'Save Radio Foyle' emergency protest
'Unacceptable to slash jobs of local journalists amid a cost-of-living crisis' - Shaun Harkin
The Campaign to 'Save Radio Foyle' is to hold and emergency protest at the station.
The protest, which is scheduled for 1pm on Wednesday, has been organised by campaigner Davy McAuley, a life long Radio Foyle listener.
It follow's Tuesday's announcement by the BBC of the axing of the Radio Foyle Breakfast Show and hourly news bulletins and up to eight staff jobs.
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Speaking to Derry Now, Cllr Shaun Harkin said: "The announcement today of severe cuts to Radio Foyle programming is a devastating blow for journalists and their families and for people across Derry and the North West. We send our solidarity to all journalists impacted by this harmful decision.
"The announced BBC cuts will disproportionately impact Radio Foyle. The loss of programming threatens the future the viability of the station. This is no accident. It's not the first time an attempt has been made to put Radio Foyle on the chopping block. It was unacceptable then - and it's unacceptable now.
"We need local radio. We need local issues properly covered. We need local people to have a platform. Derry is the fourth largest city on the island and what happens here, and across the North West, hasn't and won't be properly covered by Radio Ulster, especially one with reduced resources.
"These proposed cuts will only deepen the impact of regional inequalities on Derry and the North West. It's unacceptable to slash the jobs of local journalists amid a cost-of-living crisis."
Cllr Harkin said it was crucial to send "a united and immediate response" that the destruction of Radio Foyle programming and the jobs of local journalists would not be accepted.
He added: "Everyone who can make it is encouraged to join the emergency protest at 1pm tomorrow at Radio Foyle.
"We refuse to accept the idea that Derry should pay for a crisis caused by the Tories and corporate profiteering. We do not accept the need for austerity when the Tories refuse to properly tax corporations posting record profits.
"We say, 'Enough is Enough. Stop the cuts. Save Radio Foyle.'"