news


Funding call as the BBC faces fresh round of redundancies


THE NUJ has called for an urgent reconsideration of the BBC’s funding after yet more damaging cuts across the corporation were announced. The BBC intends to cut


around 115 editorial and production roles in the nations and regions, as part of overall plans to save £500 million by March 2026. Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ


general secretary, said: “Coming on the back of a painful cull across BBC Local, these latest cuts across its regions and nations will further hollow out local news provision at a time when resources are stretched to breaking point. Our public service broadcaster is a global asset that acts as a pivotal driver for our entire creative industry. After years of being used as a political


punchbag and subjected to wrongheaded interference and cuts, there needs to be urgent intervention that prioritises the funding of its grassroots news and programming and sets the BBC on a more sustainable footing.”


Earlier this year director


general Tim Davie said the BBC was well on its way to delivering £500 million of annual savings by March 2026 but was working on plans for a further £200 million of savings.


While the NUJ shares the


BBC’s hope that job cuts can be achieved through voluntary means - a four-week voluntary window is opening – the union is concerned that it amounts to further salami slicing across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. England has


already suffered sharp cuts, with 450 jobs lost in 2020 and closures of BBC local radio programmes. The BBC has said there will


be editorial and production job cuts in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The union believes that the


BBC remains one of the UK’s most trusted news brands, but the increased erosion of investment in journalism is


alarming at a time when there is a proliferation of misinformation and disinformation on social media networks. Laura Davison, senior


organiser said: “These cuts have come about because of the repeated failure of previous governments to properly fund the UK’s public service broadcaster. Licence fee freezes, making the


JESS HURD


corporation fund free licenses for the over-75s, and subsequent small increases have left the BBC in a perilous state. The BBC boasts that it has moved some of its programmes and news departments outside London, in a project ambitiously called “Across The UK”. But what we see today is a potential significant further reduction in roles that truly serve our Nations and Regions. We are further concerned that colleagues who are left behind will have to pick up the workload done by those who are leaving. Again, we have already seen the consequences of this in England, with many local radio stations now having afternoon news bulletins pre-recorded by neighbouring stations or sharing output across large regions with no shared identity. Further savings will inevitably have an impact on output in the devolved nations.”


First general secretary vote in 23 years


NUJ MEMBERS will soon vote in the first contested election for the position of general secretary for 23 years. Two candidates – Laura Davison, a senior organiser at the union and a former BBC journalist (pictured above right), and Natasha Hirst, the union’s current president and a photographer (pictured below right) – are competing for the top job.


The election follows the decision of Michelle Stanistreet, the current general secretary, to stand down citing health reasons and feeling that it was time to move on. Stanistreet became general secretary 13 years ago following the departure of Jeremy Dear, but she has not faced election by the membership, being elected unopposed three times.


Jeremy’s second term in office before he left in 2011 also came after he was elected unopposed. You can read election pitches from Laura and Natasha on pages 24-25. Members can also check with their branches for any election hustings. Ballot papers were sent to the 21,500 NUJ members who are eligible to vote on


September 16 and voting closes at midday on October 7. The result will be announced on October 8. If you haven’t received a ballot paper or need other help, please email gselection@nuj.org.uk The winner will serve for


five years before facing re-election again.


See pages 24-25


Journalist editor is re-elected


CHRISTINE BUCKLEY has been re-elected editor of The Journalist by NUJ members. Nine candidates stood in the election which is held every five years. This time the ballot, which was


conducted in the summer, was run twice because of postal problems in Ireland and Northern Ireland in the first vote. Those first votes were all scrapped, and a new digital poll was run with postal ballots also available


for those for whom the union didn’t have email addresses. Christine said: “I’m proud to be


re-elected by NUJ members and look forward to working again with our great contributors, union branches, chapels and reps. We’re the current TUC union journal of the year and I will aim for more such achievements.”


The ballot was conducted on a single transferable vote system. The results were: Sean Bell 132; Christine Buckley 1198; Tessa Clarke 151; Phil Creighton 141; Gerard Cunningham 162; Samantha Downes 139; Helen Parton 58; Brian Pelan 116; Craig Thomas 57.


The turnout was 10.1 per cent. theJournalist | 03


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