Matt Brittin, the BBC\u2019s new director general, has warned staff that \u201ctough choices are unavoidable\u201d under his tenure, as his first day coincided with a strike by a group of the corporation\u2019s journalists.<\/p>\n
Brittin, formerly Google\u2019s most senior executive in Europe<\/a>, arrived at the corporation\u2019s New Broadcasting House while a group of journalists from the World Service\u2019s Newshour and Radio 4\u2019s The World Tonight were picketing in response to a plan to increase their workloads.<\/p>\n The action, which relates to a dispute over shift patterns that has been rumbling on for months, is one of a series of planned strikes by the staff. They say morale is \u201cin the red\u201d.<\/p>\n It is being seen by some insiders as a sign of the obstacles Brittin will face as he attempts to implement sweeping cuts right across the corporation<\/a> that aim to save hundreds of millions.<\/p>\n Brittin, who will address staff on Tuesday, has been spending the last few weeks visiting various parts of the BBC<\/a>. Insiders say he has shown particular interest in the costs of production as he begins the task of finding budget cuts of 10%.<\/p>\n Matt Brittin arrived for his first day at Broadcasting House as staff staged a picket. Photograph: Chris J Ratcliffe\/Reuters<\/p>\n In a message to staff, Brittin \u2013 who replaces Tim Davie \u2013 said his visits had \u201cunderlined just what an extraordinary, priceless asset the BBC is for all of us\u201d.<\/p>\n However, he also suggested he would push for the BBC to make some dramatic changes in how it delivers its programming as digital platforms such as YouTube and TikTok become more prominent.<\/p>\n \u201cThe BBC has proved throughout its history how quickly it can reinvent itself to serve the needs of audiences \u2013 from restructuring for World War II to repurposing during Covid to spinning up services in conflict zones,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need, collectively, to call on that sense of urgency now. That means moving with velocity and clarity.<\/p>\n \u201cExcellence at the BBC has always been founded on great, creative storytelling and brilliant, independent journalism. Today it also means making sure we get the right stories in the right formats on the right platforms.\u201d<\/p>\n He added: \u201cI know change will not be easy. Tough choices are unavoidable as we make savings. We should ask ourselves, honestly: if we were inventing the BBC today, what would we do? Then respond with clarity, pace and purpose.\u201d<\/p>\n BBC staff members take part in a NUJ picket line strike on Monday at Broadcasting House in London. Photograph: Chris J Ratcliffe\/Reuters<\/p>\n The strike by Newshour and The World Tonight journalists predates the plan for cuts and affects more than 30 workers. Staff from Newshour say they were presented with plans to add 26 extra slightly shortened shifts to their workloads.<\/p>\n A modified plan was also comprehensively rejected in a union vote. Staff on the World Tonight were also presented with extra shifts. They say the changes will put already stretched staff under greater strain and risk damaging the programmes as teams are spread more thinly.<\/p>\n