Slicing time

It's at least the ninth consecutive year of cuts to the budget of the BBC News division, now down from 9,000 staff at its peak to around 8,000.

This year new boss James Harding has clearly decided to take the foot off the pedal a little. In 2012, 140 post closures saved £25m; today, he's announced 75 jobs will go by the end of financial year 2013/4, saving £11m; there are still two years of cuts to come, which will need to find the remaining £24m of the £60m target for news, driven by the licence-fee-settlement-done-over-a-weekend - unless the new DG decided to re-allocate things.

The choreography is interesting - normally this annual cull is announced in October, but clearly, the organisation wants to move upbeat with the DG's 10-year strategy due to be unveiled on October 8. So, clearing the decks, we can expect news of cuts to Television, Radio and Future Media to follow shortly. Maybe the Bonfire of The Boards, when it comes, will help lighten the mood for the lower ranks.