Staff warned news operations face 15% cut, above BBC-wide 10% target, as corporation pushes through £600m savings plan

cross-posted from: https://beehaw.org/post/26110589

The BBC’s news operation is to cut costs by a steeper-than-expected 15%, with staff told to expect heavy redundancies.

The division, home to about a quarter of all BBC staff, is being saddled with one of the highest cost-cutting targets as the corporation attempts to cut as many as 2,000 jobs in the biggest downsizing of the public service broadcaster in 15 years.

Last month, staff were informed that, on average across the BBC, about 10% of the corporation’s 21,500 employees would be affected as part of a £600m cost-cutting plan, but it was not clear at the time that news operations would see even deeper cuts.

Staff at divisions across the BBC are being informed of the level of cuts, with details to be announced in June, and those affected to be told in September.

Great, so, Sword of Damocles for four months. I’ve played this game, and it isn’t fun.

    • Korhaka@sopuli.xyzEnglish
      133·
      7 days ago

      Other news companies don’t send hired goons round my house to harass me for not paying for their services

      • sunbeam60@feddit.ukEnglish
        63·
        6 days ago

        But look, if our democracy, which you have a vote in, has decided that the BBC is funded by universal subscription, then the BBC does obviously have to make sure this is enforced. I feel like you’re complaining about speed checks on a 30 road, IMHO.

        • Korhaka@sopuli.xyzEnglish
          41·
          6 days ago

          I am fine with the subscription, just leave me the fuck alone if I don’t want it. Netflix don’t come to your house demanding payment and threatening you with potential fines because they think you might have been watching is it cake without paying them.

            • Korhaka@sopuli.xyzEnglish
              3·
              6 days ago

              The TV license isn’t for owning a display panel, its for watching live broadcast TV and BBC iplayer. You could probably watch it on your smart toaster if you are into stupid products.

              You shouldn’t have to confirm anything, I don’t want your product, fuck off. Plus they don’t even necessarily stop as you may well get them coming back at some point.

      • Adubya@feddit.onlineEnglish
        31·
        7 days ago

        Are we sure about that? In the states they kind of ruined our country and run it now.

        I would have just liked the service fee instead.

        • Korhaka@sopuli.xyzEnglish
          51·
          6 days ago

          Are we sure about that?

          Yes, very sure. It is only the BBC (or they hire capita to do it for them) that harass people over not having TV licenses. You could argue BBC vs BBC news but they are all under the same BBC umbrella and I don’t actually give a shit about the distinction between them, the company as a whole are responsible for harassment.

      • FishFace@piefed.socialEnglish
        102·
        7 days ago

        No, we don’t need to ignore those problematic aspects, because it’s still a damn sight better than anything else going. Cuts to the BBC will not improve any other outlets, it’ll just make it easier for GB News and the rest to expand their influence.

          • FishFace@piefed.socialEnglish
            54·
            6 days ago

            I don’t know all of those but I do know that Novara media and the canary are absolute dogshit. Having less right wing bias by having an extremely left-wing editorial bias and zero objective reporting is not a good substitute.

            • Lenin's Dumbbell @lemmygrad.mlEnglish
              3·
              6 days ago

              extremely left-wing editorial bias

              Jesus H Christ, you guys are going to hand the country over to fascists while apologizing for it taking so long.

              Either way, fuck the BBC for their coverage on Palestine. Can’t wait for the corporation to crash entirely

      • sunbeam60@feddit.ukEnglish
        53·
        7 days ago

        Have you seen what happens in country where there is no channels with enforced impartiality channels?

        You get the US media picture. It’s clear that the BBC has problems. But you can’t remove those problems and then have no problems. Instead you get a different set of problems.