news Union presses BBC to be transparent


THE UNION has called for greater transparency over the BBC’s editorial guidelines and standards committee after Sir Robbie Gibb, a member of the corporation’s board, told MPs that he had become involved in editorial decisions. Sir Robbie made the


disclosure to MPs on the culture, media and sport committee. Some MPs, including Anna


Sabine, the Liberal Democrat culture spokesperson, and some BBC staff have called for Sir Robbie to be removed from the board, as outgoing director-general Tim Davie hit out at the “weaponisation” of criticisms of the broadcaster. In an online meeting with


Davie, some staff challenged the position of Sir Robbie, who was Theresa May’s former communications chief and appointed when Boris Johnson was prime minister.


The BBC has been plunged


into uncertainty since it emerged that an edition of Panorama had edited together two sections of a speech by US president Donald Trump so it looked as if he had instructed his supporters to storm the Capitol in 2021. Trump has since threatened a lawsuit against the BBC, asking for $1–5 billion. The leaking of a memo


from Michael Prescott, an adviser to the editorial


guidelines and standards committee, which detailed the editing, led to the resignations of Davie and Deborah Turness, the head of BBC News, in early November. Prescott also raised concerns about institutional bias. The NUJ has repeated its opposition to any political appointees on the BBC board. It believes protecting journalists’ right to report freely – without fear or interference – is crucial.


Huge vote for action at STV


NUJ MEMBERS at the Scottish broadcaster STV have voted overwhelmingly to take industrial action over the Scottish broadcaster’s plans to make compulsory redundancies and to axe the


STV North edition of the News at 6. A formal ballot of staff


showed 94 per cent in favour of a strike and 98 per cent for action short of a strike on a turnout of 82 per cent.


Strikes could take place in December, although no action is currently expected. The NUJ’s chapel at STV has


already passed two separate motions of no confidence in senior management, as well


The Journalist scoops top award Christine Buckley, The Journalist’s editor,


THE JOURNALIST has been named union journal of the year at the TUC’s communications awards. It is the second time in two years that the magazine has taken the top prize. The judges, who included Chris Vince MP,


said: “This magazine is of a very high professional standard and has the feel of a national publication rather than a traditional trade union title. The design quality is exceptional, and the front cover of the edition was very powerful. “The content is varied and well balanced, with a mix of national, contemporary and historical features. The judges thought it showed how much pride the NUJ takes in holding up the high standards of journalism.”


said: “It is very gratifying that our small, part-time team are seen to reflect the high journalistic standards which the NUJ rightly champions. “We strive to make the magazine an


interesting, attractive and balanced shop front for the union and its work and for the industry our members work in. The aim is for it to appeal to as wide a readership as possible.” The winning edition included a cover


feature on a freelance journalist’s three years of covering the war in Ukraine as well as pieces on AI, copyright, the fight for local news and how to tell human interest stories sensitively.


The union has written to the BBC leadership calling for a meeting to address concerns raised by members and to highlight the union’s long-standing calls for improved conditions. In a letter to Samir Shah, BBC chair, and Davie, the union voiced concerns about the Panorama edit and Prescott’s memo, which alleged there were systemic issues around impartiality. The NUJ letter said: “Many of our members are seriously concerned about the ramifications this episode has had for the BBC’s reputation and, by extension, their roles as BBC journalists. “Our members have raised


concerns about the accuracy of some of the allegations made by Michael Prescott and also the negative impact these have had on different desks and areas of the BBC.”


as a separate resolution on the poor handling of the redundancies process. The move follows STV’s plans to produce just one news programme for its two licence areas in Scotland, and to cut up to 60 jobs across the business, half of which would


be in the newsroom. Some of the proposals require Ofcom approval, and the regulator’s public consultation is expected to begin shortly. However, the company


is still going ahead with making potential compulsory redundancies.


MARK THOMAS “


Many members are seriously concerned about the ramifications for the BBC’s reputation and their roles as BBC journalists


NUJ letter to BBC leadership


TUC assistant general secretary Kate Bell and Christine Buckley theJournalist | 03


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