GREENS STAND UP FOR REGIONAL ITV - Well known presenters to be dropped at Anglia TV [Media Release]

As feared, ITV is to carry out major cuts in regional news across the UK, with mergers of outlets and over 400 jobs going. There will be 30 staff losses in news and politics at Anglia TV, including many well known presenters (1).

Strong statements have been issued by current and past staff at Anglia and the local NUJ. Eastern Region Green Party shares those concerns.

Prospective Green MEP, Councillor Rupert Read said:

"ITV has been reducing its local news focus enormously since the Conservatives passed the 1990 Act, paving the way for deregulation of the industry and making ITV a business dependent on shareholder profit instead of a protected localised service and alternative to the BBC.

And now ITV has announced a further downscaling. This is a regressive step and further jeopardises ITV's role as an important local news outlet.

There is a greater, not lesser, need for regional media in today's 24 hour news world. Local news, like Anglia News, scrutinises local and regional politicians and political bodies and covers regional issues in a way that national organisations can't. People value their local news and often have a higher level of trust in local news output than they do with elements of the national media.

Local news and current affairs coverage on Anglia should not be cut back. That is why I'm backing the NUJ's campaign against the ITV cuts and have signed the NUJ's petition to No.10 on this issue. (2)"

ENDS

Notes for editors:

(1) Eastern Daily Press 26th November 2008

(2) http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/SaveITVNews2/

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And here is the earlier piece that was carried on the Press Association, about the same matter:

ITV has been warned against massive job cuts of journalists

ITV warned on 'regressive' job cuts

Nov 8, 2008

ITV has been warned that it was heading down a "dangerous road" by deciding to shed hundreds of regional journalists.

The Green Party said ITV's intention to cut more than 400 editorial jobs from local news programmes was a "regressive step for the fourth estate".

Rupert Read, Green Party Lead Euro candidate for the Eastern region, said ITV was becoming dependent on shareholder profit instead of providing local communities with an option to the BBC.

"It is a dangerous road to be on," he said. "This is a dangerously regressive step for the fourth estate, and further jeopardises ITV's role as an important local news outlet.

"There is a greater, not lesser, need for regional media in today's 24 hour news world.

"Local news, like Anglia News, scrutinises local and regional politicians and political bodies and covers regional issues in a way that national organisations can't.

"Anglia News is an absolutely invaluable part of the broadcasting world, here in the East - our public life would be much worse off without it or with the scaled down regional news provision that is proposed."