BBC’s ‘loss will be our gain’
Mayor slams staff who refuse to move to Second City as broadcaster’s plan falters
Our wonderful creatives in the West Midlands will snap these jobs up in no time
SNOBBY London-based journalists who think they are too good to move to the Midlands have been told... we don’t need you.
The BBC’s plans to move Radio 1 service Newsbeat from London to Birmingham have suffered a setback after three-quarters of existing staff refused to relocated, according to a report in the Guardian.
But while moving a long distance is always hard, part of the problem is a negative view of Birmingham – with one member of staff saying: “Good luck trying to get young, exciting journalists to move to Digbeth.”
West Midlands Mayor Andy Street has now hit back.
The mayor says he knows relocating is a challenge, but says the region has talented people of its own to replace any southerners who will not come to the Midlands.
Mr Street said: “Relocating is never easy, and it would be a shame if some BBC staff chose to miss out on everything our thriving region has to offer.
“But their loss is our gain, as I know our wonderful creatives in the West Midlands will snap these jobs up in no time.”
According to reports, Newsbeat staff do not understand how moving out of London will improve the way they report on issues such as “drugs, housing, mental health and cultural appropriation”.
However, these issues affect the whole country, not just London, and Birmingham’s central location and transport links actually make it easier for journalists based here to cover stories wherever they are happening.
It is also reported that staff are reluctant to leave London because other media jobs tend to be in the capital.
While regional media employ staff, it is true that national news organisations are usually based in London. But this illustrates the importance of moving jobs out of the capital, not keeping them there.
People who do not know Birmingham well might associate Digbeth with its coach station.
But Digbeth, along with the wider Eastside area of Birmingham, has been through a massive regeneration programme and is a centre of arts and culture.
It also has bars to rival London’s Soho, offering everything from live music to cocktails and craft beer, at somewhat lower prices.
Birmingham radio broadcaster Ed James backed the mayor’s approach, saying on Twitter: “Great attitude from Andy Street... ‘if you don’t want to come, don’t’. We already have plenty of talent here and more happy to make our region home.”
However, London-based journalists who do make the move will be warmly received in Birmingham, a city which welcomes people both from across the world and from other parts of the UK.
Earlier this year, the BBC announced a major expansion of production in Birmingham.
The broadcaster said:
“We will build Bir
Mayor Andy Street
mingham’s strength in TV formats, with more prime-time brands alongside Great British Menu.
“We aim to build a centre of excellence in production in Birmingham by consolidating all BBC activity there into one creative quarter, such as Digbeth.”
The announcement comes 17 years after the BBC’s famous Pebble Mill studios in Edgbaston closed while Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight is behind long-running plans to open new studios, most likely in Digbeth. BBC proposals include:
Asian Network, currently produced in both Birmingham and London, will be consolidated into one base in Birmingham.
A news data journalism team will move to Birmingham while Radio 1 Newsbeat will be presented from the city.
Learning hubs will be established to provide face-to-face training and support members of the public.
An apprentice academy will be created, working with the West Midlands Combined Authority. Apprentices will learn skills to work in other organisations, not just the BBC.
BBC Three will launch a documentary opportunity for producers to tell original West Midlands stories.
Regional BBC One HD services will launch, making West Midlands content available on HD for the first time.
A new peak-time local radio service in Wolverhampton.
Birmingham and the West Midlands will also benefit from nationwide plans to ensure spending and programme-making is focused less on London, with at least 60 per cent of its network TV budget for commissioning programmes outside the capital.