LONDON: A UK union representing media workers warned on Wednesday that the latest job cuts at the BBC were part of a “worrying trend” that risks harming its news output.
The BBC revealed plans on Tuesday to axe at least 100 news roles as part of a raft of proposed changes which include scrapping long-running in-depth interview show HARDtalk.
It is the latest round of job losses at the British public service broadcaster affecting its news division, which has already halved staff numbers on its prestigious Newsnight program and cut its weeknight running time to 30 minutes.
The BBC has been under growing financial pressure due to high inflation and increased costs, and a below-inflation license fee settlement.
The annual fee — which rose by 6.6 percent in April to £169.50, after a two-year freeze — is mandatory for every UK household watching live channels on a color television.
“The BBC’s need to make savings is clear, but this latest round of cuts follows a worrying trend toward reducing services that provide critical, in-depth analysis,” Philippa Childs, head of the broadcasting union Bectu, said in a statement Wednesday.
It represents more than 40,000 staff, contract and freelance workers in the media and entertainment industries in the UK.
“Bectu is concerned that in a world of fake news, disinformation and political turmoil, these cuts will hit not just jobs, but also reduce the breadth and range of news content that the BBC can provide and is known for,” Childs added.
Bectu is the latest union to voice concerns at Tuesday’s announcement.
National Union of Journalists (NUJ) general secretary Michelle Stanistreet called it a “damaging assault on journalism and news.”
She noted it came “at a time when the UK needs greater plurality and diversity of news, and trust in journalism is under attack at home and abroad.”
A BBC spokeswoman said in a statement that the broadcaster “can no longer afford to run so many bespoke program teams.”
Union warns of ‘worrying trend’ after latest BBC job cuts
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Union warns of ‘worrying trend’ after latest BBC job cuts
Saudi Arabia strengthens global ranking in 2026 Soft Power Index
- UAE maintains 10th place, Qatar climbs 2 spots
DUBAI: Saudi Arabia climbed three positions to 17th place in this year’s Soft Power Index, released on Tuesday by marketing consultancy Brand Finance.
Other Gulf nations also performed well, with the UAE maintaining its 10th-place ranking and Qatar and Bahrain each climbing two spots to No. 20 and No. 49, respectively, marking a rebound for the region after a softer showing in 2025.
The report indicates that the performance reflects sustained investment in proactive diplomacy, economic diversification and expanded initiatives across culture, tourism and sports.
It also comes at a time when several Western powers are recording declines in their rankings, highlighting the growing influence of Gulf states.
“The UAE remains a clear regional leader, while Saudi Arabia and Qatar have strengthened their global positions through focused economic diplomacy and international engagement,” said Savio D’Souza, managing director for the Middle East and Africa, Brand Finance.
Saudi Arabia and the UAE either maintained or improved their rankings across all key pillars, including familiarity, reputation and influence.
The Kingdom recorded notable gains, with increases of 25 points in the People & Values pillar and 12 points in the Culture & Heritage pillar.
“Although perceptions across some markets remain mixed, renewed upward movement in the rankings suggests that targeted, long-term soft power strategies are beginning to pay off,” D’Souza said.
Globally, the US retained its top position despite recording the steepest overall decline in its score, followed by China in second place. Japan rose to third place, overtaking the UK, which ranked fourth, while Germany placed fifth.
Brand Finance defines “soft power” as a “nation’s ability to influence the preferences and behaviors of various actors in the international arena (states, corporations, communities, publics, etc.) through attraction and persuasion rather than coercion.”
Each nation is assessed across 55 individual metrics, producing an overall score out of 100 and a ranking from first to 193rd.
