BBC set to axe all its African Caribbean local radio shows

Black staff say they fear plans to cut programmes and jobs show the corporation’s commitment to diverse content is waning

BLACK BBC staff have told The Voice they fear for the future of diverse programming after the corporation unveiled plans which will see all the African Caribbean and Asian shows on BBC local radio scrapped from its schedules.

Last week BBC bosses announced major plans to share programmes and cut jobs on local BBC radio stations in England as part of what has been described as the biggest changes to the corporation’s local programming in a generation.

General local programming will only survive on weekday mornings and lunchtimes (6am till 2pm). The rest of the output, apart from evening and weekend sport, will be shared either regionally or nationally.

There will be six regions going forward, under new Audio Editors, covering North West / North East, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, Midlands, London and East, South, and South West.

Local programming will only air during the morning and lunch hours (6 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday).

CHANGES: The BBC recently announced changes to local radio programming which Black staff say will see African and Caribbean shows cut from the schedule

It is believed that new Audio Editors will be in charge of six distinct regions covering North West/North East, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, Midlands, London and East, South, and South West.

However, Black producers and presenters at the corporation fear the changes mean that shows targeted at African Caribbean, and Asian audiences, are set to disappear.

The concerns stem from the fact that these programmes air on Sunday nights, exactly when the BBC is planning to decrease its local original programming. These include popular shows presented by broadcasters such as Voice columnist Dotun Adebayo, Ed Adoo at BBC Three Counties, and several others.

RIGHT TO A VOICE: BBC presenter Ed Adoo says it feels like the BBC don’t value black audiences

A number of black BBC staff who contacted The Voice say they expressed their concerns to senior managers during a recent meeting about the proposed changes.

They were told that despite the changes the BBC had a commitment to serving diverse audiences and that alternative plans were being examined. These include combining all the African Caribbean shows into one podcast to be broadcast on BBC Sounds, an online platform.

However programme staff have expressed doubts that such a move can accurately reflect the breadth of stories and issues in Black communities across the country in the way that the existing shows can.

Ed Adoo, who presents the African Caribbean show on BBC Three Counties told The Voice: “We had a meeting with bosses and were told that the BBC is committed to these shows but we have no idea what form or structure this commitment will take. We’re still waiting to hear.”

POTENTIAL MISTAKE: Former BBC London presenter Henry Bonsu says it would be shame if African Caribbean shows go at a time of heightened awareness about the lack of ethnic diversity in broadcasting

He continued: “I’ve always trusted the BBC to deliver for local audiences, in particular to the listeners of the African Caribbean and Asian shows. However I feel the BBC has really fallen short of its mantra on diversity. These shows are the only platform for Black and Asian communities on BBC Local Radio.

“It hasn’t really reached out to these audiences and told them that there is a commitment to  delivering those important stories about the Windrush for example, sickle cell or the Luton or Northampton carnivals, incredible stories which may not necessarily get shared on the mainstream daytime outputs.

“The BBC is a public service broadcaster, its output is funded by the licence fee payers and these audiences have a right to a voice. It just feels like the BBC hasn’t really truly valued African Caribbean and Asian programming on local radio. If they did they would have consulted with these audiences.”

There were also concerns that the cuts will worsen an existing lack of diversity among BBC radio staff.

A 2021 report from The Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity provided a damning indictment of ethnic representation in BBC local radio newsrooms which are meant to serve communities across the country.

The report, called Diversity of Senior Leaders in BBC Radio News, written by Nina Robinson and overseen by Dr Siobhan Stevenson found that only 6 per cent of the BBC’s Radio News senior leadership across the UK Nations are people of colour and only 8 per cent across its entire News and Current Affairs division.

“Where will the next generation of Black and Asian journalists and broadcasters come from?” said Adoo. “When you look at the newsrooms of BBC local radio stations the numbers of Black and Asian reporters are still very low. So if there are cuts to these programmes which impact the journalists and producers working on them then even these low numbers may decrease.”

I feel the BBC has really fallen short of its mantra on diversity. These shows are the only platform for Black and Asian communities on BBC Local Radio.

Ed Adoo, BBC Radio Three Counties presenter

Former BBC London presenter Henry Bonsu echoed Adoo’s fears about the proposed changes.

He told The Voice: “I would be concerned as somebody who used to broadcast on BBC London and who has kept tabs on some of the diverse programming on the BBC across the English regions. I remember the landmark BBC report People and Programmes from 1996, which led to the setting up of a lot of these diverse programmes around the country. It found that BBC local radio had almost no black audience.

“These programmes helped to turn that around. It would be a shame if, at a time of heightened awareness of diversity, and all the promises that the BBC and other broadcasters have made post-George Floyd, the corporation were to roll back on these programmes.  These shows also often provide a path into wider rider regional broadcasting for underrepresented groups. Often people get their start in broadcasting through these programmes.”

News of the changes follows a 2019 decision by the BBC to axe Dotun on Sunday, the only black political talk show on radio or television in the UK. The move attracted sharp criticism from listeners on social media with many claiming that the BBC’s commitment to African Caribbean programming was waning.

CAMPAIGNER: Zita Holbourne questions whether any Equality Impact Assessments were done before the BBC announced its proposed changes

A petition was launched by the campaign groups BAME Lawyers 4 Justice and BARACK UK.  The petition, which received 2000 signatures, not only called for the reinstatement of Adebayo’s Sunday night show but increase its diversity broadcasting for London’s black communities. 

Following the petition, the BBC announced it would not cut Adebayo’s show.

Zita Holbourne of Black Activists Rising Against Cuts (BARAC) UK played an instrumental role in launching the petition. She said the proposed changes would have a disproportionate impact on Black production staff and listeners.

Holbourne said: “The BBC is required to carry out Equality Impact Assessments before making decisions like these. Having been on those regional shows many times as a guest, I know they play an important role in focusing on issues stemming from systemic racism that impact our communities such as the Windrush Scandal, mass deportations and discrimination in the labour market and policing. It’s important for our communities to have a space for us, about us and run by us in mainstream media.

“My organisation BARAC UK which has campaigned against race discrimination in broadcasting and in the media on a number of occasions is ready to campaign support efforts to keep these programmes on-air.”

In a statement given to The Voice the BBC said: “We are committed to reflecting all communities in our output. We’ll confirm programmes for the new schedules in due course.”

The statement continued: “We’re investing more in audio commissioning for community programmes, in particular, so the voices and programmes our audiences love and feel deeply connected to will be available to a wider audience on BBC Sounds.

“We are in direct conversations with everyone impacted by these proposals. We will look at each programme on a case-by-case basis. We always have the door open for future and existing talent.

“More broadly the BBC remains committed to reflecting and representing the diverse audiences it serves both on and off-air. Latest figures show more Black, Asian and ethnic minority staff are joining the BBC, than leaving, as published in the BBC’s Equality Information Report.”

Comments Form

9 Comments

  1. | Araba Taylor

    Is anyone starting a petition?

    Reply

  2. | lee vincent

    ethnic diversity in broadcasting shouldn’t be axed not only alot of radio talent lost but a service locally for black Asian thats needed

    Reply

  3. | Chaka Artwell

    Few of His Majesty’s African-heritage English Subjects will barely notice the BBC’s axing of African Caribbean Local Radio Shows.

    BBC Local output for African-heritage, and Caucasian working classes, has become so trivialised and is so infantile that thousands no longer even listen to BBC Local Radio.

    BBC 1xtra has been culturally harmful for African-heritage urban youth; with all that Drill music.

    The BBC’s Local Radio output has been so degraded that the very axing of BBC Local Radio would be barely noticed: especially by free thinking men and women.

    When the BBC talks about diversity, diversity for the BBC really means Middle-Class feminists concerns, homosexual concerns, and issues of great concern to Caucasian Europe’s convert to the Ancient Hebrew religion or Semitic Racial identity.

    Sir Lenny Henry’s 2016 appeal to Lord Hall to address the rank disparity endured by African-heritage actors and actresses within the BBC, was interpreted by the Press as a call for greater BBC diversity.

    The BBC is certainly more diverse; but the BBC’s diversity has not been extended to include African-heritage people; programmes and ideas.

    Reply

  4. | 2nd Class Human (aka Black Person)

    There is BBC Asian Network on DAB. No such service has EVER existed for people of African ancestry. WHY???

    Reply

    • | Leroy

      Simple they have money

      Reply

  5. | Conrad Powell

    Black people have really short memories they did the very same thing to the largest Black housing Association Ujima.

    Then all the Black community centres, youth clubs, halls or venues parks that we could have our social events.

    Let alone forcing our community to only do our heritage cultural historical events just in the month of October.

    Then all of the hostile environment we have been subjected to called the Windrush Scandal.

    Look at who have really benefited from destroying our community.

    They have been rewarded knighthoods, Dameships OBE, MBE whatever.

    Then they claim that there is no more racism or racist in this country. Why is anybody surprise?

    Reply

  6. | Clem Morgan

    The Rt Hon Michelle Donelan MP
    Is to be contacted as she is minister of culture

    Reply

  7. | Elle Mcintosh

    This is no surprise, the BBC/tv programs do not find it palatable anything to do solely with black people. Look at tv adverts where it’s predominantly interracial couples. It’s rare to see positive examples of black family units let alone on the TV now our black radio programmes. Is there an agenda here? Divide, conquer and disappear! How are we celebrating and respecting diversity.

    Reply

  8. | Joseph Otieno Adamson

    We are complaining again and what will petitions do
    It seems the black community is never ready
    Why can’t we creat our own and give the support needed. There are example to draw from.
    These days it easier to get hold of the tools needed to produce radio programs or tv programs
    However there are few professionals to do the job.

    Reply

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