BBC News has never had a more important role to play. Millions of people are turning to the BBC for accurate information they can trust in these strange and difficult times.
We’re committed to bringing you a continuous news service during this crisis, as I announced last week. Current and anticipated staff shortages have meant we’re streamlining our schedules, suspending some programmes and sharing staff between others, and the way we’re doing things already looks a bit different. This is a rapidly evolving situation.
Many of our staff are now working from home (which is sometimes giving viewers an unexpected insight into the kitchens, attics and basements of familiar BBC presenters). But many cannot - including the technical staff who keep us on air and some of our reporters across the UK.
It’s our responsibility to you, our audiences, to report ‘on the ground’. To show you what is happening across the country and the world; to record the effects of the government’s measures to fight the virus; to talk to the staff on the frontline of the NHS; to chronicle how the UK is faring during its ‘lockdown’.
And, as ever, to question, explain, and give context to what is happening.
That’s why BBC journalists and operational technical staff have been designated by the Government as key workers, and why some are still outside when so many people can’t be.
But we, like everyone else, have to do things differently. We have to prioritise everyone’s safety. And, like everyone else, we’re learning and changing things as the situation progresses.
We have to question ourselves before every interview - could we be doing this via phone or video call?
You’ve probably noticed our new ‘socially distanced interviews’ where boom microphones are rather more visible than usual.
You might also hear a bit more background noise than you’re used to when we’re not using our normal microphones.
We’re cutting down on everyone’s travel by making more use of our network of local reporters around the UK, as well as around the world.
And as you’d expect, we’ve tightened hygiene and safety measures inside and outside our offices, to avoid contact between colleagues. For example, our presenters are now doing their own make-up.
So things may look and sound a bit different and we might need to make further changes to how we do things as time goes on. But we’ll be with you throughout this emergency.
