The AEJ and eight other organisations have called on UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper to end uncertainty over the government’s future funding of the BBC World Service.
Current funding arrangements are due to run out at the end of March, prompting concerns about a funding “cliff-edge” for the world’s most respected international broadcaster.
In a joint letter on February 23, the AEJ, with Index on Censorship, NUJ, International Federation of Journalists, and other concerned groups, urged the foreign secretary to give swift assurances that the government will provide secure and adequate funding for the World Service.
The letter notes that rival repressive regimes which seek to “control and censor journalistic reporting” would gain advantage from any public doubts about the UK government’s firm commitment to the World Service.
