This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
news


BBC keeps licence fee and loses its trust


C © JEFFREY BLACKLER / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO


hanges to the operation of the BBC were less than feared when the government published its white paper on the future


of the corporation last month. The BBC Trust is to be scrapped and replaced


by a board with half its members appointed by the BBC and the other half by the government through a public appointments process. The BBC’s journalism will be regulated by


Ofcom, which imposes fines and forces the BBC to take action if it deviates from its charter The licence fee has been retained and will


rise from the current £145.50 to £160.50 by 2021-22. Non-payment of the licence fee remains a criminal offence and there will be measures to close the loophole whereby those who watch BBC programmes through iPlayer in the UK do not have to pay the fee. The BBC will fund licence fees for people aged over 75. The BBC charter will run for 11 years to 31


December 2027, with the aim of distancing reviews from the parliamentary election cycle. The white paper proposes that the public


purpose of the BBC is to “offer a range and depth of analysis and content not widely available from other UK news providers, using the highest calibre presenters and journalists,


and championing freedom of expression, so that all audiences can engage fully with major UK and global issues and participate in the democratic process as active and informed citizens”.


The BBC will have to publish names of all


employees and freelances paid more than £450,000 in broad bands. In 2014-15, nine BBC stars earned more than £500,000 and 34 earned between £250,000 and £500,000. Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ general secretary,


said: “The public response to the consultation on the future of the BBC was one of the largest ever, but the game was lost before it had even begun by the BBC agreeing to a deal with George Osborne to fund the licence fees of the over-75s – which could diminish the


“ ” UNION STEPS BACK FROM LEGAL ACTION


proceedings to challenge the arrangement between the Government and the BBC to shift the cost of free TV licences for those aged 75 and over from the Department of Work and


T


he union has decided on a QC’s advice not to take judicial review


Pensions to the BBC. The advice was that the


Courts would not interfere with how the Government allocated its finances. The NUJ had originally


considered challenging the shift of responsibility for the licence fee as it believes that the decision discriminates


against the under 75s. The union aalso felt and that it breached the public sector equality duty and the BBC’s rules of governance. The deal is expected


to cost the corporation £750million by 2020. Instead, The union is pursuing a Freedom of


Information challenge after the Government and BBC refused ‘on grounds of cost’ to provide the union with information as to the discussions, correspondence, processes and decisions reached in arriving at the arrangement.


Al Jazeera journalist faces death sentence A


n Egyptian NUJ member is facing the death sentence for espionage. Ibrahim Helal, a journalist of 27 years who


works for Al Jazeera, was sentenced to death in absentia by an Egyptian court in May, following a legal process in which he was unable to have any legal representation. The sentence is due to be approved or


reduced this month after consultations with Egypt’s mufti, the highest Sunni religious leader in the country. Egyptian law requires the mufti to sign off death sentences. His opinion is not binding but is usually accepted by courts. The NUJ and the International Federation of Journalists are pressing for the sentence to be overturned or for Mr Helal to be pardoned.


In 2014-15, nine BBC stars earned more than £500,000 and 34 earned between £250,000 and


£500,000 in brief...


ACADEMIC IS ITV’S ECONOMICS EDITOR An academic who has written best- selling books about economics has been appointed economics editor of ITV News. Noreena Hertz is best known for The Silent Takeover, IOU: The Debt Threat and Eyes Wide Open. During her career, she has advised world leaders and chief executives on economic, geopolitical and technological trends.


LEICESTER CENTRE MARKS 50 YEARS The University of Leicester next month marks the 50th anniversary of its Centre for Mass Communication Research – the first centre of its kind studying mass communication and birthplace of the UK’s first media and communications master’s degree. The centre was established by James Halloran and attracted academics from various disciplines.


GOOGLE TO GIVE MORE INNOVATION GRANTS News organisations have until 11 July to apply for the second stage of applications for Google’s €150 million scheme to fund journalism innovation in Europe. So far, grants of €27 million have been given. It says: “Preferred projects will demonstrate potential for significant positive impact on the production of original journalism, the creation of new revenue streams or even change the way people consume digital news.”


SKY NEWS CLOSES US DEDICATED WEBSITE Sky News is to shut the US version of its website to focus on its UK operation. The US site was launched four years ago to help build the Sky News brand in North America by tailoring stories for local audiences.


DALESMAN GROUP APPOINTS NEW MD The publisher of the Dalesman, the UK’s best-selling regional magazine, has a new managing director. David Proud was appointed by Country Publications Ltd. He has been the firm’s financial director for the past 11 years. He replaces Robert Flanagan who died suddenly.


theJournalist | 5


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28