BBC Spotlight cut down today as journalists go on strike
BBC Spotlight, the south west’s regional news programme, will put out shortened news broadcasts today as BBC journalists strike over compulsory redundancies.
Members of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) have walked out for 24 hours from midnight in a dispute over jobs.
-
BBC Spotlight cut down today as journalists go on strike
The strike has already affected national and regional programming, including BBC Breakfast and BBC Radio 4’s Today programme which was cancelled.
Jo Irving, a broadcast journalist for BBC Devon, told us that today’s 1.30pm lunchtime broadcast and 6.30pm teatime broadcast of Spotlight will both be shortened to 5 minutes.
Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk
View detailsOur heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.
Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk
Contact: 01858 468192
Valid until: Sunday, June 30 2013
She was part of a picket line outside the BBC Devon building in Seymour Road, Mannamead, this morning.
She said: “On a national and network level the strike has had a big impact.
“Spotlight will only have a five minute news broadcast at lunchtime and a five minute broadcast tonight so it has been greatly affected.
“We see job updates every day on the BBC website and yet 30 people are facing compulsory redundancies including one person at BBC Devon.
“It’s sad that people have to strike to show a feeling of force but it’s a case of ‘stand together, divided we fall’ and we want to show that.
The BBC have confirmed the shortened broadcast for the 1.30pm bulletin but are still waiting to confirm how long tonight’s Spotlight bulletin will last.
In a statement the BBC said: “We are disappointed that the NUJ has gone ahead with today’s strike and apologise to our audience for the disruption to services.
“Unfortunately industrial action does not alter the fact that the BBC has significant savings targets and as a consequence may have to make a number of compulsory redundancies.
“We have made considerable progress in reducing the need for compulsory redundancies through volunteers, redeployment and canceling vacant positions and we will continue with these efforts.”
The NUJ said 7,000 jobs had been cut at the BBC since 2004, while a further 2,000 are being lost under cost-saving plans.
The union has asked the BBC for a moratorium on all job cuts for six months to allow for talks and negotiation with Tony Hall, the new Director-General.
Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ general secretary said: "NUJ members across the BBC cannot believe why their management is failing to redeploy colleagues at risk – at the very same time as advertising job vacancies. It's a monumental waste of talent and experience – and paying needless redundancies is a waste of public money.
“This action could easily be avoided. This not just about self-interest - BBC journalists care deeply about the quality of programming and the corporation's duty as a public service broadcaster.
“That is why so many are already working way beyond their contracted hours and are 'acting up' without financial reward, and why stress levels across the BBC are at an all-time high ."
10 Comments
by jabbathebutt
Monday, February 18 2013, 11:24PM
“I wont miss any of the "selected" PC left wing garbage they produce at my bailif enforced exspence or be deemed to be a criminal .
The world is full of other places to find out what is really going on... and you wont find it on the BBC .”
by MissAnthrope
Monday, February 18 2013, 10:53PM
“Well I for one am proud that you were prepared to stand up and be counted. Long hours, acting up for nothing and high stress levels is all too familiar and is not acceptable. I only wish I'd known you were just down the road, as I'd have popped down to cheer you on and brought some of my home made chocolate cake. Standards at the BBC are not what they used to be with some pretty low common denominator stuff being broadcast at the expense of quality. Shame on you BBC, you are meant to set a better example.”
by mcspredder
Monday, February 18 2013, 9:28PM
“Another one bites the dust. News needs to be reliably available at the times stated. May as well fire the lot of them, google news is always on tap”
by Monkeyman
Monday, February 18 2013, 9:14PM
“Get a job!!”
by BettyD
Monday, February 18 2013, 6:11PM
“Seems like the bbc reporters who are on strike have become the red arrow brigade”
by BOREDOFPLYM1
Monday, February 18 2013, 4:00PM
“shortened to five mins thats 4 mins to long”
by Vinnie_Gar
Monday, February 18 2013, 2:41PM
“Oh no!
Now we won't have someone being melodramatic and pretending that a story is interesting when it isn't.”
by BettyD
Monday, February 18 2013, 2:35PM
“Lucky them able to go on strike, the Police and Armed services arent allowed to.
Get over yourselves and get back to work while you've still got a job to go to!”
by knucklehead
Monday, February 18 2013, 2:08PM
“It isn't that good anyway. We get our news from many sources these days and all local TV news programmes seem so tired and out of date. Channel 4 is the only superb news show.
BBC Devon is so tired as is BBC Radio Devon”
by jtme1
Monday, February 18 2013, 2:03PM
“Can I have my licence fee back?”