06 Informed Update BBC leaders quizzed in Westminster


Last month, Tim Davie, BBC director general, and Samir Shah, BBC chairman, were questioned by the Culture Media and Sport Commitee (CMS) on wide-ranging topics impacting the broadcaster’s journalists and its journalism. Both Davie and Shah urged for funding of the BBC World Service to be provided once more by government, a call aligned with the NUJ’s position for several years. Comments echoed those made in January by the chairs of the Culture, Media and Sport, Foreign Affairs and International Development Commitees. In their leter to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, they wrote “We believe that the World Service benefits the whole of the UK, not just in terms of its journalism and public service programming, but also for its contribution to the UK’s soſt power and security, its humanitarian support, fighting misinformation and disinformation, and as a positive reflection of the UK’s values to the world.” Tey urged both departments


to make a case to the Treasury for a “rebalance of the relative contributions from the licence fee and FCDO, so that the World Service income becomes less reliant on the licence fee.” Te NUJ has repeatedly recognised the World Service as essential, providing unrivalled journalism which shines a light on all parts of the globe and atracts 320m of the BBC’s 450m weekly listeners. Commenting on the licence fee at


the evidence session, Shah stressed the funding for over 75s made the responsibility of the broadcaster should be handed back to government, in turn freeing up significant costs in excess of £100m back to the corporation. With evasion of the licence fee at 11%, Davie called for effective enforcement to ensure revenue could be obtained. Local journalism provision was also


explored in last month’s CMS session. Te NUJ led a bold campaign in 2023 opposing cuts to local radio programmes, with UK parliamentary lobbies and walkouts by journalists across the country. Davie said to MPs in the session, he hoped there could be an increase in


local journalism provision and wanted to see this referenced in the upcoming Charter Review. Te NUJ’s key calls on the Review include for the broadcaster to participate in a roll-out of UK-wide media literacy initiatives equipping children and adults with the skills necessary in an era of misinformation, disinformation and deep fakes; improve levels of trust including by adopting a fully transparent and cautious approach with meaningful safeguards in the use and deployment of any generative AI and to protect public service broadcasting, ending the increasing move of content and programming into the commercially-run BBC Studios.


Scotland SLAPPs Submissions Submissions are welcome to the Scotish government’s long-awaited consultation on SLAPPs and the need for standalone legislation on the scourge of lawfare impacting wide-ranging groups including journalists. Te union has been closely monitoring developments, previously highlighting the significant legal bills faced by those targeted by powerful individuals seeking to stymie


reporting. Engagement through our seat on the Scotish anti-SLAPP working group - a subgroup of the UK Anti-SLAPP coalition continues, and the NUJ will make a writen submission to the consultation. Te introduction of standalone legislation has seemingly been pushed back in England and Wales, with Keir Starmer’s government confirming no standalone legislation is forthcoming this parliamentary session.


Find out more on the SLAPPs consultation on government’s consultation page.


Progress on workers’ rights Te Employment Rights Bill was welcomed last year by the NUJ as a crucial piece of legislation with impacts focused on strengthened rights for workers. Te Bill approved by MPs had over 200 amendments tabled, demonstrating the breadth of areas where parliamentarians felt it could be improved. Te


NUJ would like to see greater protections for freelances and has briefed members of the Parliamentary Group on the mater. Te introduction of the Trade Union Act 2016 meant unions faced increased thresholds impacting successful recruitment, organising and balloting efforts. Whilst proposals in the Bill atempt to redress the balance by repealing provisions, the NUJ believes there is more to be done and our engagement continues.


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