GMG cuts 12 stations' daily news shows
Tuesday May 6 2008
GMG Radio has axed its two daily news programmes across all but one of its 13 FM stations a month after it won four nominations in news categories at the Sony Radio Academy Awards.
The two 15-minute news programmes ran in the lunchtime and drivetime slots across its stable of Real, Century, Smooth and Rock Radio stations.
The group said the resources would be put into providing exclusive material for its news bulletins throughout the day, and a new campaigning strand called The Big Story.
It said there were no planned job losses as a result of the changes, which came into effect yesterday.
Century Radio bagged a total of four nominations for this year's Sony radio awards, which take place next Monday, including the news and current affairs programme award, news journalist of the year, the news feature award and the breaking news award.
105.4 Century FM, which is based in Manchester, was also recognised at the IRN News awards last month, winning three prizes for its coverage of the shooting of Liverpool schoolboy Rhys Jones.
The GMG Radio group head of news, James Rea, said: "By refocusing our news resource we will be able to provide more compelling and original news content for our stations with a focus on the key day parts of breakfast and drivetime."
In a statement, the group said it was refocusing its news resources "to give its stations a more original and campaigning news feel" with a "focus on providing exclusive material for key bulletins as well as news specials on the issues most relevant to our audiences"
It said The Big Story would be an "umbrella title for its news specials and campaigning journalism strand which involves news programming across some or all stations".
The changes affect 12 of GMG Radio's 13 FM stations. The only unaffected station, Rock Radio in Manchester, launched yesterday and has the two bulletins included as part of its licence agreement with Ofcom.
GMG Radio employs journalists across its stations with a 14-strong news hub at its Manchester base.
A GMG Radio spokeswoman said: "There are no planned redundancies as part of these changes. We are constantly assessing our news resource to ensure we have the right teams and support staff in place and this will continue."
GMG Radio is part of Guardian Media Group, which also publishes MediaGuardian.co.uk
Tuesday May 6 2008
GMG Radio has axed its two daily news programmes across all but one of its 13 FM stations a month after it won four nominations in news categories at the Sony Radio Academy Awards.
The two 15-minute news programmes ran in the lunchtime and drivetime slots across its stable of Real, Century, Smooth and Rock Radio stations.
The group said the resources would be put into providing exclusive material for its news bulletins throughout the day, and a new campaigning strand called The Big Story.
It said there were no planned job losses as a result of the changes, which came into effect yesterday.
Century Radio bagged a total of four nominations for this year's Sony radio awards, which take place next Monday, including the news and current affairs programme award, news journalist of the year, the news feature award and the breaking news award.
105.4 Century FM, which is based in Manchester, was also recognised at the IRN News awards last month, winning three prizes for its coverage of the shooting of Liverpool schoolboy Rhys Jones.
The GMG Radio group head of news, James Rea, said: "By refocusing our news resource we will be able to provide more compelling and original news content for our stations with a focus on the key day parts of breakfast and drivetime."
In a statement, the group said it was refocusing its news resources "to give its stations a more original and campaigning news feel" with a "focus on providing exclusive material for key bulletins as well as news specials on the issues most relevant to our audiences"
It said The Big Story would be an "umbrella title for its news specials and campaigning journalism strand which involves news programming across some or all stations".
The changes affect 12 of GMG Radio's 13 FM stations. The only unaffected station, Rock Radio in Manchester, launched yesterday and has the two bulletins included as part of its licence agreement with Ofcom.
GMG Radio employs journalists across its stations with a 14-strong news hub at its Manchester base.
A GMG Radio spokeswoman said: "There are no planned redundancies as part of these changes. We are constantly assessing our news resource to ensure we have the right teams and support staff in place and this will continue."
GMG Radio is part of Guardian Media Group, which also publishes MediaGuardian.co.uk
This article is about a radio station who have taken away two of their 15 mins radio slots. Seeing as they won an award for their news i think it was not a wise move to take them away.
