley-Anne Somerville BPA, Rùnaire a’ Chaibineit airson Foghlam agus Sgilean
“Tha BBC ALBA air a bhith air leth soirbheachail, a’ toirt raon fharsaing de phrògraman Gàidhlig gu luchd-amhairc a tha diofraichte agus dìleas. Tha e cuideachd air taic agus cothrom leasachaidh a thoirt do na gnìomhachasan cruthachail, gu sònraichte air a’ Ghàidhealtachd agus anns na h-Eileanan.
Ann an saoghal didseatach a tha a’ sìor fhàs farpaiseach, feumaidh MG ALBA, ag obair an co-bhoinn ris a’ BhBC, an t-seirbheis riatanach Ghàidhlig a tha seo a dhìon agus fhàs. Bidh e dùbhlanach ach tha mi toilichte a bhith an sàs.“
Iain Moireasdan, Cathraiche Ùr MG ALBA
“Tha mi air leth toilichte a bhith a’ faicinn Iain agus Ingrid a’ tighinn air bòrd MG ALBA agus sinn a’ tighinn faisg air 100 bliadhna de chraoladh sa Ghàidhlig.
Tha am measgachadh de fhèin-fhiosrachadh a tha aig Iain ann an craoladh agus cùisean poblach ga chur ann an deagh shuidheachadh airson a bhith a’ stiùireadh Bòrd MG ALBA tro na bliadhnaichean a tha ri thighinn agus bheir na dlùth cheanglaichean a tha aig Ingrid ri cultar na h-Alba sealladh às ùr do dh’obair a’ Bhùird.”
Glenn Preston, Stiùiriche Ofcom Alba
Fiosrachadh do luchd-deasachaidh:
- Fo Achd Conaltraidh 2003, is e raon-ùghdarrais MG ALBA (ainm-obrach Seirbheis nam Meadhanan Gàidhlig) a bhith a’ dèanamh cinnteach gu bheil raon farsaing agus eadar-mheasgaichte de phrògraman telebhisean de dh’àrd-chàileachd sa Ghàidhlig air an tairgse do dhaoine ann an Alba.
- Mar a chaidh a mhìneachadh ann an earrann 183A(5)(b) de Achd Craolaidh 1990, feumaidh buill bòrd MG ALBA a bhith a’ gabhail a-steach ball a chaidh ainmeachadh le Bòrd na Gàidhlig.
- Gheibhear tuilleadh fiosrachaidh mu shuidheachaidhean air Bòrd MG ALBA sa Mheòrachan Tuigse eadar Riaghaltas na RA, Riaghaltas na h-Alba agus Ofcom.