Localness

The BBC leadership team of Rhodri Talfan Davies and Jason Horton are digging in on their cuts to local radio in England.  Rhodri, in particular, likes philosophising on 'localness', citing 'Yorkshire' as something people feel is their 'local area', and saying that tv viewers call what they see at 6.30pm, 'their local news'. He refuses to use the word 'regional'. 

Their is no formal consultation process, but, of course, they have to say they're listening. Try asking listeners in, say, Luton, whether they're interested in events in Great Yarmouth.   Have a word with people in Hook Norton about their concern for the people of Shanklin.   Send a survey to someone in St Helens, to see if they're looking forward to news and views from Silloth. 

The NUJ have written to Tim Davie, saying they have no confidence in Rhodders and Jace. "People in Norfolk tell us they don’t care about stories and issues from Suffolk, they want stories about the community on their doorstep…Please listen to the 5.7m local radio listeners and the politicians who want local radio to be protected. Don’t go down in history as the director general who killed off local radio. Please keep local radio local.”