BBC grounds its big-name newsreaders

THE BBC is to stop sending its big-name newsreaders into the field, and will cut down the number of reporters deployed to events, as part of a drive to save £80 million from its news budget. Jonathan Munro, the BBC’s head of newsgathering, told staff that the broadcaster had to reconsider “the sheer numbers we deploy on events”, after the corporation abandoned proposals to merge the BBC News Channel with BBC World News. The corporation’s competitors have long complained about the large numbers of reporters the corporation sends to some events, with journalists from programmes across the its television and radio networks often vying against each other to ask questions at press conferences.

At a gathering to discuss cuts to the news budget, Mr Munro said the corporation had sent 17 reporters to cover one event, adding: “We do need to ask ourselves whether we are managing those mass sends efficiently enough.” He said: “At the recent Brussels summit where David Cameron went for dinner, we sent 17 on-air broadcast journalists. It’s hard to argue they were all generat- ing distinctive content.” Under the plans, which the corporation said would save £1 million, it will also stop routinely sending newsreaders such as Fiona Bruce to anchor the coverage of major stories outside the newsroom. “They will only be sent if they add to the journalism,” a source said.

News executives warned staff yesterday that the savings drive would involve cuts to its local radio stations, as well as perks and allowances. James Harding, director of news, defended the decision not to merge the 24-hour channel with BBC World News, saying that in the wake of the Brexit vote, “the value of a news channel that speaks to its UK audience is unarguable”.