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Government White Paper on the BBC

Will we watch what Whittingdale wants? (May 2016)

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DE
deejay
NYTV posted:
The BBC needs massive reform though. The "jobs for life" culture. Too many staff with literally nothing at all to do. I'm no accountant but I bet you I could have found a way to keep BBC Three on-air. I have to pay for the BBC regardless of whether or not I use it. I'm not allowed to own a television otherwise. That is unfair.


Is the "jobs for life" culture the reason various behind-the-line workers and several journalists were made redundant?


There may be something in it - Martin Kelner, freshly let go from Radio Leeds, claims that it's a money saving thing, as two of the other main daytime presenters are staff SBJs they would be too expensive to get rid of, whereas he as a freelancer could be sacked at minimal expense.


If he was a freelancer he didn't have a 'job for life'.

Staff surveys regularly report staff are increasingly stretched with the same workload and fewer staff to do it following recent reorganisation projects Creative Futures and Delivering Quality First.
NG
noggin Founding member
Certainly 'jobs for life' is very much a thing of the past in BBC Television (formerly BBC Vision) - though it is more common in the core departments like BBC News, where continuous, core output means you can employ staff production teams.

A large number of people making non-News, non-Sport output are freelance or on relatively short fixed term contracts (often for the duration of a series) with most departments having only a small core of programme making staff.
BR
Brekkie
Great to see the issues currently facing the BBC being broadcast to a wider audience thanks to the numerous speeches at the BAFTA awards, kicked off with a passionate defence of the BBC by Peter Kosminsky:



Last edited by Brekkie on 8 May 2016 9:04pm
JC
JCB
Yeah, because everyone loves an awards show lecture.
JA
james-2001
What better platform for it though?
SL
Shaun Linden
Yea an evening of everyone talking about it and then all forgotten and everything moves on.
RS
Rob_Schneider
Jesus. Who wrote that for him, Carl Waring?
DT
DTV
Armando Iannucci, one of the creatives who is being consulted by the government on this, had an article on the Guardian website today about how these policies are the complete opposite of what they are being told in private by the government. http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/may/08/bbc-dull-tories-john-whittingdale-armando-iannucci.

The thing is though, this policy is unpopular with the public and a growing number of the Conservative backbench and given Cameron's track record with unpopular policies or those that will get defeated it's only so long before we see a government u-turn - sorry 'a policy reevaluation after consulting the public'. Although this policy is different and is something Murdoch cares about and given that Andy Burnham has said this week that a Hillsborough Inquiry was dropped from the 97 Labour manifesto so as not 'offend' Rupert Murdoch one does wonder to what extent Murdoch gets what Murdoch wants.
HC
Hatton Cross
Jesus. Who wrote that for him, Carl Waring?


No. Someone with a brain, and cares deeply about public service broadcasting, and protecting a service where everyone pays the same amount for programming they may not like - or watch - but enjoys it when they do.

At least people with a voice are starting to speak up in defence of the BBC/Channel 4, and telling Whittingdale to stop saying these ridiculous statement in between finding the next slapper to f**k.
JA
james-2001
Let's be honest, Rob Schneider won't be happy until the BBC's been abolished, and its remains crushed up and burnt to ensure it's gone forever.
Independent and Larry the Loafer gave kudos
BR
Brekkie
The BBC haters need to realise ultimately this isn't about the BBC - it is about the government trying to control what the electorate see.
cityprod, Rijowhi and TROGGLES gave kudos
SC
scottishtv Founding member
An amusing take from Eddie Mair in this week's Radio Times.
(Image taken from Twitter, uploaded to Metropol).
Brekkie, Warbler and mark gave kudos

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