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BBC World Service urges journalists to consider voluntary redundancy BBC World Service urges journalists to consider voluntary redundancy
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The BBC World Service has urged all its network news journalists to consider voluntary redundancy as it aims to avoid compulsory layoffs as part of £42m budget cuts.The BBC World Service has urged all its network news journalists to consider voluntary redundancy as it aims to avoid compulsory layoffs as part of £42m budget cuts.
The BBC's global arm is closing 73 editorial posts following its cut in funding by the government in 2010.The BBC's global arm is closing 73 editorial posts following its cut in funding by the government in 2010.
Post closures include 16 in network news, which includes domestic journalists based around the UK, 14 in World Service news, and two in newsgathering for world and business.Post closures include 16 in network news, which includes domestic journalists based around the UK, 14 in World Service news, and two in newsgathering for world and business.
Stephen Mitchell, the BBC's deputy director of news, urged staff to consider voluntary redundancy in an email on Thursday morning.Stephen Mitchell, the BBC's deputy director of news, urged staff to consider voluntary redundancy in an email on Thursday morning.
He said: "We are committed to avoiding compulsory redundancies where possible, and have previously been very successful in achieving this. We hope to continue our good record, and therefore are asking all network news staff once again whether they wish to be considered for voluntary redundancy."He said: "We are committed to avoiding compulsory redundancies where possible, and have previously been very successful in achieving this. We hope to continue our good record, and therefore are asking all network news staff once again whether they wish to be considered for voluntary redundancy."
Mitchell urged staff to register their interest in voluntary redundancy by 19 November.Mitchell urged staff to register their interest in voluntary redundancy by 19 November.
In the email, Mitchell said that network news would have some "outstanding posts to close" by 1 April 2013, but it was not clear whether that was in addition to the 73 job losses. In the email, Mitchell said that network news would have some "outstanding posts to close" by 1 April 2013.
A spokesman for the BBC said that the post closures related both to the corporation's Delivering Quality First spending review, and the cut in the government's funding of the World Service in 2010. A spokesman for the BBC confirmed that the outstanding posts did not mean additional job losses.
Compulsory redundancies at the World Service led to two walkouts by staff last year.Compulsory redundancies at the World Service led to two walkouts by staff last year.
The BBC said the 73 post closures were a reduction on their original estimate of more than 100. A total of about 1,250 people work at the World Service worldwide.The BBC said the 73 post closures were a reduction on their original estimate of more than 100. A total of about 1,250 people work at the World Service worldwide.
The National Union of Journalists has criticised the World Service cuts. General secretary Michelle Stanistreet said the job losses "fly in the face" of the corporation's commitment to quality programming, and urged director general George Entwistle to push for a renegotiation of the licence fee settlement.The National Union of Journalists has criticised the World Service cuts. General secretary Michelle Stanistreet said the job losses "fly in the face" of the corporation's commitment to quality programming, and urged director general George Entwistle to push for a renegotiation of the licence fee settlement.
"The World Service is a source of information for people across the world, described by former UN secretary general Kofi Annan as 'perhaps Britain's greatest gift to the world'," Stanistreet added."The World Service is a source of information for people across the world, described by former UN secretary general Kofi Annan as 'perhaps Britain's greatest gift to the world'," Stanistreet added.
"[BBC global news director] Peter Horrocks says, in one breath, how audiences around the globe, particularly in the Arab world, increasingly rely on medium wave transmissions, yet in the next announces massive cuts in medium wave services being broadcast in Syria, Lebanon, Egypt and Jordan," she added."[BBC global news director] Peter Horrocks says, in one breath, how audiences around the globe, particularly in the Arab world, increasingly rely on medium wave transmissions, yet in the next announces massive cuts in medium wave services being broadcast in Syria, Lebanon, Egypt and Jordan," she added.
"These cuts will severely impair the BBC's scope and services at a time when they are needed more than ever. The BBC needs to stop and rethink its approach to the World Service before it does irreparable damage.""These cuts will severely impair the BBC's scope and services at a time when they are needed more than ever. The BBC needs to stop and rethink its approach to the World Service before it does irreparable damage."
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