Fears have been raised that the BBC is planning to axe its Black and Asian local radio shows despite committing to providing diverse content.
Staff including presenter Ed Adoo - host of BBC Three Counties radio, are claimed to have said they do not feel that the broadcaster values black audiences.
BBC bosses announced the plans to make job cuts on local BBC radio stations in England as part of what is being described as the “biggest changes” to local radio according to The Voice Online.
However the media outlet reports that black staff working at the corporation say they fear that African Caribbean, and Asian shows will disappear.
Speaking to The Voice Ed Adoo shared how he felt the BBC had “ fallen short ” of its “diversity mantra.”
He said: “I’ve always trusted the BBC to deliver for local audiences, in particular to the listeners of the African Caribbean and Asian shows.
“However I feel the BBC has really fallen short of its mantra on diversity. These shows are the only platform for Black and Asian communities on BBC Local Radio.”
The presenter went on to highlight how the BBC is funded for by TV licence payers and that they “had a right to a voice.”
Edward claimed that a meeting was held with staff were they were told of the planned changes and that staff had expressed their concerns about the move.
In March 2010, the BBC announced plans to scrap its Asian Network as a national service.
However, British Asians signed a letter to the Guardian calling for the network to be saved.
That following year in 2011, the corporation U-turned on their decision.
In 2019 the BBC proposed to axe its Dotun on Sunday programme hosted by Dotun Adebayo - the only black political talk show on radio or television in the UK.
This sparked a petition by the campaign groups BAME Lawyers 4 Justice and BARACK UK.
It called for the presenter's Sunday night show to be reinstated and for the BBC to increase its diversity broadcasting for London’s black communities.
The BBC then made another U-turn announcing that Dotun on Sunday would remain.
But now it appears that fresh attempts are being made as plans are underway to share programmes and slash jobs on local stations.
Although it appears that not only are there concerns for waning diverse content, but there are also worries around diversity in recruitment.
In a 2021 report from The Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity, it showed that only 6 percent of the BBC’s Radio News senior leadership across the UK were people of colour.
With only 8 percent across its entire News and Current Affairs division.
In a statement given to The Voice the BBC insisted it was "committed to reflecting all communities in our output" and would "look at each programme on a case-by-case basis".
The statement also said: “We’re investing more in audio commissioning for community programmes, in particular, so the voices and programmes our audiences love and feel deeply connected to will be available to a wider audience on BBC Sounds.
““More broadly the BBC remains committed to reflecting and representing the diverse audiences it serves both on and off-air.
"Latest figures show more Black, Asian and ethnic minority staff are joining the BBC, than leaving, as published in the BBC’s Equality Information Report.”
In an additional statement to the Mirror, a BBC spokesperson said: "It is incorrect to report that we are ending all of our black and Asian community programmes.
"We have outlined proposals for our weekend and afternoon schedules and are currently consulting with staff about this. We hold ourselves to the highest standards when it comes to representation of all backgrounds and diversity is a priority for us."
