MPs back Save ITV News campaign

More than 40 MPs attended a briefing on the threat to ITV News at the Houses of Parliament last week.

The discussion, chaired by former ITV Yorkshire news presenter, Austin Mitchell MP, is part of a joint union campaign to stop major cuts in ITV regional news.

ITV wants to cut £40-£50 million a year from its regional news budget from 2009, a move which will damage the service to viewers, further weaken the long term prospects for regional news, and cut hundreds of jobs.

The packed MPs meeting was addressed by BECTU Assistant General Secretary Luke Crawley and NUJ General Secretary, Jeremy Dear.

Several NUJ and BECTU representatives attended the meeting including BECTU’s Border and Meridian stewards, Peter Howdle and Martin Clarke, respectively, both of them keen advocates of ITV’s regional news output. Staff at ITV Border have been running a vigorous campaign to retain their service since last September.

The vast majority of the MPs present on 26 March expressed support for the campaign and for the proposal which lies at its heart: regional news is central to what ITV does, it is a service valued by audiences and, critically, a funding model can be identified to sustain regional news beyond digital switchover.

BECTU and the NUJ are working together on the on-going national campaign and are making plans for a lobby of Parliament in June.

Ahead of that event we are encouraging representatives in all ITV network licences, including Scottish TV, Grampian and Ulster - ie including and beyond those licences directly affected by ITV’s plans - to enlist the support of their members for the campaign.

“Industry regulator, OFCOM, must be in no doubt about the strength of feeling in the regions and ITV has to recognise the challenge it faces as its proposals are scrutinised.” commented David Beevers, BECTU Supervisory Official.

Members and representatives should also note that OFCOM is due to publish its report on the first phase of the current PSB Review on Thursday 10 April.

To help to boost the campaign supporters can use the following resources:

• Sample letter to MPs [23k pdf]
• Sample letter to Ofcom [15k pdf]
• BECTU/NUJ Briefing Document [86k pdf]

John Grogan MP, a member of BECTU’s parliamentary panel has sponsored an early day motion EDM 504 which underlines the importance of ITV regional news and which urges Parliament to foster its future good health.

Interested parties can also keep up to date by checking the NUJ’s site.