BBC Trust's review of Radio 5 Live finds audiences 'praise the station's strength in covering breaking news stories' but says station should do more to raise awareness of this
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A review of BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra has seen its news programming praised by audiences for its "strength in covering breaking news stories", with the BBC Trust calling on the station to "aim to raise awareness" of its news output.
As part of the service review, published by the BBC Trust today , the station's licence has been amended "to include clearer commitments for news programming".
According to findings outlined in the review, which is based on a public consultation, industry feedback and commissioned research, the BBC Trust said "audiences are more likely to associate the station" with sport than news.
The service review also added that the Trust "would like the station to ensure that all of its news programmes demonstrate a clear sense of journalistic ambition and originality" and that it expects to see spending move "more towards news" as opposed to sport, in the "coming years".
Within the review the BBC Trust also confirmed that planned reductions under the DQF programme to current affairs programming at 5 Live will not take place.
The governing body said it "is broadly content with the proposals under Delivering Quality First that affect 5 Live and Sports Extra", and "broadly" found them to be "an appropriate way for savings to be made".
This includes, according to today's report, "reducing the cost of overnight programming, using smaller teams of presenters at sports events, reducing 5 Live's team of regional journalists in England and working more closely with other parts of BBC News".
But the Trust had opposed plans to cut down current affairs programming, and has told the broadcaster it must "retain" this output.
"Although our audience research showed that 5 Live is not strongly associated with investigative journalism, many respondents in our public consultation feel that this is done well, with in-depth analysis providing listeners with informative, engaging and enjoyable programming.
"... As part of the BBC's DQF proposals, the station planned to end some current affairs programmes. We see current affairs as an important part of the news offer on 5 Live and a distinctive offer from BBC radio overall. We also think current affairs is a core part of the BBC's editorial priority of producing 'the best journalism in the world'."
The Trust confirmed that it has received agreement from BBC management on "the importance of a dedicated current affairs offer, and that this will be retained."
"In a year that has seen so many major news stories hit the headlines, it's great to see that 5 Live's approach to news coverage and breaking news really stands out for listeners," BBC trustee Alison Hastings, who is said to have led the review, added in a release .
"We've set out ways in which we think 5 Live could build on this to ensure that all of its journalism continues to meet the high standards that audiences expect.
"The station also has an unmatched reputation for sports coverage among licence fee payers. Given the BBC's unique position we think the station could do more to cover the less mainstream sports that other stations can't, and we look to the executive to decide how best to achieve this."
Last week BBC Trust chairman Lord Chris Patten called on the broadcaster to "re-think" other proposals put forward as part of its DQF programme, including cuts to local radio and the "merging" of regional current affairs programming.
