The NUJ has promised to fight to save jobs and preserve output quality at the BBC following reports that the corporation plans to cut 1500 jobs from news and other programming over three years.

The union’s General Secretary, Jeremy Dear, said: “If the figures being circulated are accurate it represents a devastating blow to BBC news and programme making. How does the BBC believe it can maintain high standards and quality in the face of such massive self-inflicted cuts?”

“You can’t sack thousands and then ask hard working staff to take on huge amounts of extra work and still expect to maintain high standards.”

“We’ve never been opposed to change – but we will resist changes which mean the axing of thousands of jobs, extra stress and pressure on those who remain and a poorer service for viewers and listeners. We will fight to stop the job cuts and the damage being done to the BBC.”

An announcement by Mark Thompson is planned on Monday.