BP
Not at all how it was intended - rather from my experience any senior and/or high profile position which was being covered for a designated time (be it because of maternity cover, sick leave, sabbatical etc.) would be referred to as 'acting [job title]', or use another title that perhaps reflects the nature of the job (a deputy editor, say, can be expected to cover an editor's responsibilities for long periods of time without a change in their title because providing such cover is already within their remit). Considering there's usually little onair reference to the start/end of an individual's tenure in the post, the casual viewer might assume Maitlis has permanently replaced Stratton, or that Stephanie Flanders might have permenantly departed just months after taking the position. 'Acting economics editor', or making Pym 'Chief Economics Correspondent' from the outset, would have been an alternative.
These are all reasonable points - but ultimately I suspect it's a bit 'inside baseball'. I don't think the vast majority of viewers notice or care. And those who do can find an answer fairly quickly online.
But House's post seemed to be expecting a job title that would specify the particular reason for the temporary nature of the role (e.g. maternity cover), which is not an expectation that I share.
Not at all how it was intended - rather from my experience any senior and/or high profile position which was being covered for a designated time (be it because of maternity cover, sick leave, sabbatical etc.) would be referred to as 'acting [job title]', or use another title that perhaps reflects the nature of the job (a deputy editor, say, can be expected to cover an editor's responsibilities for long periods of time without a change in their title because providing such cover is already within their remit). Considering there's usually little onair reference to the start/end of an individual's tenure in the post, the casual viewer might assume Maitlis has permanently replaced Stratton, or that Stephanie Flanders might have permenantly departed just months after taking the position. 'Acting economics editor', or making Pym 'Chief Economics Correspondent' from the outset, would have been an alternative.
These are all reasonable points - but ultimately I suspect it's a bit 'inside baseball'. I don't think the vast majority of viewers notice or care. And those who do can find an answer fairly quickly online.