As well as the 26,000 of us who’ve signed the 38 Degrees petition against BBC cuts, lots of other groups and individuals have been speaking up this week.  We’ve been reaching out to lots of them today to find out how we can best co-ordinate our efforts for maximum impact.  There are lots of exciting things in the pipeline!

Ammo Talwar, Director of Punch, the Birmingham-based music development agency has been a prominent voice defending the value of the BBC Asian Network this week.  Here’s a guest piece from him.

Ammo Talwar MBE, Director of Punch

The BBC Asian Network – Ten Reasons Why It Works

1.    It’s exactly the right size. The BBC Asian Network is neither a cartel nor a community radio station. It’s big enough to reach the largest possible UK audience for Asian music, but not so big that competition can’t thrive beside it. As it is, the network can robustly deliver on the BBC’s Charter yet be flexible enough to scale its services professionally as resources wax and wane.

2.    It brings you the world. The BBC Asian Network showcases the best in emerging music and culture from young British Asians. It’s the only place to hear contemporary Asian sounds alongside new and important music from across the UK and the world. The station’s unique approach puts Asian music in a British context, connecting listeners beyond their community.

3.    It’s the best match of format and content. The structure and output of the BBC Asian Network has been developed and refined over more than a decade. It is a true network, grown from community roots by professional expertise. It continues to develop to meet public expectations. No brand or station created adhoc could better serve its listeners’ needs.

4.     It stands for every flavour of Asian music. As a service, the BBC Asian Network is unique in representing music culture from across the whole of the Asian diaspora. The station’s output is genuinely accessible to all, reaching out beyond borders, faith and language groups, yet always sensitive to cultural preferences and divisive local issues.

5.    It’s the flagship for British Asian media. The BBC Asian Network sprang from the energy and enterprise of British Asians who have been active in the UK media industry since the 1980s. Their spririt helps drive employment and expertise at home and generates overseas interest in the UK. The BBC Asian Network is the credible public gateway to this world.

6.    It’s what the BBC stands for. Beyond fulfilling the letter of the BBC’s Charter, the Asian Network is authentic to its spirit. The station defines its UK Asian audience as an active British community, linking Asian interests with the whole. It’s where British news, sport, soaps and stars become ‘desi’.

7.    It’s the UK’s gateway to Asia. The output of the BBC Asian Network is unique. The new music it plays distils the breadth and dynamism of British popular culture and the UK Asian experience. Britain is the birthplace of the ‘desi’ sound, and the BBC Asian Network is where Asia tunes in to it.

8.     It’s the Radio One of Asian Music. The BBC Asian Network reaches an audience that transcends its target demographic. Thousands of listeners from across all the UK’s communities tune in, and all are made welcome. Professional. contemporary and accessible, the BBC Asian Network works for everyone.

9.    It has the technology right. The BBC Asian Network uses the best delivery methods for its uniquely diverse audience demographic. It helps some communities to learn to let go of medium wave, while serving others through digital, web or iPlayer. No other station can meet the diverse needs and habits of the nation’s Asian community.

10.    It makes new music happen. With live artist recording sessions and a presence at niche music events across the country, the BBC Asian Network is instrumental in getting new music and new artists recorded. By broadcasting and promoting the UK’s Melas helps makes them popular and accessible to all.

Over the last 48 hours over 10,000 38 Degrees members have taken action to stand up for the BBC.  Thousands of people have written in telling us their story, below are some of the recent comments, see the latest comments and sign the petition here.

“The BBC is a great national Institution, with a great international reputation for quality that is second to none. Put people first, not profit. Don’t wreck the BBC.“ Greg

“The BBC is one of the few things we have left to be proud about – lets keep it that way.“ Jim

“dont you dare!!! you will regret this action.” Geoff

“6 music is the only radio station available without ads, and with dj’s with great, varied taste in music. I just can’t imagine work without it. Please keep it going. X” Clare

“DO NOT CUT 6MUSIC! BIG MISTAKE!” Ben

“Save Public Broadcasting!” Nicholas

“Whoever is responsible for this ludicrous decision has single handedly lost the BBC every ounce of credibility it ever had.” Michael

“Radio 6 would have a huge audience if it was available on FM. Where I live you cannot access digital radio except through the TV – and I can hardly carry that round the house and garden with me. Neither can most people access it in the car where many of us listen to the radio. How about cutting the hugely expensive building programme and the excessive salaries paid to BBC executives and so-called celebrities instead?” Carol

“The BBC is one of the few things the uk has going for her. Don’t give in to corrupt bullies like Murdoch.” Joe

“I don’t care whether other corporations don’t like. The BBC is OURS, and we want it to be as broad and expansive as possible. Who says there needs to be fair competition in the media? It’s our airwaves, and frankly from the mess that has been made in the USA of television, and especially news, the only thing that is stopping news, and therefore politics, going the same way as the USA is BBC, by setting a bar high enough that the others must stay close to. If you neuter the BBC, it’s a race to the bottom, and the entire tone of political discourse in the UK will go down the toilet, taking with the newspapers, talk radio, everything. It is precisely through the lack of “fair” but essential competition that the BBC introduces that keeps the UK from degenerating into an ill-educated backwater. If you think that the educated, sharp, witty qualities are inherent in the culture, try removing the BBC from its omnipresent position and watch the erosion take hold, and twenty years from now you’ll be crying on your knees over the worst decision to befall our nation since TV became ubiquitous”. Alan

“ The BBC serves the people. Corporate media barons do not.” Jane

“6 Music is part of my everyday life, it would be a huge mistake to axe it. It would be a better decision to get rid of Radio 1. There are plenty of commercial radio stations around just like it. Nothing could replace 6 Music!” Scott

“Murdoch et al have only commercial interest in media, the lowest comon denominator is that which sells not what is of quality. The BBC is a cultual gem that we should not lose. Thhe BBC is cheap,malmost evetyone in the UK uses it and gets value for money. Can you imagine FOX news here?” Lance

“I really hope this is a publicity stunt as shutting down 6music would be a huge loss to the British music industry.” Thomas

“please don’t cut radio 6. It is by far the best radio station around and has become a big part in my daily routiene!!! X” Maeve

“It is Rupert Murdoch that needs cutting down to size.Not the BBC” Peter

“The BBC is a national treasure. Don’t let politicians or commercial interests dumb it down or restrict it.” Steve

Why do you think we should save the BBC from harsh cuts. Let us know in the comments.

The BBC has just announced plans for “halve web output, axe two digital radio stations and slash spending on foreign shows”. Thousands of 38 Degrees members are taking action right now to fight these cuts. Please join in. You canf orward the email below, which we sent out to all 38 Degrees members, this morning:

Today, the BBC is expected to propose making massive cuts to its service, including closing two radio stations and halving the size of its web site. Commercial rivals have been lobbying hard for the BBC to be cut, and it’s on the brink of giving in to the pressure.  According to The Times, the proposal is a bid to “shrink” in order to “appease the BBC’s rivals.” [1]

The BBC has many enemies among its corporate rivals. But public pressure has saved it before, and can save it again.

We’ll be delivering our petition against the cuts to the BBC Trust later this week – please add your voice now:
http://38degrees.org.uk/stop-the-BBC-cuts

The BBC isn’t perfect, but the people pushing for these cuts want to destroy it, not to improve it.  The Times, owned by media baron Rupert Murdoch, responded to news of the cuts by describing the BBC as “bloated”, and calling for further cuts such as closing Radio 1. Last autumn, his son James Murdoch gave a speech calling for the BBC to be forced to become “far, far smaller”. [2]

We know that if we work together, we can shift decisions about the media for the better. Last November, thousands of us came together to email our MPs and stopped plans to hand commercial rivals a slice of the BBC’s license fee.  Just a couple of weeks ago thousands together to persuaded The Independent not to hire Rod Liddle as editor.  Now we need to do the same again to prevent deep cuts to the BBC’s service.

Help make sure our petition to the BBC Trust is huge, please sign now then spread the word: http://38degrees.org.uk/stop-the-BBC-cuts

Thanks for getting involved,

David, Hannah, Johnny, Nina and the 38 Degrees team

PS: Public outcry to these cuts is springing up across the web. We’ll make sure our petition gets in front of the right people at the right time – please spread the word and encourage people to sign the petition here: http://38degrees.org.uk/stop-the-BBC-cuts

Since 38 Degrees launched in early June we’ve achieved a huge amount together. We’re building a people-powered movement for real change in the UK. From demanding new laws to make MPs answer to us and flooding Parliament with emails about climate change to defending valued public services and calling for the Iraq inquiry be held in public, we’ve made our voices heard.

In just 6 months 60,000 of us have taken action 177,695 times. Across the UK we’ve been signing petitions, calling decision makers and inviting our friends to get involved.

Bankers: take responsibility
We were outraged to see bankers awarding themselves massive bonuses just after the government had to bail them out with our money. When plans to put a 50% tax on bankers bonuses leaked out, bankers went into overdrive trying to force government to back down. We stepped up to outweigh the banks’ pressure – in just 48 hours, thousands of us pressed the Chancellor to stand up to the banks’ lobbyists. People power worked: Alistair Darling stood up to the bankers and imposed the tax.

Tackling poverty, sticking up for public services
We’ve worked together to make sure the recession doesn’t hit poor families hardest. Together we helped convince the government to extend free school meals to protect an extra 50,000 children from poverty – in the words of the End Child Poverty Coalition this was “a major achievement….and could not have been done without 38 Degrees“.

We also took action to protect public services, defend the NHS from unfair criticism from a Conservative MEP and stand up for the BBC against attacks from James Murdoch. Our campaign against top-slicing the licence fee ended with a big success, with the government shelving the idea until at least 2012.

Cleaning up Parliament
The expenses scandal showed us the urgent need to make sure MPs really answer to us. Together, we’ve pushed for a recall law to give voters who have lost trust in their MPs the right to call a fresh vote. It’s great to see party leaders, and even the Prime Minister, slowly coming round to a recall law – but we’ve got a long way to go. Cleaning up Parliament is a big task and we’ll need to continue working hard both to make recall a reality and to force politicians to reveal their links to lobbyists.

Speaking up for Human Rights and Civil Liberties
We helped to convince Peter Mandelson to scale back his plans to disconnect millions of suspected internet file-sharers. We also worked with Tripping up Trump in Aberdeenshire, to oppose Donald Trump’s plans to evict families to make way for his golf course. We’ll continue to work with Tripping Up Trump in 2010. In the meantime, an 85 year old woman named Molly Forbes has begun legal proceedings to defend her home from the threat of compulsory purchase. You can show your support by sending her a Christmas card, addressed to – Molly Forbes, Paradise, Mill of Menie, Menie, Aberdeenshire, AB23 8YE.

Climate, Copenhagen 10:10, Quizzing the Minister
Our campaigning on climate change got the government’s attention. In October over 10,000 of us contacted our MPs in just 48 hours to ask Parliament to reduce its own emissions by 10% next year. This month, 38 Degrees members quizzed Ed Miliband (Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change) in the first-ever public conference call with a Cabinet minister.

A growing team
It’s been a busy few months for our small staff team – David, Hannah, Johnny and Nina. None of our campaigning would have been possible without the help of our volunteers who have worked tirelessly to build and support our campaigns. Thank you Alex, Ashley, Katy, Laura, Louise, Ross, Toby, Tom, and Tosin.

What’s next?
In 2010, it will be more important than ever to keep taking action together. The general election is looming, we’re still in recession, unemployment is climbing and politicians are talking of drastic public service cuts. We’ll be working hard to make sure Blair gets a grilling at the Iraq inquiry, we’ll turn up the pressure for tough action on climate change and will be running local campaigns, like our campaign to make sure Boris Johnson keeps his promise on delivering four rape crisis centres in London.

In the New Year we’ll need to decide together what 38 Degrees should do in the run up to the election. Before that, you can tell us what you think here on our blog.

You are what makes our movement grow. Please keep on telling your friends, family and colleagues about 38 Degrees through Facebook, Twitter and email.

Thanks for being involved,

David, Johnny, Hannah, Nina, Warren and the 38 Degrees team

Have you noticed that the BBC seems to be under an almost constant attack from all sides?

The steady and sustained chipping away of this great national institution continues apace. A recent report by Frank Field MP and David Rees called ‘Auntie’s Dying: Long Live Public Service Broadcasting’ made a series of criticisms, hot on the heels of the Government’s Digital Britain report, which has suggested ‘top-slicing’ the license fee to provide ‘news in the Nations, locally and in the regions’ in addition to the BBC.

But why the vilification? Is it justified?

Other media outlets are undeniably feeling the strain of the financial crisis and with the advent of digital all broadcasters, including the BBC have to adapt to a much-changed broadcasting arena.

The barrage of attacks on the BBC, from accusations of partiality to expenses to presenters’ fees to the naming of Blue Peter’s cat often tell us more about the accusers’ agenda than the quality of the BBC.

Any organisation being funded by public funds like the BBC needs to be carefully scrutinized, but the BBC is an internationally recognized public service broadcaster, with the largest broadcast news-gathering operation worldwide, and the quality and innovation that the BBC continues to produce is often forgotten.

Many of the BBC’s main accusers are also their main competition or have their own political agendas to push.

But we think there are many reasons to celebrate the BBC and thinks its time to show our support – below are our starters for 10 on why we think the BBC is great …

1. Value for money – Radio, TV, Web, all for just £142.50 a year all in compared to the satellite packages that can cost more than twice as much.

2. The World Service has over 150m listeners every week. There are correspondents nearly every country worldwide, with 44 news-gathering bureaus globally. Terry Waite credited the world Service with keeping him in touch with the world outside when he was held hostage for 5 years: ‘I listened to the BBC World Service constantly and I was enormously grateful, particularly for the fact that at the time they were broadcasting virtually 24 hours-a-day to the Middle East.’

3. Bagpuss, Grange Hill, Byker Grove – the best children’s TV is all from the BBC.

4. Dr Who: no other channel in the country offers family viewing that can match it and it’s the longest running science-fiction show in the world, according to the Guinness Book of Records.

5. BBC News: impartial, comprehensive and restrained. In a typical week the BBC News has 10 to 15 million people viewing each of their major bulletins.

6. Local radio: with over 40 local radio stations, wherever you are in the UK there’s a station for you.

7. Blackadder, The Office, Alan Partridge, Only Fools and Horses, Fawlty Towers, Monty Python, The Day Today and the list goes on and on. British comedy on the BBC that makes people laugh the world over.

8. One of the world’s most visited website in the world – providing news, blogs, video, radio. Where you can access news that is updated every minute of the day.

9. The only TV without commercial advertising, so it only serves the interests of its viewers, not advertisers.

10. The iPlayer – a nifty device that showed everyone else how TV On Demand should be done, another example of the BBC’s technical innovations.

Let us know what you think – what else should have been in our Top 10?