BBC World Service to Cut 130 Jobs in Cost-Cutting Measure of £6m

The BBC World Service is set to reduce its workforce by 130 positions to save approximately £6 million for the upcoming financial year. This decision, informed by David Deans, a political reporter at BBC Wales News, will impact UK and international roles, including those in BBC Monitoring. The move comes in response to financial strains caused by escalating inflation and a two-year freeze on the license fee. Despite the layoffs, the BBC World Service is committed to sustaining coverage across its 42 language services, with a strategic shift toward a digital-first approach, as outlined by Global Director Jonathan Munro. While the FCDO's financial injection aims to safeguard existing foreign language services, the BBC emphasizes that persistent financial challenges necessitate these tough choices.