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7 months ago
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The director of the BBC World Service has quit over 'deep concerns' about its future, if it is hit by further spending cuts.
Liliane Landor, who has run the international branch of the broadcaster for three year, will be stepping down in July amid reports of a £500million blackhole in the companies finances.
But in a message written to colleagues she issued a stark warning about the 'immense pressure' the company is facing, adding that she is 'deeply concerned about the operational capability of the World Service if additional cuts continue to weaken it further'.
In 2022 the World Service was forced to cut 382 jobs as part of its plans to move to a digital-led service, that would save around £28.5m.
Liliane Landor, who has run the international branch of the broadcaster for three year, will be stepping down in July
In 2022 the World Service was forced to cut 382 jobs as part of its plans to move to a digital-led service, that would save around £28.5m
A move it blamed on 'high inflation, soaring costs, and a cash-flat licence fee settlement have led to tough choices across the BBC'.
What is the BBC World Service?
The BBC World Service is the BBC's international broadcaster, available on radio, TV, and digitally. It began on 19 December 1932 as the BBC Empire Service, and was an essential part of keeping the British Empire and the allies updated during WWII.
Now it operates in 42 languages, including English with journalists and supporting staff in 73 cities across 59 countries. In 2015, the World Service reached an average of 210 million people a week.
King George V characterised the service in his christmas message in 1932 as intended for 'men and women, so cut off by the snow, the desert, or the sea, that only voices out of the air can reach them'.
Ms Landor added: 'The organisation is operating in a tight and ever restrictive financial environment and over the past two years we have faced tough choices resulting in cuts which have incrementally impacted our global reach and the breadth of our services.
'It must be able to retain its distinctive universal voice regardless of how deeply it integrates into the wider BBC News framework.
'And it needs to continue to be a genuine international public service capable of reaching people and parts of the world in need of trusted news and information.'
The cuts to the World Service followed the BBC's announcement of a new digital-first 'blueprint' in May 2022, which included the news that BBC Four and CBBC will end as linear channels.
A BBC spokesman said there were no specific plans for further cuts but said cost savings were an 'ongoing situation'.
Deborah Turness, chief executive of BBC News, praised Ms Landor for her integrity and wisdom in leading the service.
She said: 'In a polarised world where truth is under attack, Liliane has led our BBC World Service teams with real courage.
'She has been a global ambassador for our powerful and important journalism, and has worked with great skill to modernise World Service output to reach digital audiences. Liliane is a person of great integrity and I will miss her wisdom very much.'
BBC director general Tim Davie, pictured in 2022, says he is open to 'reform' of the licence fee and making it 'more progressive', as he laid out his plans for the corporation's future
Ms Landor was previously head of foreign news at Channel 4, but has spent the majority of her career at the BBC after beginning at the French Service.
This comes after head of the BBC, Tim Davie, confirmed the corporation now needed to make an extra £200million in annual savings on top of the £500million previously announced. He also admitted there more job cuts coming at the corporation.
In a speech, hosted by the Royal Television Society last month, he said: 'We are not defensive about the future. We will need reform.
'With that in mind, we will proactively research how to reform the licence fee post-2028 – looking at its scope, how it could be more progressive, and making sure its enforcement is fair and proportionate.'
English (US)