Page 43 - 0fcom News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

In the last 15 years. what's a real shame is that l the bbc and local media have collaborated veryj effectively on the democracy initiative, - which has placed about 165 reporters in councils, and so on all over- the place to make local democracy work better. and that collaboration, unfortunately, - which i think all of us - who are independent thought was a really good way for - the bbc and local media tojoin forces at the local level — and unfortunately, this particular initiative, . which has been, obviously trailed since march 2021, i has not benefited from that kind of collaboration. - ...

Are you making, what does happen next? are you making the case to 0fcom, who potentially, of course, could stop the bbc from doing this if it wanted to? we actually think there is a case we absolutely think there is a case for 0fcom to intervene and i have to say we're disappointed by the passivity of that regulator, and we think they left the door open in 2019 when they let the bbc expand substantially into scotland by starting up a dedicated scottish channel. i think the bbc now employs more newsjournalists in scotland than any other media organisation. thatjust seems unbalanced to me. we ho...

And so on all over- the place to make local democracy work better. and that collaboration, unfortunately — - which i think all of us - who are independent thought was a really good way for - the bbc and local media tojoin forces at the local level — and unfortunately, this particular initiative, . which has been, obviously trailed since march 2021, i has not benefited from that kind of collaboration. - and the dispute has rolled on. 0fcom has not gotten involved. yes, i was going to ask, just interrupt for a second to ask henry. you know, briefly, are you making... what does happen next? a...

Up a dedicated scottish channel. i think the bbc now employs more newsjournalists in scotland than any other media organisation. thatjust seems unbalanced to me. we hope that 0fcom will awake from its slumber and do something about this. 0k, thank you, both. i want to turn back as we're coming towards the end of the programme, to the world cup in qatar and kind of assessments of it as a media event. i mean, beth fisher, clearly you're not going despite being a journalist who presumably would have gone in if it was somewhere else. are you planning, for example, to write or cover it in a differe...

That we _ body, we need to make sure the offer that we make is balanced notjust for our— that we make is balanced notjust for our staff but also for the tax—payer. if for our staff but also for the tax-pawn— for our staff but also for the tax-a er. ~ .,�* , tax-payer. if the rmt don't accept this, can scotrail— tax-payer. if the rmt don't accept this, can scotrail offer _ tax-payer. if the rmt don't accept this, can scotrail offer more - tax-payer. if the rmt don't accept this, can scotrail offer more or. this, can scotrail offer more or what do you think is going to happen over the ...