Today programme suffers ‘body blow’ as BBC prioritises social and digital content

Staff at the BBC's influential "Today" program on Radio 4 are concerned about a new directive that prioritizes content creation for social media platforms over traditional radio and television broadcasts. Insiders suggest this shift effectively downgrades the program's briefing role, a task long considered crucial for national news dissemination.

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This feels like a tweak but it’s actually a body blow.

The directive, communicated to "Today" staff last week, mandates that correspondents focus on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. This change, coupled with existing journalist cuts, has fueled fears that the program may increasingly rely on external sources, particularly for early segments. One Radio 4 insider described the move as a "body blow," arguing that "Today" has maintained its relevance through dependable, well-resourced reporting.

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Today has stayed healthy in the digital age by being well resourced and dependable … if something happens and you need to know about it – perhaps before going to work – then no other broadcaster can match it.

Critics worry that this new priority could mean "Today" receives news from key figures only after their social media content is produced. They contend that this process chips away at the program's national relevance, likening the change to "vandalism." Some staff members expressed alarm and despondency over the increased emphasis on digital and social media.

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But the plan appears to be for Today to hear from, for instance Steve Rosenberg if Putin dies, only after Steve has satisfied people who get their news on TikTok. Those 10 minutes serve to chip away the relevance of Today to the life of the nation. This is an act of vandalism pure and simple.

However, other BBC sources view the shift as a necessary adaptation to evolving audience consumption patterns, with younger demographics increasingly turning to digital platforms for news. They believe prominent BBC journalists will continue to feature on "Today," maintaining its flagship status. Yet, concerns remain that the interests of social media audiences may not align with those of Radio 4 listeners, who often include the nation's opinion formers. The program, which still commands over 5 million weekly listeners, has historically been protected from major cuts, with the main presenting roster recently reduced from five to four.

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The reality is you’ll still hear all the big beasts.