BBC Two's Newsnight is to be cut back and have its format overhauled as part of a plan to save money in the corporation's news department. The long-running show will lose its dedicated reporters, be shortened by 10 minutes and drop its investigative films to focus on studio-based debates.
Meanwhile, the BBC News at One TV bulletin will be extended to an hour and will be broadcast from Salford. The BBC also said it would put more money into digital journalism. BBC News and Current Affairs CEO Deborah Turness said the broadcaster was 'in a tough financial climate', and had to make 'some difficult choices' as audiences switch from TV to online news.
The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) said the Newsnight cuts represented 'a major blow to investigative news'. The moves are expected to save £7.5m. Overall, the corporation must find £500m in savings as a result of a two-year freeze to the price of a TV licence, coupled with the impact of inflation.
Newsnight's current 57-strong team will be cut by more than half to 23. Turness said: 'When we started work on this announcement, I did not know if it would make financial sense to keep Newsnight on air.' But she said the audience regarded Newsnight as 'an important BBC brand', and 'what they most value is the discussion and debate at the end of each day'.
There will be an extra £5m for digital initiatives including more for 'streaming, boosting online journalism around the clock, and making sure that the best of our in-depth, thought-provoking, and analytical journalism is much easier to find online'. Although the plans will save money, a net total of 20 jobs are expected to be created within BBC News overall.
Responding to the announcement, NUJ broadcasting organiser Paul Siegert said: 'While we welcome investment in digital, we have grave concerns that the axe is falling disproportionately on investigatory news output.' Former Newsnight presenter Emily Maitlis posted on social media: 'Could the Prince Andrew interview have happened in this iteration of Newsnight? Of course not.'
