BBC INSIDERS have expressed fears of a mass exodus of Black and Asian staff and freelancers working in BBC local radio ahead of changes proposed by the corporation.

The corporation announced re-structuring plans last year which would have seen Black and Asian community programmes on BBC local radio dropped from the schedules.

However the outcry following a campaign by The Voice saw the BBC announce that the community shows would continue.

It said it had “listened carefully to the feedback we have received about proposed changes”, adding that the much-loved community programmes” would become more accessible by moving from their traditional Sunday nights to new Monday and Friday evening slots.

However, as the corporation moves forward with implementing the amendments to its plans Black journalists working on the shows have told The Voice they fear that plans for the staffing of the community programmes may lead to a mass exodus of talented programme-makers from minority ethnic backgrounds.

Journalists and producers working on these shows, as well as their colleagues working on mainstream output, have been required by the BBC to re-apply for their jobs.

But The Voice understands that under these proposals freelance presenters and producers will not be allowed to apply for any new roles. Community programmes staff and other journalists at BBC London are exempt from the process.

Due to the smaller budgets allocated to BBC local radio community programmes a significant number of those working on them shows are freelancers.

Insiders who contacted The Voice said they are deeply concerned that the proposals will result in the loss of freelance programme makers who have strong ties with the communities they cover on a regular basis.

To be honest there’s always that level of disrespect towards the African Caribbean shows. There’s always been the feeling that somehow we’re not qualified.

Black BBC journalist (name withheld)

They say if that happens, there are real doubts over whether these shows can truly reflect their local areas in the way they do currently.

One Black BBC journalist who spoke to The Voice said: “The majority of presenters, producers and contributors who work on these shows are freelancers so, certainly, what the BBC is proposing is going to have a disproportionate impact on the programming. It just didn’t sit right with me and I can definitely see a situation where a lot of Black programme-makers on local radio say to themselves  ‘I couldn’t be bothered with this’ and just decide to leave.”

Disrespectful

Another said: “The process the BBC has created has been very divisive and disrespectful. They’ve not replied to any of our queries about how the job application process is going to impact people working on these shows, many of whom are freelance. They’re just hoodwinking people. They’re saying to people externally that they are increasing shows. What they’re not saying is that they’re merging shows. The shows as they exist are going. I just don’t understand why they’re not being clear and honest with people.

They continued: “To be honest there’s always that level of disrespect towards the African Caribbean shows. There’s always been the feeling that somehow we’re not qualified when actually a lot of us who work on community programmes are actually doing big stuff outside of the BBC. Yet we’re not given the respect to negotiate like everyone else that comes into the BBC. I can certainly see many of us leaving.”

Another BBC journalist spoke of a climate of fear prevented many Black and Asian staff from voicing their concerns.

“If you’re not a staff member on a good contract how do you speak up?” they said. “A lot of those working on African Caribbean programmes are on fixed contracts. So if you voice an opinion you’re not sure whether your contract is going to be extended or renewed so there’s that fear.”

Another said they are considering leaving the BBC. “The overall morale is certainly low” they said. “People are concerned because they’ve got mortgages to pay and are being told that because they are freelance they can’t apply for this or that or that their position might be taken away. It’s not like we command the fees of the big stars on network radio. People who work on the Black and Asian programmes do it for the love.

“These programmes are crucial in giving Black communities all over the country a voice, a platform where those voices are unfiltered. I think that might be coming to an end.”

Campaigner Zita Holbourne recently launched a petition in protest at the cuts, which has received nearly 20,000 signatures. Last week she was invited to a consultation meeting with the BBC to discuss the planned changes.

She told The Voice that while there was a detailed discussion about the proposed changes and the commitment to community programmes by senior BBC managers who attended,  there was no mention of an equality impact assessment which examined the impact on Black staff and listeners.

“During the meeting, I raised a number of concerns that had been raised with me about people having to re-apply for their own jobs and that freelancers would not get a look in for this round of job applications. When I asked them about an equality impact assessment I was told it was with human resources.

“I didn’t get the sense that they were really taking any of that into account. I understand it being with HR if it’s just an internal process, But this affects audiences as well, So an equality impact assessment shouldn’t just be sitting with HR, it should be out there, widely accessible and doing something useful.”

Former BBC broadcaster Nick Coffer has strongly criticised the corporation’s re-structuring process which appears to exclude many freelancers while protecting others.

Writing on Twitter he said: “The BBC promised a fair and open process when announcing that all staff presenters on BBC Local Radio would have to reapply for their job. They were all told to submit a 15 minute demo tape (even if they had 1000s of hours of on air experience) and apply for their own show.

“This has put an incredible strain on a number of friends and former colleagues. While all BBC staff presenters are going through the soul-destroying process of reapplying for their own jobs, some shows will not be open to them to apply for because the presenters have been given some kind of golden ticket to sit out the process.

How can it be fair to have such an uneven playing field, especially after a fair and transparent process was promised?

He continued: “Behind them, freelancers with zero job security or employment benefits, who now have to sit and watch while other freelancers find themselves/their shows protected. On a moral basis, engaging in such a far reaching process while brazenly protecting some but not others, really sits badly.”

Following The Voice’s coverage of the planned cuts over 40 celebrities, academics, MPs and campaigners, including actor David Harewood, and Adrian Lester, MPs including Diane Abbott and Dawn Butler, and Baroness Doreen Lawrence signed an open letter calling on the public broadcaster to reject the cuts.

The action was coordinated by Black Equity Organisation (BEO), a powerful anti-racist group headed by Dame Vivian Hunt. BEO said it was concerned about the “devastating impact” the cuts would have on black licence-fee payers who “rely on these programmes as vital sources of community news”. 

It added that the “little black audiences have, is in danger of being taken away”.

The Voice asked the BBC for a response to the concerns raised by Black staff members and freelancers and the apparent lack of an equality impact assessment.

A BBC spokesperson told The Voice: “We are committed to having a range of voices on Local Radio and don’t agree with this characterisation.

“We have clearly laid out future schedules which include an increase in hours broadcast and opportunities for staff and freelancers. We are increasing the resource for each show and we’ll be working that through region by region.

“As standard we have carried out an Equality Impact Assessment and shared with the unions.”

Despite a compromise proposed by the BBC to reduce program sharing, it was rejected by over 70 per cent of NUJ members. Now hundreds of NUJ members working at local radio stations are taking part in a 24-hour strike today (March 15) to protest against the plans.

Speaking about the potential impact of the cuts on Black staff and freelancers at the corporation Paul Sieghart told The Voice: “The BBC has issued an equality impact assessments. What I would say is, I don’t think they’re worth the paper they’re written on. It doesn’t feel like it’s a genuine equality impact assessment. It feels more like they’ve ticked all the boxes rather than done a deep dive into the impact that the cuts could have.”

On the climate of fear amongst Black staff at the BBC Sieghart said: “Whether you’re a freelancer from a Black or Asian background or any background, there’s an issue that you don’t have that certainty. You’re always working on a year-long or month-long contract and you can always be dumped at the drop of a hat.

“But I also represent Black journalists who are also staff members and who also don’t want to speak out. They have been subjected to racism at the  BBC and their careers have been held back because of the colour of their skin.”

Sieghart urged Black staff members and freelancers to get in contact with the NUJ.

“I’d encourage people who have concerns to join the NUJ and to reach out to me” he said. “Talks with the BBC are ongoing and if they contact me I can certainly add their concerns to the shopping list of concerns that we already have.”