BBC outlines BBC Monitoring restructure plans
The BBC has outlined plans for an extensive restructure of BBC Monitoring to provide a more responsive service for users in a rapidly changing media landscape, to increase commercial activity, and to meet savings targets.
Published: 5 July 2016
The proposals are designed to make BBC Monitoring fit for the future and better for its clients, focusing on digital and social media as well as traditional media
BBC Monitoring provides news and information based on open-source media around the world - TV, radio, newspapers, online, and social media - to the BBC, the UK Government, and other commercial clients. From 2013 BBC Monitoring has been funded by the BBC Licence Fee.
Alongside today’s restructure, BBC Monitoring is also expected to move from its current base in Caversham Park, Reading, to a location in London. The timing of this move will be confirmed in due course.
BBC Monitoring will see an annual £4m reduction in funding from 2017.
Proposals for the changes include a more streamlined editorial structure, focused on editorial quality and clarity of purpose; the prioritisation of digital skills; an expanded geographic footprint with consolidated locations; an alignment of roles and skills with the wider BBC News teams and a clear career development path. BBC Monitoring’s office in Mazar-i-Sharif is set to close, with new bases opening in Istanbul and Jerusalem.
Today’s proposals are expected to lead to the closure of around 100 posts. The BBC will now begin consultation with staff and the joint unions, where appropriate.
Francesca Unsworth, Director of the BBC World Service Group, says: “For more than 75 years, BBC Monitoring has provided an invaluable service to BBC News, as well as Government and commercial clients. Spotting developing stories and trends in hundreds of languages and countries across the world helps the BBC to offer a truly global news service.
“Like all media organisations, BBC Monitoring has to keep pace with the new landscape of digital and social media. And, like the rest of the BBC, BBC Monitoring needs to make savings.
“The proposals we’ve announced are designed to make BBC Monitoring fit for the future and better for its clients, focusing on digital and social media as well as traditional media, and ensuring the organisation can respond to change more easily. Today’s plans build on significant changes we’ve already made in BBC Monitoring, including a new production system for staff and a new delivery portal for clients.”
Notes to Editors
BBC Monitoring supplies news, information and comment translated and analysed from publicly available media sources around the world. Material is available in 100 different languages covering 150 countries. Clients include government departments, academics, journalists and international businesses.
The operating costs for BBC Monitoring in the FY 16/17 are £13.2m, and there are currently 320 staff.
CM7
