View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Publishers
  2. Broadcast Journalism
September 7, 2015updated 08 Sep 2015 4:28pm

Regional press snubs BBC 100 public service reporters offer as ‘back-door expansion’

By William Turvill

The News Media Association, the body which represents the national and regional press, has criticised the BBC's plans to provide 100 public service reporters.

The corporation today set out plans to offer staff and content to local newspapers and allow rival shows to be seen on the iPlayer.

Set out by director general Tony Hall, the move came a week after national and regional newspaper publishers urged the corporation to share resources and do more to promote commercial news rivals with a major report issued as part of the charter renewal debate. The BBC's current ten-year charter expires at the end of 2016 and it is currently facing a fight to defend and justify its use of licence fee income.

Culture Secretary John Whittingdale is currently consulting on possible replacements for the licence fee and considering whether the BBC should be "all things to all people" or have a more "precisely targeted" mission.

Among his proposals for a new "Open BBC", Lord Hall will reveal plans for a new multi-million pound partnership with local news groups to provide a network of 100 public service reporters.

The NMA has responded by accusing the BBC of further "expansion into local news provision and recruitment of more BBC local journalists through the back door".

In a statement, NMA vice chairman and Johnston Press chief executive Ashley Highfield said: "The BBC’s latest proposals are welcome recognition of the need to cooperate and not colonise, and there are many aspects of the report to be commended, from enhanced linking to a video and audio news bank.

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

"But it is hard to avoid the conclusion that the BBC’s proposal – to create a network of 100 local public service reporters for towns and cities ‘run by the BBC’ and with the BBC itself able to ‘compete to win the contract’ – are anything other than BBC expansion into local news provision and recruitment of more BBC local journalists through the back door.

"The local newspaper sector already employs thousands of journalists and is the only reliable source of independent and trusted local news across the UK.

"As the O&O report published last week made clear, there is no deficit which the BBC needs to plug.

"Instead, the BBC could benefit by tapping into this pool of local news through a system of arms-length content commissioning along the lines of independent production quotas."

A BBC spokesman said: “These proposals mark the start of a consultation process which aims to create a genuine partnership with the industry, so we welcome all views to shape the final proposals. This is about creating a more open BBC – not a bigger BBC.”

Topics in this article : ,

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network