UNDER-THREAT journalists at BBC Oxford have been given fresh hope by the corporation’s director general Mark Thompson.

Speaking before the House of Commons public accounts committee, the BBC boss, pictured right, acknowledged the public support for regional radio stations and said he didn’t “want to preside over the decline of local radio”.

Media industry pundits have interpreted this as a hint that a U-turn over cuts to BBC Oxford could be on the way, despite a BBC announcement that 2,000 jobs are at threat throughout the corporation as it tries to make savings of £670m.

Oxford and District NUJ branch secretary Anna Wagstaff said she believed five jobs were at risk at the radio station, with a further five roles in TV also under threat.

She said: “I think this shows that Mark Thompson has recognised that people value local radio.

“Clearly this message has got through. It is something we’ve been saying for a long time. Local radio is so much the heart of a national broadcasting service. It’s not just local news – local radio is where the community gets to hear its own voice on all sorts of things.”

She added: “The nation has made its feelings known to Mark Thompson, but let’s see what happens.”

The BBC trust’s public consultation over the findings of its ‘Delivering Quality First’ cost-saving plan and consultation on BBC local radio will both end on December 21.