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Union challenges BBC deal over free licences


BBC and the Government which shifts the payment of free TV licences for those aged 75 and over from the Department for Work and Pensions to the corporation. The shift of responsibility


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for the payment is likely to cost the BBC £750 million. The NUJ believes that the


BBC’s agreement to do this is in breach of public sector equality, that it unlawfully discriminates against persons under the age of 75, and that it is in breach of the BBC’s rules of governance. In secret talks with the


Treasury, Tony Hall, BBC director general (pictured), agreed to the deal in return for the licence fee to be linked to inflation, the closing of the loophole on


catch-up TV and the ending of the BBC’s commitment to fund superfast broadband. However, John Whittingdale, the Culture Secretary, has since said the funding decision depended on the outcome of the consultation on the corporation’s charter review.


The payment of the fee


is expected to cost the BBC £750 million by 2020, which is almost a fifth of the corporation’s annual income.


he union has launched a legal challenge to the deal between the


Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ


general secretary, said: “We have already said this


was a shabby deal which is not good news for the licence fee payer or the BBC staff. “It places the corporation in a situation where more cuts to jobs and programming are needed because of the funding shortfall, a move which will inevitably compromise quality. “As well as being a bad deal done without any engagement with licence fee payers, we also believe that it is legally flawed “Our legal team has


written to the BBC Trust asking a series of questions and requesting it to reverse its decision to agree to pay for the licences of those aged 75 and over.” Raymond Snoddy P21


“ Asian network strike over London move S


taff at the BBC’s Asian network took strike action for 24 hours last month over the axing of one of its two Birmingham-based editor roles and the moving of the


Bobby Friction show to London. Bobby Friction’s awarding-winning show, a mix of


entertainment, desi, Bollywood and bhangra, makes up a third of all daily live network radio programming broadcast from Birmingham.


” Apart from the Archers, the Asian Network is the last


remaining network radio output based in the city, leaving the Mailbox, the BBC facility which costs £2.14 million a year, half-empty. Over recent years TV Programmes such as Coast, Countryfile, the Hairy Bikers, and the Radio 4 shows You and Yours, Farming Today, and Costing the Earth have been taken out of the Mailbox.


over many years. Ken was aged 86 and died on August 5 in Farnborough, Kent. Ken served as NUJ General Secretary for seven years until 1977, having previously been a national organiser. He stepped down to become Joint Secretary of the original UK Press Council. He was later the Council’s Director for 10 years and oversaw the start of the Press Complaints


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TRIBUTES FOR FORMER GS KEN MORGAN ributes have been paid to Ken Morgan,


the former NUJ General Secretary and a major figure in British journalism


Commission, serving as Director for its first year in 1991.


Ken’s union involvement began with his election as secretary of Manchester Freelance branch. He was later


appointed as Central London’s first full- time branch secretary.


Seamus Dooley, Assistant General Secretary, said: “Ken Morgan served as General Secretary with


distinction. He steered the union through turbulent waters with style, forbearance and commitment.”


We have already said this was a shabby deal which is not good news for the licence fee payer or the BBC staff


in brief...


KUENSSBERG IS NEW BBC POLITICAL CHIEF Laura Kuenssberg is the BBC’s new political editor. She takes over from Nick Robinson who will be one of the presenters on Radio 4’s Today programme. Keunssberg has been chief correspondent and a presenter on Newsnight since last year. She was business editor at ITV News between 2011 and 2014 and was BBC chief political correspondent from 2009 to 2011.


INGLISH LEAVES BBC ROLE AFTER 10 YEARS Sue Inglish, the BBC’s head of political programmes, analysis and research is leaving. Inglish, who leads 150 staff in political news and programmes on radio, television and online, has been in her position for 10 years. Previously, she was head of analysis and research for news and also a foreign news editor.


ICONIC MUSIC WEEKLY NME BECOMES FREE The NME will become a free weekly magazine from this month. The music magazine had an average weekly circulation of 15,384 in the second half of last year – down from more than 75,000 10 years ago. More than 300,000 free copies of the title will be distributed in stations, universities and shops.


LOSSES CONTINUE TO FALL AT THE INDY The Independent has seen a sharp fall in losses to £4.6 million for the year to September 2014. This compares with a loss of £12.3 million in the previous financial year and £16.6 million in the year before that. The Independent titles lost £22.6 million in the year to September 2011 (the first full year after Alexander Lebedev bought the newspapers in March 2010).


NEWCASTLE JOURNAL LOSES ITS WEBSITE The Newcastle Journal newspaper will no longer have a dedicated website. Owner Trinity Mirror said it was merging the website with the Newcastle Chronicle’s ChronicleLive. Trinity Mirror said the Journal


site will continue to exist as an archive site.


theJournalist | 03


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