The BBC plans to move key jobs currently centred in London to the North of England in an attempt to diversify the company.
Departments and news divisions will be relocated to Cardiff, Birmingham, Salford, and Leeds to create a “top-to-bottom change.”
Director General Tim Davie said plans will “get us closer to audiences, create jobs, and investment”.
22,000 BBC staff were briefed on Thursday as to the new plans, which include:
- New version of BBC One tailored towards Northern audiences.
- Two new soap drama series to begin filming within the next three years in the North.
- BBC’s Newsnight to be presented from different locations around the UK throughout the year.
- Radio 1’s Newsbeat team will relocate to Birmingham which is also set to become the hub of the BBC’s Asian network.
- 100 new reporters to be based in areas that haven’t previously had a regional television presence.
Director General Tim Davie added, “our mission must be to deliver for the whole of the UK and ensure every household gets value from the BBC”.
The BBC has been “an essential part of the UK’s culture, democracy, and creativity for almost a century…[and] now, as we look to the future, we must play our part in supporting social and economic recovery, rebuilding the creative sector, and telling the stories that need to be heard from all corners of the UK.”
Concerns have been raised however…
https://twitter.com/LeighMilnerTV/status/1372732865109237760
Whilst this plan appears promising on the surface, critics have voiced concerns as to the future of existing staff and what lays in store for their careers.
Broadcasting trade union Bectu have begun to examine the proposal more closely to ensure “workers are properly supported through these changes and that the need for redundancies is minimised.”
Chairman of the DCMS Committee and MP, Julian Knight, expressed concerns as to future implications of such a re-balance, hoping the BBC would not repeat “some of the costly mistakes made by the BBC in its previous move to Salford.”
What does this mean for the future of journalism?
Whilst it is clear that the BBC are driven to achieving a more diverse broadcasting company by diversifying their current geographical locations, fears have already begun for those starting out in the industry and those already comfortable.
Will this plan lead to an increase in redundancies for London’s BBC staff? Will the North finally gain the representation they have eagerly been awaiting or will there still be a shortage of opportunities?
This plan is still a work in progress and it remains to be seen what the future holds for northern and southern journalists working for the BBC.
Madeleine Raine
Featured image courtesy of Annie Spratt via Unsplash. Image license is available here. This image has in no way been altered.