What Happened To Look East Tonight? Why is Look East On Strike?
by Alaguvelan M
Updated Jul 23, 2023
What Happened To Look East Tonight?
Once again, BBC journalists have taken a stand, going on strike and causing local news bulletins to be taken off the air, while also impacting Radio Suffolk programmes. The root of the dispute lies in the BBC's plans to implement significant cuts to local broadcasting. These cuts have already resulted in the closure of Look East's Cambridge newsroom, forcing the program's coverage area to extend into part of the East Midlands and South East of England.
In the coming weeks, the BBC will further amalgamate most of its regional radio coverage, leaving Radio Suffolk with only eight hours of its own programs on weekdays. The strike commenced at midnight, and journalists are expected to return to work on Friday, following a previous walkout in March.
The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) expressed that negotiations with the BBC have hit a standstill. The proposed changes have failed to address the union's concerns about the impact of reduced services and an increase in shared programs.
Paul Siegert, the NUJ's national broadcasting organizer, emphasized that journalists are striking to protect services valued by communities across the country. While not opposed to change within the BBC, they believe that the Digital First strategy's enforcement will adversely affect access to relevant, local radio that countless people rely on. During this 48-hour strike, journalists are standing up for local radio services, garnering support from the public in their fight to preserve the essence of local radio.
In response, a BBC spokesperson acknowledged the challenging nature of the changes and assured support for all those affected by the plans. The ultimate goal is to strengthen local online services across news and audio, providing a valuable and accessible local service for a broader audience in diverse communities.
Why is Look East On Strike?
Tensions rise as BBC journalists go on strike, opposing the corporation's plans to implement significant cuts to local broadcasting. The closure of Look East's Cambridge newsroom has already taken place, leading to an extension of the program's coverage area, encompassing part of the East Midlands and South East of England.
The BBC is set to amalgamate most of its regional radio coverage in the coming weeks, resulting in Radio Suffolk broadcasting its own programs for only eight hours a day on weekdays.
The strike commenced at midnight, and journalists are expected to return to work on Friday, following a previous walkout in March. The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) reports that negotiations with the BBC have reached a standstill, as the proposed changes fail to address the union's concerns regarding the impact of reduced services and increased shared programming.
Paul Siegert, the NUJ's national broadcasting organizer, emphasizes that journalists are taking a stand in defense of services valued by communities across the country. While not opposed to change within the BBC, they believe that the enforcement of the Digital First strategy will jeopardize access to relevant, local radio that many people rely on. This 48-hour strike is a unified effort by journalists to preserve local radio services, garnering public support for their cause.
In response, a BBC spokesperson acknowledges the challenges of this period of change for colleagues and assures continued support for those affected by plans to strengthen local online services across news and audio. The BBC's objective is to deliver a comprehensive local service through TV, radio, and online platforms, aiming to provide greater value to diverse local communities.
What is The Latest News on The BBC South Journalists' Strike?
BBC journalists went on strike for a third time this year on Thursday, July 20, in protest against the BBC's plans to cut local radio programming. The strike is being organized by the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), which represents more than 1,000 BBC journalists in England. The NUJ says that the BBC's plans will "decimate" local radio and leave communities across England without the vital news and information they need.
Under the BBC's plans, weekday evening programs on BBC Radio Solent will be shared with Oxfordshire and Berkshire. At weekends, all shows on BBC Radio Solent will be shared with at least one of those two counties, and weekend evening programs like Alex Dyke's Disco Inferno and Richard Latto's Stereo Underground will be replaced by national shows.
The NUJ's local rep for BBC South, Tom Hepworth, said that the BBC's plans were "a betrayal of local communities". "People listen to local radio because it is local, distinctive, and reflects where you live," he said. "The BBC should be looking at providing a properly funded local news service, and ensuring that the Government provides a stable funding model to make this possible."
A BBC spokesperson said that the BBC understood that the strike would be "disruptive" for listeners, but that the plans were necessary to "ensure that the BBC can continue to provide high-quality, impartial news and information to audiences across England". The strike began at 11 am on Thursday and will last for 24 hours.
What Happened To Look East Tonight - FAQs
Look East was taken off-air due to a strike by BBC journalists in protest against deep cuts to local broadcasting.
The journalists went on strike because they are in dispute with the corporation over the plans to implement significant cuts to local broadcasting, impacting services and increasing shared programmes.
Yes, the closure of Look East's Cambridge newsroom has already occurred, leading to an extension of the programme's area of coverage, including parts of the East Midlands and South East of England.
The strike will result in Radio Suffolk broadcasting its own programmes for only eight hours a day on weekdays, as the BBC amalgamates most of its regional radio coverage.
The strike began at midnight and journalists are scheduled to return to work on Friday. This is a 48-hour strike in total.