cross-posted from: https://beehaw.org/post/26110589
The BBC’s news operation is to cut costs by a steeper-than-expected 15%, with staff told to expect heavy redundancies.
The division, home to about a quarter of all BBC staff, is being saddled with one of the highest cost-cutting targets as the corporation attempts to cut as many as 2,000 jobs in the biggest downsizing of the public service broadcaster in 15 years.
Last month, staff were informed that, on average across the BBC, about 10% of the corporation’s 21,500 employees would be affected as part of a £600m cost-cutting plan, but it was not clear at the time that news operations would see even deeper cuts.
Staff at divisions across the BBC are being informed of the level of cuts, with details to be announced in June, and those affected to be told in September.
Great, so, Sword of Damocles for four months. I’ve played this game, and it isn’t fun.
Yeah but my point is that isn’t the BBC’s fault. It’s the governments we’ve had.
If we had an anti-authoritarian liberal government willing to give freedoms rather than take them away, they could start to fill the BBC with people who think likewise.
That would then reflect in the type of reporting.
True, but this is the issue with public media isn’t it? That any government can influence it no matter how much everyone pretends they don’t or shouldn’t. I’m still holding them to the standard of fair and independent reporting because it is the standard they must reach at any and all times.
But yeah as the BBC stands right now it is painfully obvious they’re not independent at all unfortunately