for diverse, democratic and accountable media
Posted by Source: NUJ web site
The BBC management is making a decision next month which could be disastrous for UK news. The BBC News Channel has a weekly audience of 8 to 10 million, reaching more than a third of all households. But to cut costs, the BBC management is considering closing it and broadcasting the BBC World News TV in the UK instead. Or, closing both channels and creating a new one, with a foreign emphasis, which would air in Britain and globally.
If the BBC News Channel disappeared, it would leave Sky with a domestic monopoly in continuous UK television news. The NUJ believes both channels play important and different roles and therefore must be retained; the union has submitted ideas that could save millions of pounds across the newsroom by reducing waste and duplication, while safeguarding jobs and services.
The proposal goes before the BBC News executive board in July so we need to act quickly to save the station.
If you care about news, national scrutiny and accountability, please sign the 38Degrees Preserve the News Channel petition at: https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/preserve-the-news-channel
The more people who get behind this issue, the more likely it is that decision makers will pay attention. Every name added to the petition takes it one step closer to succeeding.
In addition please ask your MP to support Early Day Motion 128: ‘Future of the BBC News Channel’ and ask him/her to sign, explaining why the channel is important for its political coverage across the nations and regions.