Forum for former BBC staff

Forum for former BBC staff
http://www.ex-bbc.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl >> News and Comment >> WS cuts http://www.ex-bbc.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1296046088 Message started by Administrator on Jan 26^th, 2011, 12:49pm

Title: WS cuts
Post by Administrator on Jan 26^th, 2011, 12:49pm

This is an email sent by Peter Horrocks to all World Service staff:

From: Peter Horrocks
Sent: 26 January 2011
Subject: Spending Review 2010

Dear colleagues

Today I announced the implementation plans to meet the Spending Review for the World Service. I know that for many of you this will mean a change in circumstances. I have asked managers to hold meetings with you to explain in more detail the reasons behind these decisions and how they will impact on you. We have a comprehensive programme of support through your manager and HR. You will receive more information about this through team and individual meetings. You can find out more on the Spending Review website and you can contact me directly with any questions or feedback.

The key changes announced are:

Closure of five language services: Albanian, Serbian, Macedonian, Portuguese for Africa, Caribbean English
Cessation of radio services in Russian, Mandarin Chinese, Turkish, Spanish, Vietnamese, Ukrainian and Azeri
New schedule for World Service English including focus on four daily news programmes: BBC World Today, BBC World Briefing, BBC Newshour and BBC World Have Your Say; the closure of Europe Today, and Politics UK; development of more cross-platform brands across Global News; and plans for closer working with both African English and Regional specialists in News Online
An average of 33% cuts across all professional services
Distribution changes including, at the end of March this year, the end of shortwave broadcasting in some languages and a phased reduction in English shortwave broadcasting
Investment in new radio programming for WS English and the creation of a video production unit to improve the quality and range of our online video, and the establishing of an investment fund for new content and distribution

As I said this morning, although these decisions have been made within a tight financial framework, audience need has been the key factor in deciding what to change. Our aim has been to protect the World Service, its quality and reputation, and where possible our footprint.

We are proposing that 480 posts would be declared redundant, of these, 26 posts are currently unfilled vacancies, and we are proposing to open 21 new posts. Therefore, the net impact of these proposed changes will result in up to 433 posts being closed. By the time the BBC World Service moves in to the licence fee in 2014/15 we anticipate the number of proposed closures to reach up to 650. Some of these closures may be offset by new posts being created during this period.

Our vision for World Service is to deliver to our audiences the most trusted, expert and interconnected global journalism. To achieve this we will organise our language teams better through new multimedia, multilingual geographical hubs where expertise and high quality content can be more easily shared, to the benefit of all services.

We will seek partnerships in priority markets – such as India, Pakistan and sub-Saharan Africa – to launch new TV programmes in some countries, subject to finding editorially appropriate partners.

We will now be consulting with you and the unions. We are committed to ensuring that the consultation process is meaningful and will do everything we can to try and mitigate against the potential number of redundancies. There may well be ideas you can suggest that reduce the number of jobs lost.

I do not underestimate the impact of these changes to you on a personal level. The decisions taken today have been to protect World Service for the future, which is something I know you all strongly believe in and are committed to.

I promise you that we in the World Service will get through this together.

Peter

Title: Re: WS cuts
Post by Administrator on Jan 27^th, 2011, 11:17am

FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE ANNOUNCES INQUIRY INTO WORLD SERVICE CUTS

The Foreign Affairs Committee has announced that it will carry out a short inquiry into the implications for the BBC World Service of the service closures and other reductions in World Service activity announced today [Jan 26].

The Committee will take oral evidence from representatives of World Service staff, management and the Government. The inquiry will build upon evidence already taken in the Committee's current inquiry into "FCO Performance and Finances". Organisations and individuals interested in making written submissions are invited to do so by Friday 11 February 2011. Submissions must be no longer than 3000 words. Further advice on making a submission can be found below.

Oral evidence will be taken in March 2010: a further announcement will be made in due course.

Form of written evidence:

Each submission should contain the following information:

* a short summary in bullet point form;

* a brief introduction about the person submitting evidence, perhaps explaining their area of expertise;

* any factual information from which the Committee might be able to draw conclusions, or which could be put to other witnesses; and

* any recommendations for action by the Government or others which the submitter would like the Committee to consider for inclusion in its report to the House.

ow to format submissions:

Each submission should use:

* numbered paragraphs, and

* MS Word format with as little use of colour/ logos as possible.

Submitting evidence:

Submissions should be sent as an e-mail attachment to foraffcom@parliament.uk and titled 'World Service cuts'. Paper copies may be sent to Foreign Affairs Committee, Committee Office, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA.

Additional information can be found at:

http://www.parliament.uk/documents/upload/witnessguide.pdf

Inquiry related questions:

Please contact the Committee on 020 7219 3309 or by email to barrasse@parliament.uk

Media enquiries:

Members of the press with enquiries should contact Alex Paterson, Select Committee Media Officer, on 020 7219 1589, or 07917 488488, or by email to patersona@parliament.uk

FURTHER INFORMATION:

Committee Membership is as follows:

Richard Ottaway (Chair) (Croydon South), Conservative; Rt Hon Bob Ainsworth (Coventry North East), Labour; Mr John Baron (Basildon and Billericay), Conservative; Rt Hon Sir Menzies Campbell (North East Fife), Liberal Democrats; Rt Hon Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley), Labour; Mike Gapes (Ilford South), Labour; Andrew Rosindell (Romford), Conservative; Mr Frank Roy (Motherwell and Wishaw), Labour; Rt Hon Sir John Stanley (Tonbridge and Malling), Conservative; Rory Stewart (Penrith and The Border), Conservative; Mr Dave Watts (St Helens North), Labour

Specific Committee Information: Tel 020 7219 6394, email - foraffcom@parliament.uk

Media Information: Alex Paterson patersona@parliament.uk 020 7219 1589, or 07917 488488

Committee Website: www.parliament.uk/facom

Watch committees and parliamentary debates online: www.parliamentlive.tv

Publications/Reports/Reference Material: Copies of all select committee reports are available from the Parliamentary Bookshop (12 Bridge St, Westminster, 020 7219 3890) or the Stationery Office (0845 7023474). Committee reports, press releases, evidence transcripts, Bills; research papers, a directory of MPs, plus Hansard (from 8am daily) and much more, can be found on www.parliament.uk

http://www.parliament.uk/documents/upload/witnessguide.pdf

www.parliament.uk

Title: Re: WS cuts
Post by Administrator on Jan 27^th, 2011, 11:22am

The Guardian has this video on the protest against the cuts yesterday, outside Bush House.

Title: WS cuts MW to Europe
Post by Administrator on Feb 14^th, 2011, 11:27pm

The BBC is ceasing its 648 kHz transmissions of World Service English language radio on 27 March, 2011.

We have had to make some difficult decisions about the distribution of BBC World Service radio around the world, as a result of the Spending Review settlement that BBC World Service received at the end of 2010.

Closure of the 648 kHz service continues the process of withdrawing from direct broadcasts to Europe in response to a declining number of direct listeners.

However BBC World Service continues to be available in Europe by satellite, cable and online.

In the UK it is available on dedicated channels across the whole of the UK on DAB, online and on all digital TV platforms. This is in addition to overnight transmissions of BBC World Service on Radio 4 frequencies.

Source:-
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/institutional/2011/02/110208_648khz_mw_closure.shtml