N. Ireland leaders appeal to UTV
Northern Ireland’s political leaders have united to call on UTV to stop its current redundancy exercise.
In a forceful statement [67k pdf] addressed to UTV’s management, leading representatives for the province’s main political parties have recognised the positive contribution which television has played, and should continue to play, in the lives of local people.
“We are obliged to Northern Ireland’s party leaders for their swift recognition of what is at stake here.”
First Minister and Democratic Unionist Party leader, Peter Robinson, Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuiness, and Sinn Fein President, Gerry Adams, Ulster Unionist Party leader, Sir Reg Empey, SDLP leader, Mark Durkan, David Ford, leader of the Alliance Party and Progressive Unionist Party leader, Dawn Purvis, have called on UTV to consider Ofcom’s final report, expected next February, before making programme cuts at UTV.
The leaders’ prompt support for the campaign to save UTV’s local programmes [update - was link to website now closed due to resolution of dispute] has been welcomed by BECTU and the NUJ who are working together with their memberships to change UTV plans.
Next week, on 20 November 2008, both unions will make a presentation to the Stormont Assembly’s Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure in defence of properly resourced public service broadcasting.
Gerry Morrissey, BECTU’s General Secretary, said: “We are obliged to Northern Ireland’s party leaders for their swift recognition of what is at stake here. The loss of real diversity and quality in local programmes would be a major setback for Northern Ireland’s communities. The support of the Assembly’s political leaders for the campaign is a major boost.”
The leaders’ statement is reproduced below in full.
Statement from Northern Ireland’s political leaders to UTV’s management
“As political leaders we recognise the need for a robust and diverse media in Northern Ireland.
It can be a vehicle for reflection, communication, investigation and analysis and has provided, in its different forms, a valuable role here over many turbulent years and can provide a similar role in years to come.
Television has contributed greatly in this regard with a strong independent sector competing with the BBC.
Recently we have learned of plans by UTV in Northern Ireland to radically cutback its workforce on the back of Ofcom proposals which may allow the broadcaster to reduce some of its programming. These are minimum proposals which Ofcom has put out for consultation.
However UTV is moving ahead with its cutbacks before the consultation has ended. The process may in fact mean that the cutbacks will have gone through before any meaningful discussions conclude.
We fully understand the economic pressures UTV finds itself under but we think it reasonable that UTV should halt its plans to allow for those discussions to go ahead and also for the completion of the Ofcom consultation and final report.
Ends
Tuesday 11 November 2008