Just you wait

They want to close an estimated 450 jobs at BBC News. It would be great to know how they arrived at the figure. They clearly don't know yet exactly which jobs will go - which will do wonders for morale ("Firm plans for post closures relating to the new ways of working will be put forward before the summer, following further trials of the new model".)

We've been told News is still looking for £40m savings, of the £80m target it has been set by the centre. 450 jobs at the BBC median salary of £42,000 saves £18.9m, but you've got to add "re-structuring costs", covering the inevitable redundancy payments. So it's not yet the whole story, though the news release says "the changes announced today should complete the savings."  Maybe some really expensive presenters are going.

The hundred or so hacks at the briefing by Fran Unsworth, and her backing singers, Gavin Allen, Naja Nielsen, Jonathan Munro and Kamal Ahmed, (estimated total salaries £1m) were presented with graphic representations of the 'new model' which were clearly produced by management, rather than the Visual Journalism department. Majestically underwhelming. I'll reproduce them when I can get my hands on them.

More as it comes in....