Babies and bathwater 3

In James Harding's re-structuring of BBC News, there's a new department to be called 24/7 News. (And, where I previously stated otherwise, I understand there'll be internal competition for the new job of Controller)

However, elsewhere in his plans, there's a different approach to this brave new 24/7 world. 5Live is already having to repeat material overnight; there'll be a reduction of the number of subs working on domestic and world radio news bulletins overnight (tricky on nights that bring moving stories in Ukraine and Gaza); and there'll be no UK-based correspondent/reporter to cover breaking stories at night - the role is down-graded to a new Grade 8/9 reporter specification, supplemented by attachees and casuals.  There'd be no point merging the teams producing Newshour and The World Tonight if it didn't produced savings in late night broadcasting.

And, after throwing the doors open in various unusual ways for new tv reporting staff from other organisations right around BBC News, the existing group of BBC general correspondents (and some others) have been told they have to apply for their own jobs, with the end result of ten posts closing. Maybe they'll be interviewed - if the current management remember how that works.

The all-new one-presenter News Channel will have dedicated access to only one of the survivors, rather than the lot. Still, with World taking the schedule from midnight, and between 8pm and 9pm, maybe that's all 24/7 domestic viewers need.