Broadcast News

Bookmark and Share
19/08/2011

Equity Lobby BBC Over Short Story Cut-backs

Equity has come together with the Society of Authors and the Writers' Guild of Great Britain to campaign against short story cuts on BBC Radio 4.
In a letter to BBC Trust Chair Lord Pattern the three organisations have written: "We are deeply concerned at these proposed cuts and believe that they will lead to the BBC breaching its Charter and particularly its duty to stimulate creativity and cultural excellence.
"The BBC has a duty to offer the best examples of creative work that engage and delight audiences, break new ground and encourage interest in cultural, creative and sporting activities.
"Short stories, with the use of the single voice, provide an opportunity to create great moments of drama and intimacy for the listener. It is a versatile and flexible medium which can surprise and delight and encourage audiences into unfamiliar territory."
BBC Radio 4 station controller Gwyneth Williams announced in July that the number of short stories broadcast by Radio 4 will be reduced from three to one a week from the spring next year.
Equity is encouraging members to write directly to Gwyneth Williams to persuade her against the cut. Reducing short stories by two-thirds will result in loss of work for Equity members while saving Radio 4 a negligible amount of money, Equity believes. Members are also encouraged to sign the petition set up by the National Short Story Week against the proposed cuts.
The move is likely to cause uproar amongst Radio 4's loyal listenership, especially as the BBC made the announcement that it was cutting short stories on Radio 4 while at the same time promoting National Short Story Week, an annual event which aims to focus the attentions of the public and the media on the short story and short story writers, publishers and events.
The Stage has reported that a spokeswoman for the BBC said Radio 4 will still commission around 100 short stories a year from next year - 50 of which will be broadcast first on Radio 4 Extra.
(BMcN/BMcC)
Solidmate Ltd Memory Card Hire London

Top Related Stories
Click here for the latest broadcast news stories.

22/11/2023
BBC Two And BBC Music Announce Cher Meets Rylan
BBC Two and BBC Music will deliver a Christmas present to viewers in the festive form of Cher Meets Rylan in December, which sees legendary singer and
10/03/2023
BBC ALBA Continues To Bring Gaelic Broadcasting to The World
BBC ALBA is continuing to bring Gaelic broadcasting to the world through the European Broadcasting Union's (EBU) content-sharing scheme. BBC ALBA is a
31/08/2023
BBC Teams Up With LiveU And Neutral Wireless
The Coronation of HM King Charles III saw the teaming up of the BBC with LiveU and Neutral Wireless to leverage the world's largest single-use private
03/11/2023
BBC Sport Announces Audio Deal With Cricket Australia
BBC Sport has announced an audio deal with Cricket Australia for live cricket coverage across BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, 5 Live and BBC Sounds includin
27/10/2023
BBC Acquires Irish Crime Drama KIN
The BBC has acquired Irish crime drama KIN, an eight-part series produced by BRON Studios (Joker) and Headline Pictures (The Man in the High Castle),
25/10/2023
BBC Acquires Danish DR Drama Series Prisoner
The BBC has acquired award-winning Danish DR Drama series Prisoner, led by Sofie Gråbøl (The Killing), for BBC Four and iPlayer. The series revolves a
12/04/2023
Pliant Technologies To Debut New CrewCom IP-Rated Radio Transceivers
Pliant Technologies is to debut its new CrewCom IP-Rated Radio Transceivers (RTs) at the 2023 NAB Show (Central Hall, Booth C7521). The new RTs are th
15/03/2024
BBC ALBA Commissions New TV Crime Thriller
BBC ALBA has commissioned a new TV crime thriller which will be the biggest and most high-profile Gaelic drama series in the channel's history. With a
11/03/2024
PAKAM Radio Selects AEQ Forum IP Digital Console
PAKAM RADIO is an Australian radio station with coverage in one of the most remote regions of the world, the upper half of Western Australia, specific
06/03/2024
Israel's Center for Accessible Culture Selects DHD SX2 Radio Consoles
Israel's Center for Accessible Culture, formerly known as the Central Library for the Blind (CLFB), has chosen DHD SX2 radio consoles as the core of a
06/03/2023
ATG Danmon Completes TV And Radio System Project
ATG Danmon has completed a TV and radio system modernisation project for a London based university. The media studies campus delivers courses that inc
08/02/2011
BBC Radio To 'Extend Appeal - But Remain Distinctive'
A BBC Trust review has concluded that BBC Radio 3, Radio 4 and Radio 7 are much loved and highly valued by the millions of licence fee payers that lis
20/07/2023
StreamGuys Helps SEN Regionalise Its Global Streaming Radio Footprint
StreamGuys is helping Sports Entertainment Network (SEN) regionalise and monetise its fast-growing global streaming radio footprint. The custom SaaS-b
26/09/2023
Tall Story Pictures Appoints New Executive Producer
Tall Story Pictures, the ITV Studios label behind hit returning dramas such as The Bay and Grace, has appointed Phil Hunter as its Executive Producer.
25/03/2024
BBC Radio 5 Live To Celebrate 30 Years
BBC Radio 5 Live has announced plans to celebrate its 30th birthday on Thursday 28 March 2024 with a day of special programming. Since its launch at 5