Sveriges Radio chief deeply concerned by BBC cutbacks

The British public service broadcaster has great importance even outside the UK, she tells Kulturnytt on Sveriges Radio.

"I am incredibly concerned about what democratic developments look like in the world, and the BBC plays an incredibly important role there as perhaps the only actor in some countries that is trying to stand up for free and independent journalism," says Benkö, who is also vice-chairman of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the organization of European public service broadcasters.

This spring, the BBC announced that it would have to lay off every tenth employee and save around SEK 6.2 billion over the next two years. 2,000 jobs are at risk.