Someone else's man in Havana

The Observer this week reports that the BBC's new Editorial Executive of Diversity, Mary Fitzpatrick, is looking for greater "cultural accuracy" amongst foreign correspondents. "I would prefer to see somebody who understands that culture, understands what's going on and can say 'look with me, because I am part of this'. It feels more authoritative and more involved'." (via Lovelace.) Which sounds a duly worthy ambition, but surely begs the question why then that person needs to be employed by the BBC when local media in every country produces its own local reporting. If for example reports on Iraq by Iraqis are indeed more authoritative and involved - and it seems a reasonable enough contention - then the solution would surely be to syndicate existing reporting from the region rather than drain talent out of the local media to work for the BBC.