All areas of BBC News will be affected by cuts, staff told

All areas of BBC News will be affected by cuts, as the corporation looks to slash 2,000 jobs, staff have been told.

Employees have been told to brace for the “tough task” of reducing costs “significantly”.

In an email to staff seen by the Press Association, interim chief executive of BBC News and current affairs Jonathan Munro said: “I want to be clear – I expect that the scale of this change will mean that all areas of BBC News are affected in one way or another.

“We are working through the details of how we will achieve that saving and aim to share more in June. But it’s likely that any announcements then will be part, not all, of the changes we will need to make.”

He added that staff will be able to express interest in voluntary redundancy.

One employee told PA: “Everyone is frustrated that we have to wait to find out exactly who will be affected – it feels like we are in limbo at the moment.”

Staff have also been told they should limit spending on travel, conferences, events and awards, and recruitment will only take place when roles are absolutely essential.

The email follows news on Wednesday that the BBC is to cut 2,000 jobs as it tries to reduce costs by 10% over the next three years.

Reports of the job losses were reported by newspapers before BBC staff were told, which caused “concern” inside Broadcasting House, the employee told PA.

On an all-staff call, interim director-general Rhodri Talfan Davis told staff he did not know how the news leaked and was also concerned about it.

The cuts, which mark the biggest round of BBC job cuts in almost 15 years, are being set in motion as former Google boss Matt Brittin prepares to take over as director-general next month.

The staff member added: “It feels like it’s being rushed in before the new DG starts, but it leaves us all fearing for our jobs.”

Earlier on Thursday, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said the cuts had a “very strong effect” on staff and are a real concern across the country.

She told the Commons: “Colleagues will know that yesterday, the BBC interim director-general announced that there will be significant cuts to staffing, which I know have had a very, very strong effect on the staff themselves and are of real concern to people out in the country.”

The corporation also recently revealed plans to drastically reduce the team behind the coverage of national occasions, such as royal events and state funerals to one member of staff and freelancers.