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Locals voice opposition to BBC Radio Foyle cuts at public meeting

Posted on 4th January 2023 by The Clean Feed Team
Last updated on 5th January 2023 Filed under News

Around 250 people attended a public meeting in Derry-Londonderry this evening, organised by the NUJ, to voice their opposition to BBC Northern Ireland plans to scale back the news operation at local radio station BBC Radio Foyle.

In November, BBC Northern Ireland announced that it was cutting 36 jobs in the region – mainly in news and radio – with eight journalist posts being removed at the Derry station.

Radio Foyle’s breakfast programme faces the axe, along with its hourly news bulletins.

Local politicians, business people and clergy have voiced their opposition to the plans.

Foyle MP Colum Eastwood said it was “an attempt to close BBC Radio Foyle down by stealth.”

The DUP’s Gregory Campbell said the change would lead to the BBC operation in Northern Ireland becoming “Belfast-centric”.

BBC Northern Ireland said that its plans “reflect a BBC-wide strategy to prioritise digital content, announced earlier this year, and the need to manage inflationary and other cost pressures”.

At this evening’s public meeting, Séamus Dooley, NUJ assistant general secretary, thanked the city’s mayor, Sandra Duffy, for her strong endorsement of the union’s campaign to save the local radio station.

He went on: “BBC Radio Foyle matters because community matters and tonight you join with us as a community rejecting an ill-conceived, half-baked plan which threatens to undermine the essence of the station, it’s locally based news service and the morning platform which shapes the day of so many listeners. And for a paltry sum.”

Veteran campaigner, Eamon McCann, said he believed the campaign could have a positive outcome.

“We have more public support for this campaign to save Radio Foyle than any other region,” he added.

Former BBC Radio Foyle presenter Joe Mahon said the station was set up to reflect life in an area that “was culturally and geographically distinct” and was considered under served by the BBC at that time.

“I would like to know when that identity has been seen as less strong? It has been strengthened. The decisions that are being made about something as culturally and politically important are ridiculous,” he said.

The NUJ says it will present alternative proposals to BBC management next week.

VIDEO: BBC Newsline reports on the public meeting about BBC Radio Foyle cuts. Presenter: Jo Scott. TX DATE: 4th January 2023. COPYRIGHT: BBC.

EXTERNAL LINK: NUJ campaign to save BBC Radio Foyle.

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PICTURED: BBC Radio Foyle logo. COPYRIGHT: BBC.

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Tags: BBC, BBC Northern Ireland, BBC Radio, BBC Radio Foyle, Jo Scott

Dates for the Diary

21st January 2023: BBC Look North (Hull) moves to temporary studio to allow for studio upgrade.

24th January: the first stage of the BBC’s transition to HD-only broadcasting on satellite begins.

- BBC One South HD launches.
- BBC One Northern Ireland and BBC Two Northern Ireland go HD-only.
- BBC One Nightlight will appear on channel 101 on older, SD-only satellite receivers in South England and Northern Ireland. This is an SD-only version of BBC One, with no local programming.
- BBC News SD, CBBC SD and BBC Three SD will migrate to 12422H..

February 2023: new set for BBC Midlands Today goes live.

13th February 2023: Sky Kids launches.

Q1 2023: BBC Chameleon branding introduced on air for BBC Weather, CBBC and CBeebies.

April 2023: BBC News Channel and BBC World News merge.

November/December 2023: World Radiocommunications Conference (WRC-23).

Q1 2024: SD versions of BBC channels close on satellite.

2024: BBC Four and CBBC go online-only.

2024: BBC Radio 4 Extra goes online-only.

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