Strike action by members of the National Union of Journalists has affected regional BBC TV news programmes for a second day.
The 24-hour strike by BBC Local staff in England began at 11am yesterday and affected lunchtime, early evening and late-evening regional TV news programmes in most English regions, as well as live output on many local radio stations.
On television, the early morning regional news programmes within BBC Breakfast today were replaced by an all-England news service, produced by the news operation in Salford.
Whilst many regions took the bulletins produced in Salford, viewers in the East Midlands, the South East and the West did receive their usual dedicated bulletins.
The NUJ opposes the BBC’s plans to merge some local radio programmes in England. The union says this would “undermine already hollowed out local radio content across England”.
The BBC said yesterday that it would try to minimise disruption as much as possible.
The proposals for more local radio stations to share programming would “see no overall reduction in staffing levels or local funding” and deliver “even greater value to communities”, a BBC spokesperson said.
All English regions managed to produce their own lunchtime updates at 1.30pm today.
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PICTURED: Steve Saul presents an all-England news service during BBC Breakfast. COPYRIGHT: BBC.
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