Al Jazeera English will be closing its live broadcast centre operating from London’s Shard skyscraper, and will be relocating its programming to Qatar. This could result in the loss of “dozens of UK-based jobs,” the Guardian reported.
As per an email sent to staff from the network’s managing director Giles Trendle, Al Jazeera was “looking to undertake a restructure involving the move of AJE live programming to Doha. The move would include the news bulletins between 1900GMT and 2300GMT produced from London, and The Stream programme produced from Washington DC.”
Staff producing this live output will be given the “opportunity to relocate to Doha,” Trendle said.
The London office staff had received a 9 percent pay rise at the of 2022, after they threatened to go on strike ahead of the Qatar World Cup.
According to the Guardian, the National Union of Journalists balloted 40 Al Jazeera English journalists over strike action in September, and around 30 technical staff working for the channel are represented by the Bectu trade union.
‘Nearly 40 jobs at risk’ during Qatar move
The report said that nearly 40 jobs are at “thought to be at risk,” with production of talkshows and documentaries being continued to London after the move.
Although the live broadcast centre will close, it is not expected to affect UK correspondents and camera crew, who report on British news. Moreover, the Shard newsroom will remain open.
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