Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
BBC’S FOYLE PLAY
Fury at proposals to axe station’s breakfast show
BBC Northern Ireland has revealed plans to cut up to 40 jobs as part of a drive to save money and invest in online services.
The changes, announced to staff yesterday, will see the end of BBC Radio Foyle’s Breakfast programme and the Inside Business programme on Radio Ulster.
The plans have been criticised by the National Union of Journalists and Foyle MP Colum Eastwood, who said it was an attempt to close Radio Foyle “by stealth”.
A BBC spokesperson said: “BBC Northern Ireland is proposing to close approximately 35 to 40 posts to contribute to its £2.3million savings and reinvestment plans.
“It is hoped the majority of post closures will be achieved through voluntary redundancy, with some opportunities for redeployment within BBC Northern Ireland. The proposals are now subject to consultation with staff and trade unions.”
NUJ assistant general secretary Seamus Dooley called for an urgent rethink of the plans.
He added: “This is an attack on the very essence of public service broadcasting.”
Mr Eastwood told the BBC Nolan Show: “The impact in the North West will effectively end up closing this station [Radio Foyle]. This will make it unsustainable.
“The flagship breakfast programme is going. Anybody knows once you remove the flagship programme you are basically closing the station.
“This is an attempt to close Radio Foyle by stealth.”