By sally edgar

Last updated at 22:50, Wednesday, 19 March 2008

ITV’s regional news programme Lookaround faces closure in an attempt to save money for the TV network. This makes my blood boil. It is a disgrace that a regional station that boasts some of the best viewing figures in the country should be discarded to cut costs.

The television network claims that Lookaround’s existence “no longer makes sense”. How can this be when the station continues to produce high ratings, reporting news from Cumbria, south west Scotland and the Isle of Man?

ITV have decided to combine Border’s news operation with Tyne Tees, which will reduce our region’s news coverage by approximately two thirds. Our 30- minute Lookaround programme will be cut to a few minutes, while reporters focus on the North East, where the station will be based.

With our communities under-represented on the television, the people of Cumbria will lose their voice and sink into the background.

We will no longer be provided with personal news that is relevant to us. Our region has been at the centre of massive news stories such as the Carlisle floods and the foot and mouth outbreak of 2001. Yet now we will be practically off the news map. A sense of community is priceless and must be preserved.

After insisting that the move to Tyne Tees will provide them with “greater value for money”, ITV obviously have little concern for community spirit.

The leader of the National Union of Journalists at Border, Adam Powell, says that it is “a profitable business and the cheapest ITV region to run”, therefore their actions seem even more bizarre and unnecessary.

I am so impressed by the staff at ITV Border for putting up a fight. It’s incredible the amount of support they have received. They are determined to save the station and keep Lookaround alive for our community.

I hope that the thousands of names opposing the move will be successful.

Please visit www.savelookaround.co.uk and www.newsandstar.co.uk/border to sign the petitions and help save our regional news.

•  Sally Edgar, 22, of Stanwix, gained a BA (Hons) in English literature and theatre studies at Lancaster University.

First published at 09:09, Saturday, 09 February 2008
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk