Nearly fifteen years I read am article on Tom Paine in the first edition of Wired UK magazine. It changed my life.
Jon Katz's inspirational feature gave me the confidence - the belief - to walk away from a cosy career building bridges, and aspire instead to build a better future using 1s and 0s rather than concrete and steel.
Tomorrow, after a tortuous period of gardening leave, I start at Channel 4 where I'll be heading up their new 4iP fund along with the likes of the mercurial Ewan McIntosh.
The point of 4iP ? To reinvent Public Service Media for the 21st Century.
Have no poverty of ambition, as a wise man once advised me...
I can't wait to get started.
Comments (6)
Bloody hell! I remember that cover! I feel old now.
Posted by James Graham | September 30, 2008 5:06 PM
Posted on September 30, 2008 17:06
Welcome aboard Tom.
Still building bridges, albeit of a different kind.
Posted by Richard Davidson-Houston | October 1, 2008 9:35 AM
Posted on October 1, 2008 09:35
Do something amazing! Good Luck!
Posted by Michael Walsh | October 3, 2008 11:53 PM
Posted on October 3, 2008 23:53
Wired feature link need an "l" on the ".htm"
http://yoz.com/wired/1.01/features/paine.html
Posted by Michael Walsh | October 4, 2008 12:28 AM
Posted on October 4, 2008 00:28
In my small way I'm trying to keep the Paine plan alive over http://commonplatform.co.uk which is a sort of semi-official record of the BBC's efforts to open up to the world... Good luck Tom!
Posted by Steve Bowbrick | October 27, 2008 1:50 PM
Posted on October 27, 2008 13:50
Tom. Fascinating. Can you give me a yell? Need to talk please.
Regards
Peter
Posted by Peter Bale | October 28, 2008 10:54 AM
Posted on October 28, 2008 10:54