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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| BBC News to cut 415 posts as it restructures for digital | BBC News to cut 415 posts as it restructures for digital |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| BBC News is to cut a further 415 posts and restructure to increase focus on digital journalism. | BBC News is to cut a further 415 posts and restructure to increase focus on digital journalism. |
| James Harding, the BBC’s director of news and current affairs, told staff on Thursday that there will be £48m in annual savings and a total of 500 workers will be affected by the cuts. | James Harding, the BBC’s director of news and current affairs, told staff on Thursday that there will be £48m in annual savings and a total of 500 workers will be affected by the cuts. |
| The wideranging cuts to BBC News will include the axing of a number of special on-air journalist roles – although other new positions will be created – and flagship BBC1 current affairs show Panorama losing its dedicated reporters. Among the most high-profile redundancies are Panorama reporter John Sweeney. | The wideranging cuts to BBC News will include the axing of a number of special on-air journalist roles – although other new positions will be created – and flagship BBC1 current affairs show Panorama losing its dedicated reporters. Among the most high-profile redundancies are Panorama reporter John Sweeney. |
| BBC3’s 60 Seconds news bulletin is also to be scrapped and the BBC News Channel will switch from two anchors to a single presenter. | BBC3’s 60 Seconds news bulletin is also to be scrapped and the BBC News Channel will switch from two anchors to a single presenter. |
| However, Harding said that 195 new positions will be created in the restructure, meaning a net reduction of 220 full-time posts across news and current affairs. | However, Harding said that 195 new positions will be created in the restructure, meaning a net reduction of 220 full-time posts across news and current affairs. |
| He told staff that the priority is to focus on original journalism and to digitally transform the BBC News operation. | He told staff that the priority is to focus on original journalism and to digitally transform the BBC News operation. |
| Investment in digital | Investment in digital |
| Some of the savings – £12m – will be reinvested in digital platforms and enhancing the BBC’s original journalism. The BBC plans to spend £8m on hiring extra specialist editors and correspondents, local political reporters and city correspondents; with the remaining £4m going into social and mobile news, data journalism, online analysis and enhancing News Labs. | Some of the savings – £12m – will be reinvested in digital platforms and enhancing the BBC’s original journalism. The BBC plans to spend £8m on hiring extra specialist editors and correspondents, local political reporters and city correspondents; with the remaining £4m going into social and mobile news, data journalism, online analysis and enhancing News Labs. |
| In addition the World Service will receive an extra £13m to invest in digital journalism and the development of further language TV services over the next three years. | In addition the World Service will receive an extra £13m to invest in digital journalism and the development of further language TV services over the next three years. |
| The World Service annual budget is being increased from £245m to about £250m, while the position of controller, World Service English is being reintroduced to lead the international radio operation editorially. | The World Service annual budget is being increased from £245m to about £250m, while the position of controller, World Service English is being reintroduced to lead the international radio operation editorially. |
| However, the World Have Your Say show is to be axed and the World Service News department will cease to exist in its current form. | However, the World Have Your Say show is to be axed and the World Service News department will cease to exist in its current form. |
| The Programmes department is due to lose 27 posts and TV current affairs, including Panorama, is losing 10 posts, which includes the four full-time reporting posts on Panorama. | |
| A further 91 posts are expected to go from the BBC newsroom. Overall BBC News is planning to cut at least six senior management roles. | A further 91 posts are expected to go from the BBC newsroom. Overall BBC News is planning to cut at least six senior management roles. |
| “Taking nearly £50m out of a well-run organisation that provides high quality news services that are trusted, relied upon and used by millions of people is an extremely difficult undertaking. The challenge is how to make BBC News even better, despite having less money,” Harding said. | “Taking nearly £50m out of a well-run organisation that provides high quality news services that are trusted, relied upon and used by millions of people is an extremely difficult undertaking. The challenge is how to make BBC News even better, despite having less money,” Harding said. |
| “BBC News led the way first in radio, then in television and then online. Now, digital technologies offer us the opportunity to lead a fourth revolution in news. So, as well as setting out our savings plan this morning, we are also announcing proposals to restructure news and target investments in our future - in the digital transformation of BBC News, in our own original and distinctive journalism, in making this a better place to work.” | “BBC News led the way first in radio, then in television and then online. Now, digital technologies offer us the opportunity to lead a fourth revolution in news. So, as well as setting out our savings plan this morning, we are also announcing proposals to restructure news and target investments in our future - in the digital transformation of BBC News, in our own original and distinctive journalism, in making this a better place to work.” |
| No service closures | No service closures |
| Harding said that a review of the operation had included looking at the impact of stopping services, instead of “salami slicing” cuts, including the BBC News channel, Newsbeat and BBC Parliament. | Harding said that a review of the operation had included looking at the impact of stopping services, instead of “salami slicing” cuts, including the BBC News channel, Newsbeat and BBC Parliament. |
| However, Harding said that closing a service would not result in a big enough saving compared with the impact on licence fee payers. | However, Harding said that closing a service would not result in a big enough saving compared with the impact on licence fee payers. |
| Harding added that BBC News had been “relatively protected” compared with cost-cutting in other parts of the corporation. | Harding added that BBC News had been “relatively protected” compared with cost-cutting in other parts of the corporation. |
| BBC News currently employs some 8,400 people, including about 5,000 journalists. The operation cut 140 posts in 2012 and a further 75 last year. | BBC News currently employs some 8,400 people, including about 5,000 journalists. The operation cut 140 posts in 2012 and a further 75 last year. |
| Some of the savings are to meet BBC News’ £60m a year contribution to Delivering Quality First, the corporation-wide drive to reduce costs by £700m by 2017. It is anticipated that about 620 BBC News posts will close over this period. | Some of the savings are to meet BBC News’ £60m a year contribution to Delivering Quality First, the corporation-wide drive to reduce costs by £700m by 2017. It is anticipated that about 620 BBC News posts will close over this period. |
| Fran Unsworth, deputy director of news and current affairs, announced extra investment for BBC2’s Newsnight and the integration of international bureaux between newsgathering, the BBC World Service and BBC Monitoring. | Fran Unsworth, deputy director of news and current affairs, announced extra investment for BBC2’s Newsnight and the integration of international bureaux between newsgathering, the BBC World Service and BBC Monitoring. |
| The existing newsroom and programme departments are to be restructured into three new units – 24/7 news, including TV news channels, Radio 1’s Newsbeat and BBC online; daily news programmes, encompassing TV, domestic and World Service radio; and current affairs. The reorganisation is due to be completed by October. | The existing newsroom and programme departments are to be restructured into three new units – 24/7 news, including TV news channels, Radio 1’s Newsbeat and BBC online; daily news programmes, encompassing TV, domestic and World Service radio; and current affairs. The reorganisation is due to be completed by October. |
| The restructure in detail | The restructure in detail |
| Division-wide savings | Division-wide savings |
| • streamlining daily activity and back office efficiencies | • streamlining daily activity and back office efficiencies |
| • integrating with World Service to reduce costs in international bureaux | • integrating with World Service to reduce costs in international bureaux |
| • changes to the planning and commissioning of coverage | • changes to the planning and commissioning of coverage |
| • back office savings through integration of World Service and News management | • back office savings through integration of World Service and News management |
| Newsroom | Newsroom |
| • increased sharing of production teams and international programming by the BBC News Channel and BBC World News | • increased sharing of production teams and international programming by the BBC News Channel and BBC World News |
| • BBC News Channel to move from two to single main anchor | • BBC News Channel to move from two to single main anchor |
| •combining the World Service and Radio newsrooms | •combining the World Service and Radio newsrooms |
| • combining production teams for the World Tonight and Newshour programmes | • combining production teams for the World Tonight and Newshour programmes |
| Programmes department | Programmes department |
| • main savings arise from production changes to Panorama, Newsnight and Newsbeat | • main savings arise from production changes to Panorama, Newsnight and Newsbeat |
| • reduction in the TV current affairs budget | • reduction in the TV current affairs budget |
| • closer working between current affairs and the daily Radio 4 news programmes | • closer working between current affairs and the daily Radio 4 news programmes |
| Newsgathering | Newsgathering |
| • reshaped operation, involving smaller and more agile reporting teams | • reshaped operation, involving smaller and more agile reporting teams |
| • World Affairs Unit, based in London, will become a smaller specialised hub | • World Affairs Unit, based in London, will become a smaller specialised hub |
| • proposal for single general reporting team is proposed | • proposal for single general reporting team is proposed |
| • number of correspondent and production posts expected to close | • number of correspondent and production posts expected to close |
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