Cairngorms National Park Authority objects to STV local news cuts proposal
The Convener of the Cairngorms National Park Authority has written to Ofcom to object to STV’s plans to end its north of Scotland television news programmes.
The television station announced significant cuts last week including a proposal to axe its Aberdeen-based news programme which covers the north of the country.
STV is submitting the plans to communications regulator Ofcom on changes to its public service broadcast obligations.
In his letter to Ofcom, former BBC news producer Sandy Bremner says the CNPA’s board views STV's decision ‘as wholly damaging to the interests of rural Scotland’.
Mr Bremner, former managing editor for the North East and Northern Isles for the Beeb, states: "At a time of growing threats from wildfires, floods, droughts, biodiversity loss, and social challenges including an affordable housing crisis, effective scrutiny of the issues in our countryside has never been more important.
"For decades, STV and its predecessor Grampian TV provided dedicated coverage of questions critical to the welfare of the north of Scotland, affecting lives and livelihoods.
"Their programmes reflected and helped nourish the distinctive culture of this area. Their news output remains the only dedicated linear TV service for this region."
The convener raises concerns that the proposal for a single national programme from Glasgow ‘will inevitably squeeze this rural agenda’.
And he pointed out: "STV’s television news programmes remain a valued source of information for large numbers of viewers in this area, and a critical platform fuelling public debate."