Cuts and Job Losses at the Ö÷²¥´óÐã and protests in Egypt
|
Wednesday, 1 Jan. 2011
|18:00 - 19:13 GMT
It's a strange day at Bush House today after the Ö÷²¥´óÐã announced that it will be cutting 650 jobs out of 2,400 from the World Service. One colleague described it as if someone had died. Staff are digesting the news that five of the World Service's 32 language services will be closed; Macedonian, Serbian, Albanian, English for the Caribbean and Portuguese for Africa.
Your comments
Comment sent via host
19:06
113631290
That''s all for now folks. Thanks for all your comments.
Comment sent via Twitter
19:04
116346476
Craig Oliver just on @Ö÷²¥´óÐã_WHYS talking about #bbcworldservice cuts "We miss every listener that goes" :
Comment sent via BLOG
18:55
113631290
Johnsky2010 on the blog: This episode will not achieve any objectives, only deaths. Events across the border has prepared and hardened the Egyptian authorities, 'when you see the beard of your neighbour on fire, you begin to rub water on yours'.
Comment sent via BLOG
18:55
113631290
Paul in the USA on the blog: I depend on Ö÷²¥´óÐã World News because our media lacks integrity. Cutting back is a big mistake. I miss the shortwave broadcasts and am forced to subscribe to an internet service (on a pension and just barely making it) to get what I feel is quality news broadcasts.
Comment sent via BLOG
18:50
113631290
Johnsky2010 on the blog: Today is a sad day, particularly on the African continent where sit-tight despots still hold sway, am sure they (leaders) are celebrating the dimming of the Ö÷²¥´óÐã search light.
Comment sent via BLOG
18:49
113631290
Alan in Arizona on the blog: The Ö÷²¥´óÐã should have fund raising campaigns on each of the channels targeted at the listeners of each language. If they like the programs in their own language let them provide support like National Public Radio and the Public Broadcast System does here in the USA. Power to the People and Money from the People!
Comment sent via Twitter
18:44
116057464
@Ö÷²¥´óÐã_WHYS reporting that Egyptian government now puts number of arrested at over 800!
Comment sent via Facebook
18:42
113631290
Duncan on Facebook: This is the time for revolution in Africa. African leaders have abandoned their subjects in absolute poverty while they are busy feasting on tax payers' money. This is a dawn of revolution in Africa. Now is the time. Go Africa!
Comment sent via SMS
18:44
109236838
Hey Ö÷²¥´óÐã donot b moved by lazy good 4 nothin seekers of free services. Do the needy and live within your means. R they ready 2 put money where flattering lips r
Comment sent via BLOG
18:39
113631290
Jennifer on the blog: A good step towards democracy should be encouraged. If that is what the protestors are seeking; I support them. However, reading about "Day of Rage" protestors it doesn't seem very promising. Like with riots in other places: demolishing your own society, killing others, ruining buildings, etc. defeats the purpose of any revolution.
Comment sent via BLOG
18:39
113631290
EnochAdam on the blog: As the largest arab state, Egypt's path will determine the fate of a region stagnating under backward economic and political systems. But whether the uprising in North Africa will be a beacon of hope for all, remains to be seen.
Comment sent via Twitter
18:37
116057464
Listening to @sandmonkey talk about events in #Egypt protests on @Ö÷²¥´óÐã_WHYS
Comment sent via SMS
18:37
108513545
47 years ago, i started listening to the Ö÷²¥´óÐã, in the jungles of south Asia. We had to boil the batteries to get the power to hear "This is London....".For God’s sake, don’t stop now, when the world needs you more than ever ! With love, Banks, amsterdam
Comment sent via SMS
18:36
114771050
Hi, i love listening to the bbc, and it is a important and only way for us to get world news and other programs. Willem in Ivory Coast
Comment sent via SMS
18:32
116346341
Please keep world service free of commercials. Ö÷²¥´óÐã is special just because it is free of commercial influence . It would be a disaster!!
Comment sent via BLOG
18:32
113631290
Jens on the blog: A world wide funding drive sounds actually like a pretty good idea.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:32
113631290
Kingsley on Facebook says: the World Service has walked away from the poor, the voiceless, the needy, the victimized and the lonely. The British government is responsible for this.
Comment sent via Facebook
18:31
113631290
Tholumusa on Facebook: I used Ö÷²¥´óÐã via shortwave with difficulty when I was in Cuba between 2001 and 2006. How many people will be able to access a reliable and informative news service now? It's mainly the areas that need an independent opinion that have been cut. Oh boy!
Comment sent via MSGBOARD
18:31
113631290
Simon in Hong Kong emailed the Ö÷²¥´óÐã: The Ö÷²¥´óÐã has to focus its energy and available resources on the taxpayers that fund it - British citizens. The Ö÷²¥´óÐã's extensive overseas network is an artifact of colonial thinking, "right sizing", and an appropriate focus on its domestic core is long overdue.
Comment sent via SMS
18:29
116050826
I feel sorry for those countries that are going to lose your impartial & unbiased Ö÷²¥´óÐã World service languages. I grew up listening to Ö÷²¥´óÐã WORLD SERVICE in Kenya......my Grandfather made me LOVE listening to Ö÷²¥´óÐã in the morning & evening. NICK GACHAGUA in Richmond, Virginia, USA
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:28
113631290
Elena in Sydney emailed WHYS: Europe today is my favourite Ö÷²¥´óÐã program. It is so disappointing that you have decided to axe it - why don't you axe a sports program instead?
Comment sent via YOURSAY
18:27
113631290
Richard in Italy emailed WHYS: Please keep Europe Today and scrap World have your say (WHYS). People listen to the Ö÷²¥´óÐã World Service to hear unbiased EXPERTS not opinionated amateurs. WHYS is a big turn off. More cuts to what the Ö÷²¥´óÐã is good at mean more people will turn off.
Comment sent via host
18:25
113631290
We''re on air now. First we''re discussing the cuts to the Ö÷²¥´óÐã World Service then we''ll be talking about the protests in Egypt. Post your comments here:
Comment sent via SMS
18:25
108513545
The Ö÷²¥´óÐã is the most influential news source, and also the most trusted and visible face of Britain throughout the world. To scale it back for a pittance is a serious mistake. The value to the British ’brand’ it imparts far outweighs any savings. These cuts came under the aegis of Cameron’s disgraced communications lieutenant (Coulter?/Coulton?), who worked for Ö÷²¥´óÐã’s arch-rival, Rupert Murdoch. Banks, amsterdam
Comment sent via SMS
18:19
109720590
Do the powers that have made the cuts to the world service know how expensive it is to access the servicr through mobile phones? Is the service only forthe rich who own blackberries, iphones or computers! Ryan
Cuts and Job Losses at the Ö÷²¥´óÐã and protests in Egypt
| Wednesday, 1 Jan. 2011 | 18:00 - 19:13 GMT
It's a strange day at Bush House today after the Ö÷²¥´óÐã announced that it will be cutting 650 jobs out of 2,400 from the World Service. One colleague described it as if someone had died. Staff are digesting the news that five of the World Service's 32 language services will be closed; Macedonian, Serbian, Albanian, English for the Caribbean and Portuguese for Africa.
Your comments
Comment sent via host
That''s all for now folks. Thanks for all your comments.
Comment sent via Twitter
Craig Oliver just on @Ö÷²¥´óÐã_WHYS talking about #bbcworldservice cuts "We miss every listener that goes" :
Comment sent via BLOG
Johnsky2010 on the blog: This episode will not achieve any objectives, only deaths. Events across the border has prepared and hardened the Egyptian authorities, 'when you see the beard of your neighbour on fire, you begin to rub water on yours'.
Comment sent via BLOG
Paul in the USA on the blog: I depend on Ö÷²¥´óÐã World News because our media lacks integrity. Cutting back is a big mistake. I miss the shortwave broadcasts and am forced to subscribe to an internet service (on a pension and just barely making it) to get what I feel is quality news broadcasts.
Comment sent via BLOG
Johnsky2010 on the blog: Today is a sad day, particularly on the African continent where sit-tight despots still hold sway, am sure they (leaders) are celebrating the dimming of the Ö÷²¥´óÐã search light.
Comment sent via BLOG
Alan in Arizona on the blog: The Ö÷²¥´óÐã should have fund raising campaigns on each of the channels targeted at the listeners of each language. If they like the programs in their own language let them provide support like National Public Radio and the Public Broadcast System does here in the USA. Power to the People and Money from the People!
Comment sent via Twitter
@Ö÷²¥´óÐã_WHYS reporting that Egyptian government now puts number of arrested at over 800!
Comment sent via Facebook
Duncan on Facebook: This is the time for revolution in Africa. African leaders have abandoned their subjects in absolute poverty while they are busy feasting on tax payers' money. This is a dawn of revolution in Africa. Now is the time. Go Africa!
Comment sent via SMS
Hey Ö÷²¥´óÐã donot b moved by lazy good 4 nothin seekers of free services. Do the needy and live within your means. R they ready 2 put money where flattering lips r
Comment sent via BLOG
Jennifer on the blog: A good step towards democracy should be encouraged. If that is what the protestors are seeking; I support them. However, reading about "Day of Rage" protestors it doesn't seem very promising. Like with riots in other places: demolishing your own society, killing others, ruining buildings, etc. defeats the purpose of any revolution.
Comment sent via BLOG
EnochAdam on the blog: As the largest arab state, Egypt's path will determine the fate of a region stagnating under backward economic and political systems. But whether the uprising in North Africa will be a beacon of hope for all, remains to be seen.
Comment sent via Twitter
Listening to @sandmonkey talk about events in #Egypt protests on @Ö÷²¥´óÐã_WHYS
Comment sent via SMS
47 years ago, i started listening to the Ö÷²¥´óÐã, in the jungles of south Asia. We had to boil the batteries to get the power to hear "This is London....".For God’s sake, don’t stop now, when the world needs you more than ever ! With love, Banks, amsterdam
Comment sent via SMS
Hi, i love listening to the bbc, and it is a important and only way for us to get world news and other programs. Willem in Ivory Coast
Comment sent via SMS
Please keep world service free of commercials. Ö÷²¥´óÐã is special just because it is free of commercial influence . It would be a disaster!!
Comment sent via BLOG
Jens on the blog: A world wide funding drive sounds actually like a pretty good idea.
Comment sent via Facebook
Kingsley on Facebook says: the World Service has walked away from the poor, the voiceless, the needy, the victimized and the lonely. The British government is responsible for this.
Comment sent via Facebook
Tholumusa on Facebook: I used Ö÷²¥´óÐã via shortwave with difficulty when I was in Cuba between 2001 and 2006. How many people will be able to access a reliable and informative news service now? It's mainly the areas that need an independent opinion that have been cut. Oh boy!
Comment sent via MSGBOARD
Simon in Hong Kong emailed the Ö÷²¥´óÐã: The Ö÷²¥´óÐã has to focus its energy and available resources on the taxpayers that fund it - British citizens. The Ö÷²¥´óÐã's extensive overseas network is an artifact of colonial thinking, "right sizing", and an appropriate focus on its domestic core is long overdue.
Comment sent via SMS
I feel sorry for those countries that are going to lose your impartial & unbiased Ö÷²¥´óÐã World service languages. I grew up listening to Ö÷²¥´óÐã WORLD SERVICE in Kenya......my Grandfather made me LOVE listening to Ö÷²¥´óÐã in the morning & evening. NICK GACHAGUA in Richmond, Virginia, USA
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Elena in Sydney emailed WHYS: Europe today is my favourite Ö÷²¥´óÐã program. It is so disappointing that you have decided to axe it - why don't you axe a sports program instead?
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Richard in Italy emailed WHYS: Please keep Europe Today and scrap World have your say (WHYS). People listen to the Ö÷²¥´óÐã World Service to hear unbiased EXPERTS not opinionated amateurs. WHYS is a big turn off. More cuts to what the Ö÷²¥´óÐã is good at mean more people will turn off.
Comment sent via host
We''re on air now. First we''re discussing the cuts to the Ö÷²¥´óÐã World Service then we''ll be talking about the protests in Egypt. Post your comments here:
Comment sent via SMS
The Ö÷²¥´óÐã is the most influential news source, and also the most trusted and visible face of Britain throughout the world. To scale it back for a pittance is a serious mistake. The value to the British ’brand’ it imparts far outweighs any savings. These cuts came under the aegis of Cameron’s disgraced communications lieutenant (Coulter?/Coulton?), who worked for Ö÷²¥´óÐã’s arch-rival, Rupert Murdoch. Banks, amsterdam
Comment sent via SMS
Do the powers that have made the cuts to the world service know how expensive it is to access the servicr through mobile phones? Is the service only forthe rich who own blackberries, iphones or computers! Ryan