THE latest rounds of BBC cuts follow a “worrying trend towards reducing services that provide critical, in-depth analysis,” broadcasting union Bectu said today.
BBC News is closing global interview programme Hard Talk and bespoke Asian Network News service as part of £24 million of cuts, representing 4 per cent of the co-operation’s budget.
The proposals would result in a net loss of 155 jobs, with 130 journalism roles at risk and 25 from media operations.
Even when tragedy strikes, Western media cannot resist the opportunity to turn it into a sordid propaganda opportunity, as the Nepal-China border tragedy shows, writes CARLOS MARTINEZ
As advertising drains away, newsrooms shrink and local papers disappear, MIKE WAYNE argues that the market model for news is broken – and that public-interest alternatives, rooted in democratic accountability, are more necessary than ever
On January 2 2014, PJ Harvey used her turn as guest editor of the Today programme to expose the realities of war, arms dealing and media complicity. The fury that followed showed how rare – and how threatening – such honesty is within Britain’s most Establishment broadcaster, says IAN SINCLAIR



