BBC presenter blasts 'ageist and ableist' local radio cuts
BBC presenter uses last episode of her cancelled show to blast ‘ageist and ableist’ local radio cuts – before broadcaster CENSORS rant on its online catch-up service
- Radio Norfolk presenter Sophie Little said local radio was a ‘vital public service’
- National Union of Journalists has called on director Tim Davie to ‘rethink’ cuts
A BBC presenter used the last episode of her cancelled show to launch an excoriating attack on cuts to local radio that she branded ‘ageist [and] ableist’.
Sophie Little tore into the Corporation for two minutes during the final airing of Treasure Quest, where listeners solve clues to help presenters locate treasure.
The Radio Norfolk regular told fans: ‘Local radio is a vital public service. And it is my opinion that these drastic, sweeping cuts that are taking place to BBC local radio stations all across the country are not only detrimental to anyone that enjoys switching on their local station and hearing their favourite shows [but also] detrimental to the local communities who value and use it.
‘Actually, these cuts are unbelievable unfair to those who need local public service broadcasting the most – those who are lonely and isolated, or those who are unable to leave their house, or unable to use the internet, or unable to pay for broadband. Those who not only take comfort from the company of a familiar voice coming out of their radio but who truly rely on it to keep going.’
She added: ‘The BBC’s mission, as defined by Royal Charter, is to act in the public interest, serving all audiences… but I will say this how I see it – I feel the cuts are ableist, ageist and they place economic barriers for some people too.’
Sophie Little told listeners of the last episode of Treasure Hunt that cuts to local radio were ‘detrimental’ to communities
She branded plans to reduce local programmes to just 6am untl 2pm on weekdays as ‘ableist’ and ‘ageist’, and said it would put up economic barriers for some
Ms Little said she was nervous to be publicly holding her employer to account given the ‘many bosses above my head’ but insisted: ‘I remind myself that this is not their BBC. It is our BBC.’
BBC faces legal challenge over plans to slash local content
The BBC is facing a high profile legal challenge to its plans to slash content from its local radio stations.
Lawyers acting on behalf of Sarah Leadbetter have written to Director-General Tim Davie to argue that the proposals are unlawful and breach the Corporation’s own charter.
The plans will force local stations to share programming during after 2pm and at weekends.
The 2,800-word legal letter calls for the BBC to respond by September 13 and demands that it hands over relevant documentation.
But the statement has since been edited out of the start of the programme on BBC Sounds.
On the broadcaster’s catch-up service, the programme now starts with Ms Little saying: ‘Thank you for letting me have my moment.’
The future of the show, which was co-hosted by Questmaster Paul Hayes and Julie Reinger and ran for 732 episodes over 15 years, had been in doubt for months after the BBC announced it was decimating local radio services to save money.
The far-reaching plans reduce local programmes to 6am until 2pm on weekdays, with weekends filled with sports commentaries and hourly news bulletins.
Angry Treasure Quest listeners voiced their anger on social media, with one saying: ‘They were taking industrial action about the BBC local radio cuts.
‘Fully support them, we need our local radio programmes!’ Another commented: ‘I certainly won’t be tuning in to it anymore… No Norfolk people on there… BBC what a joke.’
Former minister of state for digital, culture, media and sport Dame Caroline Dinenage, who now chairs the select committee, said BBC Director-General Tim Davie was examined on ‘exactly these concerns’ by members two months ago.
Ms Little’s has since been edited out of the start of the programme on BBC Sounds
She told the Mail: ‘Cuts will be targeted at the most vulnerable and isolated.
‘There’s always room for improvement and I understand the BBC is in a unique position – it’s such a huge institution which is trying to future-proof itself – but I’m not convinced that they have got that balance right.’
BBC journalists went on strike over the issue for the third time this year on July 20 and 21, affecting coverage of local elections.
The National Union of Journalists, which has supported the industrial action, called on Mr Davie to ‘pause and rethink’.
A BBC spokesman said: ‘Local radio is just one of the ways we reach our audiences.
‘We are modernising our local services so that, however licence fee payers choose to get their local information, we’ll be there across radio, television and online for many years to come.’
Source: Read Full Article