BBC losses bad for Northern Ireland. Time to devolve broadcasting policy?

Barry McCaffrey in the Irish News today reports that the BBC is expected to announce major job cuts to its organisation in Northern Ireland tomorrow.

BBC executives are expected to inform around 700 staff in Belfast and Derry of major job losses in a series of meetings today.

This will be unwelcome news across the North. Local news output has been under huge pressure in recent years with less resources for investigative journalism and current affairs coverage. At a time when politics in our region is moving from the predictable to discourse on serious policy issues, the need for a properly resourced regional broadcaster has never been greater.

But its not just politics. Arts, culture and sport have already suffered from cutbacks. Further reductions will undermine much of the good work which has been done over the past twenty years.

Things are no better in the private sector. UTV is under tremendous pressure and is now running its news and current affairs output on what could only be described as limited resources.

That we continue to maintain a good standard of journalism is a credit to the people who report and make programmes on daily basis.

Maybe it is time to have a serious discussion about devolving broadcasting policy and allow NI as a region take ownership of its own talent and seek to build up a vibrant a sustainable regional press in partnership with public and private sector broadcasters across the island and in Britain.