SNP DEMAND ACTION AS STV ANNOUNCE PLANS TO AXE NORTH OF SCOTLAND NEWS

SNP MPs and MSPs from Aberdeen have written to STV Chief Executive, Rufus Radcliffe, to demand STV reverse a woeful decision to axe the North of Scotland news programme and replace it with a single Glasgow based operation. 

The move will see STV cut 60 jobs as the broadcaster seeks £2.5m of savings by next year, with NUJ Organiser for Scotland Nick McGowan-Lowe stating that "these proposed cuts threaten the high quality of local and national journalism produced by STV News staff across Scotland."

The letter from the Aberdeen based MPs and MSPs said in full: 

Dear Rufus Radcliffe,

We write to you regarding reports that STV is to axe it’s North of Scotland news programme and replace it with a single Glasgow based operation. 

This woeful decision will cost jobs to the detriment of coverage in such an important part of the country. 

A single city in the central belt is not Scotland and this decision fails communities not just in Aberdeen and the North East, but across Scotland where a regional news output, local journalism and accessible studios have served each corner of the country well and have done for decades. 

At a time when our energy sector takes such prominence in the public debate and in the lives of people both in the industry and outwith, this senseless cost cutting measure could not be more disastrous to your news output. 

There is a deeply held affection for STV across communities in the North East exactly for that longstanding commitment to Aberdeen and our corner of the world. Make no mistake, that will be lost if this decision is to come to fruition.

All of us have worked with your first-class journalists and broadcasters, we have dropped into the studio with ease to give interviews and we have watched on our screens the benefit to the public that a regional focus and commitment has. 

It is imperative that you meet with us as soon as possible in Aberdeen, reverse this decision and protect the North of Scotland news programme.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

Audrey Nicoll MSP

Kevin Stewart MSP

Jackie Dunbar MSP

Rt Hon Stephen Flynn MP

Kirsty Blackman MP