BBC Radio Foyle staff face uncertain future as four posts are axed
The ongoing cuts across the BBC have hit Radio Foyle.
Four Assistant Content Producer posts are going at the station and will be replaced by one combined post, The Derry News understands.
While the four employees will have the option of applying for the single post, if they are unsuccessful, they will be unemployed and may not receive a redundancy payment.
It is also believed that two veteran members of BBC Radio Foyle staff will leave the station when their contracts end.
The station, whose morning news programme North West Today recently won a Gold IMRO Radio Award for its reporting on the murder of Amy Doherty, has faced an uncertain future for a number of years.
In November 2022, a widespread community campaign of support was mounted for the staff at BBC Radio Foyle following the announcement BBC NI was planning to close 36 posts, in an attempt to save £2.3m. These projected cuts were subsequently partially reversed.
In May this paper reported the building which currently houses Radio Foyle had been put up for sale with an asking price of £475,000. This sale has now been completed.
At that time, a BBC spokesperson said the Corporation remained committed to Foyle as a BBC production and broadcast hub and its future role within its service portfolio.
They added: "The BBC’s lease on its Northland Road site will remain in place until at least September 2029.”
On October 15, the BBC also announced it would be cutting 60% of the full-time roles within the BBC Irish Language team.
It is understood staff were informed of the cuts via a Microsoft Teams presentation.
Conradh na Gaeilge has called the cuts entirely “disproportionate” in comparison to other units, teams and departments within the BBC, identifying the "devastating impact” they will have on the BBC live Irish language programmes.
“The cuts will most likely mean live (and award-winning) BBC Radio Ulster Irish language programmes such as Blas will come to an end,” it added.