Worried staff attack BBC jobs plan

BBC Manchester staff have raised concerns over plans to cut entertainment production staff while the corporation is advertising for more senior executives in London.
The number of series producers in the BBC Manchester entertainment department is due to be halved, from 18 to nine, and the number of assistant producers cut from 15 to eight.

Some Manchester staff under threat of redundancy are angry that the BBC controller of entertainment commissioning, Jon Beazley, sent them an email last week saying he would be advertising for more executive producers because his London-based department had so much work on.

In an email announcing that independent production company Silver River has hired the executive editor, factual entertainment, Alan Brown, to be its creative director, Beazley went on to say: "As you know, there's huge activity across the department with major projects underway like I'd Do Anything, Dragons' Den and, of course, Sport Relief is imminent on March 14.
"So you're aware there is an advert going in the press next week for executive producers as we need a couple of extra senior people on board to manage the wealth of work that we have at present."
One Manchester insider said: "The foot soldiers are being cut here but more chiefs are being hired at the top. It seems odd if we're as busy as Jon says."
It is understood that Beazley is looking for executive producers who can go out and win more business for the department.
The north-west is supposed to be a key part of the BBC's increased commitment to the regions.
The corporation is planning to move around 1,600 production and broadcasting staff to its new north-west base in Salford Quays by 2011.
Bectu official Helen Ryan said: "It seems insensitive to send such an email out to staff when they've recently been told they're potentially at risk of redundancy."
A BBC spokeswoman said: "We announced job losses back in October 2007 in entertainment both in London and Manchester which took into account future business levels.
"These losses did not include any reduction at executive producer level and the advert we are about to run is for executive producers on a fixed term basis to manage the current portfolio of entertainment shows. We are looking internally and externally to fill these positions."