Bectu shocked at ITN news pilot lock-out

Media union Bectu has expressed its "shock" at the government's decision to dismiss the involvement of ITN in the ITV regional news replacement pilots.

Yesterday, culture secretary Ben Bradshaw confirmed winning bidders for the three independently funded news consortium (IFNC) trial schemes.

ITN joined an STV-led consortium to bid for the trial in Scotland and a Newsquest-led group competing for the English trial at Tyne Tees and Border.

However, both bids were dismissed by the selection panel and instead placed on the reserve list. The Scottish News Consortium took the trial in Scotland and the News 3 group secured the English pilot.

In response, Bectu expressed its "shock" that the involvement of ITN was not better received by the independent selection panel.

"It is unbelievable that the expertise of ITN, a quality news provider, backed by talent which has been serving the regions affected tirelessly for years, should fail to be recognised by the selection panel," said Bectu.

The union claimed that employees at all three affected regional news services will now consider what the future holds for their jobs.

"Our members in Scotland, Wales and the North of England will be deeply unsettled by today's announcement," said Bectu supervisory official David Beevers.

"It falls to Bectu, working with the NUJ, to provide support through this period and to make sure, if the proposed pilots do get off the ground, that jobs and conditions of service are protected."

However, Bectu also stated its belief that there is a "major question mark" over whether the winner bidders will ever get their trials off the ground.

The Conservatives have long opposed the IFNC trials and the union believes that the outcome of the general election will play a pivotal role in the scheme's future viability.

Last week, it emerged that new ITV chairman Archie Norman is considering a rethink of plans to drop the ITV regional news service as it is "not something to walk away from".