BBC education editor role axed as BBC News combines posts in cost-cutting drive
The BBC education editor role has been axed: BBC News will merge it with the social affairs editor position, part of a cost-cutting drive cutting 100 jobs that is expected to save £5.5m.
BBC education editor role axed as BBC News combines posts in cost-cutting drive
Two specialist roles become one
BBC News will eliminate the dedicated education editor role, with the education editor and social affairs editor positions combined into a single position. The move comes as 100 jobs go across BBC News.
- The current education editor at BBC News is Branwen Jeffreys
- The social affairs editor is Alison Holt
- The changes are expected to save £5.5m
Why the change was proposed
Richard Burgess, the BBC's director of news content, proposed the change after a review of on-air editor roles, according to a message to staff. He said the review examined audience demand, editorial requirements and how the corporation ensures these roles remain relevant in a changing news environment.
Job requirements of on-air editors will be reviewed to place greater emphasis on making an impact on social media and digital platforms such as YouTube and TikTok, Burgess said. The BBC is trying to boost its presence on social platforms to reach younger audiences who increasingly use them for news.
These are difficult decisions, but I have given the changes careful consideration
Burgess described the decisions as difficult, saying he had weighed audience interest, editorial demand and working efficiently across the department.
Unions and insiders object
James Bowen, assistant general secretary of the school leaders' union NAHT, said the announcement suggests the BBC is proposing to dilute leadership of its education coverage, and urged a rethink.
This would be a deeply regrettable move by our national broadcaster
Bowen called the move deeply regrettable, saying the broadcaster plays a vital role in highlighting education issues and holding the government and Department for Education to account.
Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said the move would diminish the public's understanding of education matters in the country. Matt Wrack, general secretary of the NASUWT teachers' union, said that with schools grappling with rising child poverty, crumbling buildings, teacher shortages and major funding cuts, the public needs strong public interest reporting in the sector.
Nadra Ahmed, co-chair of the National Care Association, said she was concerned the sector could lose attention at a critical time with the prime minister drawing up social care reforms. One BBC insider said combining the roles further erodes the ability to give sufficient coverage to the breadth and depth of two materially distinct topics.
Wider changes and BBC response
There will be no health editor title at the BBC when the current incumbent, Hugh Pym, leaves in the spring; that job will be absorbed into the medical editor role held by Fergus Walsh. Sources said experienced education and social affairs specialists would remain at the BBC.
A BBC spokesperson said the corporation remains committed to covering education, and will continue to do so both at editor level and with its team of expert reporters and producers. The new head of BBC News, Rachel Jupp, told staff in one of her first memos that the department's £51m savings target could be increased given the BBC's financial pressures.
