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BBC launches review of news arm – and admits 'we can’t afford to do everything' BBC launches review of news arm, saying it can’t 'afford to do everything'
(35 minutes later)
The head of BBC News has launched a review to reshape the operation for the next decade, while admitting that it “can’t afford to do everything” as it faces millions of pounds worth of cuts.The head of BBC News has launched a review to reshape the operation for the next decade, while admitting that it “can’t afford to do everything” as it faces millions of pounds worth of cuts.
James Harding, the director of news and current affairs, called a meeting on Friday to tell staff they are “set for a defining year”.James Harding, the director of news and current affairs, called a meeting on Friday to tell staff they are “set for a defining year”.
“We are going to have to make choices,” he wrote to staff in a blogpost. “Technology is transforming the news. Audience expectations are changing, too. And the funding settlement for the BBC requires both cuts and the reallocation of spending.”“We are going to have to make choices,” he wrote to staff in a blogpost. “Technology is transforming the news. Audience expectations are changing, too. And the funding settlement for the BBC requires both cuts and the reallocation of spending.”
Harding, who needs to find an initial £5m in savings as part of the corporation’s overall target of £150m in annual savings by 2017, said he was launching a three-month review on the future of BBC News.Harding, who needs to find an initial £5m in savings as part of the corporation’s overall target of £150m in annual savings by 2017, said he was launching a three-month review on the future of BBC News.
“We start from a position of strength,” said Harding. “But we can’t afford to do everything. We’re going to encourage discussion across [BBC] News of the options open to us. And, then, we’re going to choose. We will distil the ideas into a programme of reforms and investments.”“We start from a position of strength,” said Harding. “But we can’t afford to do everything. We’re going to encourage discussion across [BBC] News of the options open to us. And, then, we’re going to choose. We will distil the ideas into a programme of reforms and investments.”
Harding said he will have to present a plan early in 2016 showing how BBC News will contribute to the £550m in annual savings required across the corporation by 2021/22.Harding said he will have to present a plan early in 2016 showing how BBC News will contribute to the £550m in annual savings required across the corporation by 2021/22.
He said there were four main areas to examine in making BBC News relevant to future consumers - the platforms people will use to consume news and current affairs, the type of content BBC News should deliver, ways serving all audiences across the UK and working practices.He said there were four main areas to examine in making BBC News relevant to future consumers - the platforms people will use to consume news and current affairs, the type of content BBC News should deliver, ways serving all audiences across the UK and working practices.
The BBC’s director general, Tony Hall, has already suggested that the 24-hour BBC News TV channel may eventually be shut, using a “two horse” analogy to explain how it is likely to exist side-by-side with a digital video strategy to serve the differing needs of more traditional and tech-savvy licence fee payers.The BBC’s director general, Tony Hall, has already suggested that the 24-hour BBC News TV channel may eventually be shut, using a “two horse” analogy to explain how it is likely to exist side-by-side with a digital video strategy to serve the differing needs of more traditional and tech-savvy licence fee payers.
Some sources have suggested, however, that an internal analysis of the cost benefits of shutting the channel did not deliver the savings such a move was expected to make.Some sources have suggested, however, that an internal analysis of the cost benefits of shutting the channel did not deliver the savings such a move was expected to make.
“Today, we have questions, not decisions,” Harding said. “This is not an announcement of job cuts. It’s not even a statement on a savings target. It’s about setting our priorities. The choices we make now will determine the future of arguably the greatest journalistic organisation in the world.”“Today, we have questions, not decisions,” Harding said. “This is not an announcement of job cuts. It’s not even a statement on a savings target. It’s about setting our priorities. The choices we make now will determine the future of arguably the greatest journalistic organisation in the world.”