Hundreds of jobs will be cut at the BBC as part of plans to reduce costs and “modernise” the newsroom, the broadcaster has announced.
Fran Unsworth, director of news and current affairs at the BBC, said: “The BBC has to face up to the changing way audiences are using us. We have to adapt and ensure we continue to be the world’s most trusted news organisation, but crucially, one which is also relevant for the people we are not currently reaching.
It was said that the measures will lead to an estimated 450 job losses, including at Newsnight and Radio 5 Live.
The cuts will also see the end of Victoria Derbyshire’s BBC Two programme, after plans to axe the show were leaked last week.
There will also be a review of the number of presenters the BBC has and how they work. The World Update on World Service English will also be scrapped.
The corporation needs to save £80m to reduce financial pressures, which include paying for free TV licences for over-75s on pension credit.
The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) general secretary Michelle Stanistreet described the cuts as “damaging”.
In a statement Ms Stanistreet said: “These damaging cuts are part of an existential threat to the BBC and a direct consequence of the last disastrous, secret licence fee deal the BBC agreed with the government. This is before the impact of taking over responsibility for the over-75s licences kicks in.
“Against this backdrop, the BBC’s very existence is being threatened with public service broadcasting under unprecedented threat.
“If the government goes ahead and decriminalises non-payment of the licence fee, we know the impact will be further losses for the BBC of around £200m a year and increased collection costs of £45m.
Such a politically-motivated move – dressed up as concern for the mythical imprisonment of vulnerable members of society – will serve to undermine the system.