BBC World Service rocked headlines when it announced in January that it would be making major cuts to save money after a budget cut from the government. A cross-party of MPs is now asking that the budget cut decision be reversed in order to save the news organization's reputation, according to the Guardian.

The House of Common's Foreign Affairs Committee released a report today, April 13, entitled "The Implications of Cuts to the BBC World Service," reported Journalism.co.uk. It contains 37 pages of written testimonials on the importance of the service from former BBC correspondents. The document is available in pdf form here.

The committee's chair Richard Ottaway said, "The value of the World Service in promoting the UK across the globe, by providing a widely respected and trusted news service, far outweighs its relatively small cost."

Cuts reported in January included five language service closures; closures of radio programs in seven languages, focusing the services online and through other media instead; and a phased reduction of the distribution of most short wave and medium wave radio services. An estimated 30 million of the service's 180 million audience members would be lost with the cuts, and 480 people would lose their jobs (although the Guardian estimated an even higher number of 650 jobs).

Many of the correspondents who provided written evidence for the report mentioned the service's prestige and importance for the UK and the world. John Rowlett wrote, "The World Service is an organisation that brings much prestige to the United Kingdom, and once lost will be difficult to recover. Its expertise and unbiased journalism are held in high esteem both abroad and at home."

Jacqueline Stainburn wrote, "The World Service radio continues to provide a lifeline to people in times of crisis. Recent examples include the disasters in Pakistan and Haiti. By cutting services, the BBC will lose the ability to control broadcasting in times of emergencies."

The National Union of Journalists voiced its support of the report. General secretary Jeremy Dear said, "The damaging service closures already implemented must be reversed immediately to protect the World Service as a source of information for people across the world, described by former UN secretary general Kofi Annan as 'perhaps Britain's greatest gift to the world...

"The attempt to cut the BBC World Service has inspired a level of international protest which echoes everything that BBC journalists have said about their concern for the service they provide."

In response to the report, BBC said, "It is of course for the government and parliament to decide on the priorities for public spending.

"If, in the light of the FAC report, the government is prepared to re-open aspects of the spending review settlement the BBC will be pleased to engage with them constructively.

"We look forward to the Government's response to the committee's recommendations."

Sources: BBC News, the Guardian, IRNA, Journalism.co.uk, National Union of Journalists