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BBC News to cut 450 jobs and reduce number of stories covered

BBC News has announced plans for up to 450 job losses as part of a major cost-cutting effort. Man...
Stephen McNeice
Stephen McNeice

14.21 29 Jan 2020


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BBC News to cut 450 jobs and r...

BBC News to cut 450 jobs and reduce number of stories covered

Stephen McNeice
Stephen McNeice

14.21 29 Jan 2020


Share this article


BBC News has announced plans for up to 450 job losses as part of a major cost-cutting effort.

Management at the British broadcaster said the move comes as part of efforts to save £80 million (€95 million) by 2022.

The job losses have already faced strong opposition from unions, with the National Union of Journalist claiming the broadcaster is facing an "existential threat".

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According to BBC, the newsroom will now be reorganised to focus on news stories over individual programmes or platforms.

The corporation said in a statement: "This is designed to reduce duplication and to ensure that BBC journalism is making as much impact as possible with a variety of audiences, rather than stories only appearing on one outlet or platform.

"The new way of working will mean a changed focus for the news agenda, to ensure it is tailored to subjects that matter most to the audience.

"The changes mean there will be a reduction in the overall number of stories covered."

As part of the plans, BBC has previously confirmed the end of the Victoria Derbyshire daytime TV show.

It has now also confirmed it will cut resources for Newsnight, the 5 live radio station, and the World Service.

"We need to reshape BBC News"

In a statement, Fran Unsworth, BBC's director of news and current affairs, said: "The BBC has to face up to the changing way audiences are using us. We have to adapt and ensure we continue to be the world’s most trusted news organisation, but crucially, one which is also relevant for the people we are not currently reaching.

"We need to reshape BBC News for the next decade in a way which saves substantial amounts of money. We are spending too much of our resources on traditional linear broadcasting and not enough on digital."

Reacting to the news, the NUJ in the UK argued that public service broadcasting in the UK is under "unprecedented threat".

Paul Siegert, the union's national broadcasting organiser, said: "Today’s announcement is just the latest in a decade of cuts made by the BBC.

"The proposal for more than 500 posts to go in the next 12 months will put those remaining at the BBC under even more strain, with increased workloads and further workplace stress inevitable."

He added: “We have major concerns that the new ways of working planned across the BBC’s News Division could lead to a fall in quality and would urge the BBC to ensure they are audience-informed and not audience-led.

"It is the duty of a public service broadcaster to offer something different rather than simply chasing an audience like their commercial rivals."

The union added that it remains opposed to any compulsory redundancies and urged the BBC to work with unions in ensuring staff who are at risk can be redeployed.

Main image: File photo of BBC Broadcasting House in London. Picture by: Ian West/PA Wire/PA Images

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