LONDON: A union representing media workers warned on Wednesday that the latest job cuts at the BBC were part of a “worrying trend” that risks harming its news output.

The BBC revealed plans on Tuesday to axe at least 100 news roles as part of a raft of proposed changes which include scrapping long-running in-depth interview show HARDtalk.

It is the latest round of job losses at the British public service broadcaster affecting its news division, which has already halved staff numbers on its prestigious Newsnight programme and cut its weeknight running time to 30 minutes.

The BBC has been under growing financial pressure due to high inflation and increased costs, and a below-inflation licence fee settlement.

The annual fee, which rose by 6.6 per cent in April to 169.50 pounds after a two-year freeze, is mandatory for every British household watching live channels on a colour television.

“The BBC’s need to make savings is clear, but this latest round of cuts follows a worrying trend towards reducing services that provide critical, in-depth analysis,” Philippa Childs, head of the broadcasting union Bectu, said in a statement on Wednesday.

Published in Dawn, October 17th, 2024