BBC Midlands today taken off air after staff in Coventry and Birmingham strike

BBC Midlands today taken off air after staff in Coventry and Birmingham strike

Postby dutchman » Thu Mar 16, 2023 4:45 am

Midlands today hasn't aired two of its usual bulletins

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A 24-hour strike by journalists at BBC stations in Coventry and Birmingham disrupted news services in the region today, Wednesday March 15, BBC Midlands Today didn't air its usual lunchtime or early evening shows due to the strikes,

The bulletins were replaced with Planet Earth Live at 1.30pm and Garden Rescue at 6.30pm. Nine journalists walked out of the BBC CWR offices in Priory Place at 11am along with hundreds of other staff at stations across the UK.

The industrial action is part of a union dispute with the BBC over its cuts to local radio services. Under the plans, BBC stations in different areas will be forced to share afternoon programmes and also hit weekend services.

BBC CWR is expected to share its afternoon programme with stations 60 miles away, in Shropshire and Hereford and Worcestershire. The move has also put most local radio jobs at risk of redundancy, union reps say.

Vanessa Pearce, Mother of the Chapel for BBC West Midlands Online said: "The proposed cuts to such a highly-valued service would have a huge impact on local news in Coventry. BBC management has said by cutting radio output it could then invest more into Online, but digital growth should not be at the expense of a quality local radio service for the city.

"Almost all local radio staff and presenters have been at risk of redundancy since January, which is no way to treat a valued workforce. Listeners deserve quality services, with relevant local news that they can trust."

Coventry council leaders spoke out against the cuts when they were announced earlier this year.

In a joint letter, council leader Cllr George Duggins and opposition leader Cllr Gary Ridley said: "We feel for those journalists and support staff who face losing their jobs, and we also feel for the future of our city, and we urge you to reconsider these cuts which take us to the brink of the end of local radio and local journalism. We have seen our newspapers gradually disappear over recent years and the city is poorer for it. Do not let such a respected and trusted radio station suffer the same fate."

More than 1,000 BBC journalists are estimated to have taken part in the strike action.

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Re: BBC Midlands today taken off air after staff in Coventry and Birmingham strike

Postby rebbonk » Thu Mar 16, 2023 11:05 am

Did anyone notice?
Of course it'll fit; you just need a bigger hammer.
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