BBC News to axe education editor role in cost-cutting move
Fears over lack of scrutiny for key sectors as health editor position also to go in cuts aimed at saving £5.5m The BBC will no longer have a dedicated education editor as part of a cost-cutting drive in which 100 jobs are to go across BBC News under a plan that school leaders described as “deeply regrettable”. BBC staff have been told that the roles of education editor and social affairs editor…
The BBC plans to eliminate the education editor position in its news division, as part of a cost-cutting measure that will see 100 jobs go across BBC News. This decision, aimed at saving £5.5m, has been met with criticism from school leaders and teaching unions, who view it as a "deeply regrettable" move in a time when strong public interest reporting is crucial.
The education editor, Branwen Jeffreys, and the social affairs editor, Alison Holt, will be combined into a single role. This comes after a review of on-air editor positions, which took into account audience demand, editorial requirements, and the need to maintain relevance in a changing news environment. Richard Burgess, the director of news content, said the changes were given careful consideration and that the BBC remains committed to covering education, both at an editor level and through its team of expert reporters and producers.
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