BBC cuts reckless


As former senior editorial staff at BBC Scotland, we wish to express our concern at the real damage being inflicted on BBC Scotland’s news and current affairs operation in the “economies” approved by the BBC Trust.
Among recent casualties is the post of education correspondent, now to be merged with the local government brief. Scotland’s education system is one of the institutional pillars which define this country.
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It is barely credible that BBC Scotland believes this bastion of Scottish society no longer merits the dedicated scrutiny and analysis of a senior journalist.
Elsewhere, the department is losing more than a dozen of its most experienced and respected reporters, presenters and editors.
And all this is happening at a time when Scotland faces one of the most pivotal political decisions in its history – the referendum on Scottish independence. When was BBC journalistic excellence, in depth, more essential?
There is a danger that the implications of these highly damaging decisions by BBC Scotland management will be overlooked by the Scottish public, overshadowed by the chaotic editorial processes practised by the BBC in London, in the Jimmy Savile and Newsnight scandals.
We call on the BBC Trust to undertake an urgent rethink of the proposed Scottish post closures and redundancies and postpone the process meantime.
Kit Fraser
Former political correspondent
Douglas MacLeod
Former editor Good Morning Scotland
Carole Bentley
Former news editor
David Calder and Eric Crockart
Former reporters