The campaign to save ITV regional news continues. Union members at ITV Meridian pictured in 2007.
20 November 2009
The broadcasting unions are urging ITV to act now to save regional news.
The plea follows a meeting of representatives held earlier this week ahead of the Queen's Speech.
Whilst the joint unions - BECTU, the NUJ and Unite - have welcomed the go-ahead given by government to regional news pilots run by Independently Financed News Consortia, representatives fear that the trials will not protect the current news network.
With the pilots set to operate in just three licence areas - Scotland, Wales and one English region - the reality, say representatives, is that ITV will continue to cut spending on regional news in line with the fall in value of its analogue licences.
More fundamentally, representatives question whether there is sufficient time to put a meaningful trial in place, given the process needed and the political uncertainly caused by the impending general election.
As a result, representatives - who are due to meet with ITV management next week - will be calling on the company to seek government funding, as an interim measure, to sustain the current service until the pilots are concluded.
The unions will also be insisting that staff rights be protected by the transfer of employment regulations (TUPE) for the duration of the pilots.
"The unions concern for jobs and a quality service will be central to our forthcoming negotiations on the matter," commented, David Beevers, BECTU supervisory official.
Unions favour single news provider
The joint unions believe, as far as the English regions are concerned, that a single provider should be found with the ability and experience to produce a service equal to, or better, than that currently in place.
In this scenario, the unions believe that quality and diverse output, capable of competing with the BBC's service, can best be sustained with the transfer of current ITV regional news staff to a new provider.
The joint unions have sought a meeting with Ofcom to reinforce the demands being made of the culture secretary, Ben Bradshaw. Representatives are also preparing to lobby all prospective parliamentary candidates and will be seeking an urgent meeting with the Conservative Party's shadow minister, Jeremy Hunt.
The joint unions have consistently campaigned to protect ITV's regional news network for the audience and for staff. Whilst representatives are rarely out of discussion with the company about its plans, and their impact on staff, the current national campaign started in effect in November 2007.
Staff at ITV Border, whose dedicated newsroom was closed in early 2009, united the community and local business leaders in an effort to save their service.
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