Journalist strike hits iconic BBC programming

BBC programming was disrupted yesterday due to journalists striking owing to a dispute over compulsory redundancies.

The flagship BBC Radio 4 Today show was cancelled and replaced with repeats and short news summaries. 

BBC breakfast was aired from London by a single presenter and the 10 o’clock news was also affected running for 30 minutes, including a five minute opt-out for regional news and weather.

These strikes come as a result of the corporation’s decision to cut as many as 2000 jobs over the next five years as part of its Delivering Quality First programme. 

The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has revealed that there are currently 30 redundancies in dispute. Nine of these are at BBC Scotland, where management have been accused of taking an “entrenched” position.

Compulsory redundancies are also expected at the BBC’s Asian Network, 5 Live and the World Service.

NUJ general secretary, Michelle Stanistreet, said: “NUJ members across the BBC are taking action to defend jobs and quality journalism at the corporation. They are angry and frustrated at the poor decisions being taken at the top of the BBC – decisions that are leading to journalists being forced out of their jobs and quality journalism and programming compromised.”

A BBC spokesperson apologised for the disruption to programming and said the corporation was “disappointed” with the strike.

Eleanor Mackay