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Supporters speak out against the closure of BBC World Service radio in Africa, Latin America and Eastern Europe
NUJ news release
DATELINE: 24/2/11
Free and independent news and information is essential in developing and defending democracy, the latest example is demonstrated courageously across North Africa and the Middle East right now. In this context, it is bizarre and inappropriate for the British government to axe essential parts of the international broadcasting institution which is the BBC World Service.
The axe will fall on vital BBC World Service transmissions this week as a result of government funding cuts.
The final broadcasts will take place on Friday 25 February from the BBC Portuguese service to Africa, the Spanish Latin American service (BBC Mundo), and the services to Serbia and Albania.
The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) in the UK has reacted angrily to the announcement that international services and jobs are to be lost through the cuts programme.
NUJ Deputy General Secretary, Michelle Stanistreet said: "The importance of the free flow of information in developing and defending democracy is being demonstrated so courageously across North Africa and the Middle East right now. It is particularly bizarre and inappropriate to witness an essential international broadcasting institution like the World Service being torn apart through short-sighted management and government cuts."
IFJ Vice-President based in Argentina, Gustavo Granero said: "The BBC holds a special place in our lives. The closure of BBC Mundo is not just a concern for the UK. It matters to all of us as it affects all our societies that demand quality information. Just as in Chile media owners and government have done little to save a voice and defend informative pluralism, the same seems to occur today with the BBC. We stand by our colleagues at BBC Mundo and the NUJ and saddened by this blow to journalism and public service".
Speaking from Mozambique after 30 years reporting on Africa, journalist and visiting fellow at the LSE & Open University, Joseph Hanlon said: "The most trusted radio voice in Africa is the BBC, it has won listeners and trust for accuracy and unbiased reporting over five decades of broadcasting. The relatively inexpensive Portuguese for Africa service has made Britain much better known in Mozambique than its much more expensive aid programme."
Expert on Eastern Europe and journalist, Misha Glenny said: "As the BBC Central Europe Correspondent at the time of the establishment of its Albanian-language service in the early 1990s, I found it especially tragic and ironic that the BBC announced its closure of the service just as a major political crisis erupted in the Albanian capital, Tirana. Last month's clashes between opposition protestors and the government-backed police resulted in the deaths of four innocent men.
"The Serbian service has unflinchingly reported truths which have confounded nationalists and demagogues. Its demise is deeply upsetting."
Director of the Albanian Media Institute in Tirana, Remzi Lani said: "The news that BBC World Service in Albanian, Serbian, and Macedonia will cease their activity is certainly a grim one. In these 18 years, BBC World Service in Albanian has been a most valuable and credible source of information, reporting on relevant and sensitive issues with significant professionalism."
Media Federation President, Branislav Canak said: "We are concerned to hear the news that the BBC World service for Serbia will be stopped. That service has had an enormously important role in the struggle of Serbian society for peace and democracy during the Milosevic era, but also today, when Serbia still stumbles over the remnants of the past and lacks vision to progress. "
Serbian Ambassador to the UK, Dr Dejan Popovic said: "One should bear in mind that not all processes in the Balkans are in their final stages – some, like our dialogue with Pristina, are yet to begin. The role the media will play in that process will be of crucial importance, steering the public along the way – I believe that both Serbian and Albanian sections, would be of enormous help in setting the tone on the media scene."
International Trade Union Confederation General Secretary, Sharan Burrow said: "Trade unionists and other supporters of freedom of expression around the world rely on the BBC World Service for facts instead of propaganda, news instead of ignorance, a voice for the unwillingly silent.
"Shutting down that voice is an act of sheer vandalism. It leaves the BBC - and the cause of freedom - diminished and bereft."
ends:
For a fuller list of supporters and longer quotes please go to the NUJ website here: http://www.nuj.org.uk/innerPagenuj.html?docid=1947
For more information please contact Sarah Kavanagh NUJ Campaigns and Communications Officer on sarahk@nuj.org.uk or +447843549006
For comments from Embassies, here is the FCO contact list: http://www.fco.gov.uk/resources/en/protocol/ldl-january-2011
Last modified: Thursday, February 24, 2011
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Notices
Events & Announcements
World Press Freedom Day
More reporters are currently imprisoned in Turkey than in any other country in the world. Only a matter of weeks ago lawyers failed to persuade a Turkish court to release a 76-year-old journalist from a Turkish internet news station.
World Press Freedom Day on Friday May 3, 2013 is being marked in Britain by a rally to highlight the dangers facing journalists in Turkey and in this podcast, Nicholas Jones speaks to Barry White, Organiser at the Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom, and Sam Bamford, the TUC's policy officer for Eastern Europe and Africa about the importance of a campaign to highlight international press freedom.
The World Press Freedom Day rally is being staged by the National Union of Journalists at the NUJ head office, Gray’s Inn Road, London WC1 on Thursday May 2, 6pm-8pm.
DATELINE: 27/4/13
UK launch of EU media campaign
DATELINE: 13/3/13
The UK launch of a 'European Citizens' Initiative' calling for EU rules against concentration of media power will take place on Thursday March 21 from 11:00am – 12:30pm in Committee Room 4A at the House of Lords, London. Guest speakers will include actor and activist Hugh Grant (pictured), media consultant Claire Enders, Professor Steven Barnett, Barry McCall (President of the NUJ) and Marc Gruber (Director of the European Federation of Journalists).
A European Citizens' Initiative is an official petition, like a Downing Street petition. If it succeeds in gathering a million signatures across the EU, the Commission is obliged to respond.
This petition calls for the EU to act to protect media pluralism and press freedom.
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Make a note in your diary
Saturday 13 July 2013 from 10.00am
NUJ HQ, 308/312 Gray's Inn Road, London WC1.
Leveson, media ownership, CPBF future work.
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Previous stories
'future Of The BBC...'
BBC – getting its capitulation in first
Union members at the BBC are still willing to fight to defend pensions
Licence fee for 'wasteful' BBC will be cut
BBC Trust rejects 6 Music closure but the campaign goes on
BBC 'failing to provide alternative to commercialised US children's programmes'
Fighting the BBC cuts gets parliamentary support
BBC cuts - make your voice heard
NUJ pledges to fight BBC cuts package
BBC announcement is capitulation to Murdoch
Minister gets the message over licence fee
Dyke in BBC 'conspiracy' claim
BBC's future: a welcome dose of reality
Is BBC News online "next in line" for Conservative cuts?
Keeping Broadcasting Public
Keep Broadcasting Public - Victoria Brittain
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Keep broadcasting public - Dr. Georgina Born
A view from the Guardian
Keep Broadcasting Public - observer's report
Keep broadcasting public - Tom O'Malley
Keep broadcasting public - James Purnell MP
BBC Conference Warns Against Complacency
Green Paper, white in parts
Ofcom's remedy is not ours...
Conference presentations can now be read here...
Ofcom's mission to destroy...
First cut or narrow escape?
PSB matters says Ofcom spokesman
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