Journalists at BBC News are considering strike action over plans to combine the domestic BBC News channel with the internationally focussed BBC World News.
The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) said it was holding a consultative ballot over the plans that would lead to the loss of 70 jobs.
“The BBC News Channel plays a major role in covering local elections, by-elections, floods and droughts as well as covering breaking domestic and international incidents they happen,” said NUJ General Secretary Michelle Stanistreet. “We understand the BBC, after year-on-year cuts and freezing of the licence fee, is in a hard place but we cannot support a decision that will have a severe impact on the news provided.”
Under plans released last month, UK viewers will receive domestic content – often in simulcast with BBC One and BBC Two. A new live and breaking news team will provide coverage of global breaking news, and – when relevant – a domestic-only stream for UK-specific news events.
The channel will be broadcast from London during UK daytime hours, and then Singapore and Washington DC.
