NUJ pledges to fight BBC cuts package

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The National Union of Journalists has condemned BBC plans to implement a multi-million pound cuts package at the corporation as a desperate pre-election sacrifice. The proposals, which the reports claim have been drawn up by former Tory policy chief and current BBC Director of Policy and Strategy John Tate, include closing two national radio stations - BBC Asian Network and BBC 6 Music, slashing the online budget by 25 per cent, closing the BBC Blast! and BBC Switch websites, in addition to cutting the corporation's website staff by a quarter and disposing of BBC Worldwide's UK magazine titles.

General secretary of the NUJ Jeremy Dear said: “Public pressure can help persuade the BBC to put its viewers and listeners first, rather than allowing the corporate media barons like Rupert Murdoch to have their way and begin dismantling a vital national service. I hope NUJ members will sign the petition calling on the BBC Trust defend BBC output. These plans smack of an attempt to appease commercial and political interests. Hard-working staff shouldn't be used as a political football and we will fight any compulsory redundancies."

Jeremy Dear and Gerry Morrissey (Bectu general secretary) are due to meet Mark Thompson, BBC Director General, on 3 March, ahead of a meeting of the National Joint Council (NJC) on 11 March.

The petition can be found at:  http://www.38degrees.org.uk/page/s/BBCCutsC#petition 

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