The BBC management is expected to announce several job losses as high-profile news programmes will be cut. 

The corporation’s head of news, Fran Unsworth explained that the firm’s plan for a more centralised system will be elaborated on during Wednesday’s all-staff meeting. The new system will be more in line with the BBC News mission statement – to be “distinctive, trusted, engaging everyone, every day”.

The National Union of Journalists is set to go into talks with the BBC to clarify the reasoning behind the job cuts and to see whether it is a method to save money from salaries. 

The production of the BBC’s reporting is forecasted to be centralised with journalists having more than one single programme to report on. This will help journalists cover the news collectively before it is published on television, radio, and online – therefore will eliminate the possibility that journalists cover the same news topic. 

The broadcasting company did not comment on any job cuts or the announcement. 

The BBC general director, Tony Hall, said, “I’m a great believer in the long-form political interview where you can explore at length, not in soundbites, the real policy decisions that politicians are making. Exploring those sorts of nuances is an important part of what we should do,” when speaking at Edelman Trust Barometer 2020 event on Tuesday. 

Moreover, BBC’s controller of radio production, Graham Ellis stated that he wanted to see money coming in from podcasts. “This is a tough message on which to start 2020 but I’m pleased to say we are also seeing reinvestment in some programmes from next year, especially documentaries and drama. That’ll mean better programme budgets which help to protect staff time on programmes. We’re also investing in a development unit to capitalise on the popularity of podcasts which offer us an opportunity to grow new business.”

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