The BBC risks becoming trapped in an avoidable “doom spiral” that damages its services and leads to further cuts, the National Union of Journalists has warned amid mounting concern over the broadcaster’s latest redundancy proposals.
The warning follows reports that BBC Sport is preparing to cut lunchtime and overnight bulletins, placing around seven journalism roles at risk.
Further proposals announced this week are expected to affect hundreds of NUJ members across BBC Local, BBC Sport, BBC Wales, BBC Scotland, Business and Operations and other parts of the organisation.
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The union said it would work with representatives and hold meetings with affected members to examine the proposals in detail.
The latest measures form part of a wider programme to reduce the BBC’s total costs by 10% by the end of 2028/29, with between 1,800 and 2,000 jobs potentially affected.
In June, the broadcaster announced plans to axe 550 roles, including around 200 in BBC News and 250 across BBC Nations. Programmes including Radio 4’s The World Tonight and the World Service’s The Conversation were also included in that round of savings.
The NUJ has previously criticised plans to remove dedicated foreign correspondents covering 14 European countries and the withdrawal of a commitment to offer jobs to apprentices completing a BBC News programme designed to improve representation and create routes into journalism for young people from diverse working-class backgrounds.
‘Audiences deserve better’
Laura Davison, NUJ general secretary, said: “The BBC’s ongoing campaign of cuts is devastating and demoralising for our members and severely undermines the broadcaster’s ability to serve audiences across the UK. The latest wave of cuts piles on the misery already being felt.
“BBC Local Radio attracts millions of listeners around the country each week. The BBC also boasts that it provides ‘the UK’s most widely used sport service’. It is the BBC’s dedicated workforce that has made it a success, and the broadcaster will not be able to continue providing quality journalism and original programming without them.
“The more cuts the BBC makes, the more its services suffer. This makes it more difficult for the broadcaster to justify public spending, which in turn leads to further cuts. The BBC is at risk of entering an inescapable doom spiral if it continues in this direction.”
Davison called on the government to intervene, arguing that the broadcaster had been weakened by years of underinvestment and political interference.
The union is writing to the Chancellor seeking action in the Autumn Budget to protect jobs. It wants the government to resume full funding of the BBC World Service and the cost of free television licences for eligible over-75s.
Davison added: “Instead of cutting staffing and services to the bone, management should be focussing on securing positive reforms that guarantee a bright future for our public broadcaster.
“Our members deserve better. Previous rounds of cuts have resulted in unmanageable workloads, low morale, loss of staff, and fewer opportunities for freelances or career progression. Another round of cuts will add to that burden and stress.
“Audiences deserve better too. Millions of people across the UK now live in news deserts. The public wants original, quality, and genuinely local news and programming – not more syndication and re-runs.”
She pointed to previous cuts at BBC Local Radio and the continued contraction of the commercial local news sector, including Reach’s announcement last week that it plans to cut another 160 jobs.
Pressure grows ahead of Charter renewal
The intervention comes as the process of renewing the BBC’s Royal Charter continues.
Through its Back the BBC campaign, the NUJ is calling for secure long-term funding and governance reforms intended to increase the broadcaster’s independence and strengthen workforce representation.
At the TUC Congress last week, delegates backed an NUJ motion calling on the government to intervene urgently to stop cuts across public service broadcasting and mobilise public support for BBC workers.
The union has also produced a template letter for members to send to MPs, launched a joint petition through the TUC and urged parliamentarians to support an Early Day Motion opposing the BBC job cuts.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said in July that the government was “almost certainly” likely to pursue worker representation on the BBC board while removing political appointments. However, questions remain over the broadcaster’s long-term funding settlement.
Davison said: “The NUJ will continue its Back The BBC campaign, calling for secure funding and vital governance reforms under Charter Renewal. We will also carry on supporting members collectively and individually though these difficult times.
“The union strongly encourages BBC workers to stand with us and get involved in the union. Working together gives us a stronger collective voice and helps us fight to protect jobs and programming.”
