Key Facts

The BBC News division was combined with the BBC English Regions in April 2009 to produce local, regional and network news on television, radio and online.

It is responsible for flagship programmes like Today, Newsnight, Question Time and Panorama as well as the 6.30 regional television News programmes, the BBC News website, the BBC News Channel, BBC Parliament, Radio 5Live and news on local and national radio.

It also produces the news for the BBC World Service and BBC World News. These services are funded by commercial income and Foreign Office grants respectively, not by the licence fee.

6000 people work for BBC News and the English Regions. They include journalists like John Simpson, Robert Peston, Nick Robinson, Stephanie Flanders and Andrew Marr.

Its newsgathering teams operate across the world from more than 40 bureaux including those in Iraq, Afghanistan and Jerusalem, and seven in the UK and Ireland.

All BBC journalism strives to be impartial, accurate and independent – as required by the BBC's Royal Charter.

The Director of News is Helen Boaden and Stephen Mitchell is Deputy Director.

History

The BBC's first radio news bulletin was broadcast on 14 November 1922.

The first television news bulletin was broadcast on 5 July 1954.

The BBC News channel, launched in 1997 as BBC News 24 but was re-named in 2008. The BBC News Website also launched in November 1997.

More about The history of BBC News.

Multi-media newsroom

The multi-media newsroom, programmes and newsgathering departments were announced in 2007, and went live in April 2008.

The multi-media newsroom brings together elements of News to produce a department where journalistic excellence can flourish and where the quality people expect of the BBC on all its platforms can be maintained.

It helps ensure that BBC News meets the challenges of an on-demand world.

The Head of the Newsroom is Mary Hockaday.

Multi-media programmes

The multi-media programmes department brings together all the major daily and weekly current affairs brands, investigative journalism and major interview programmes including Panorama, Today and Newsnight.

The department is a journalistic powerhouse for the kind of original journalism which distinguishes the BBC from all its competitors.

Interviews and original journalism are shared across news adding real value for audiences by bringing exceptional expertise together to find and break more news stories.

Stephen Mitchell is Head of the Programmes department.

Multi-media newsgathering

BBC News newsgathering is equipped to serve both the newsroom and the new programmes department.

It maintains a bureaux presence whilst maximising impact for audiences by fully integrating specialist reporters with their News Interactive colleagues.

Fran Unsworth is Head of Newsgathering.

The BBC News channel won the Royal Television Society Channel of the Year award in 2006.

It aims to deliver news and analysis all day, every day.

Launched in 1997 the BBC News channel provides fast, comprehensive coverage of events as they unfold – locally, nationally and internationally.

BBC Parliament is the only UK channel dedicated to the coverage of politics. In 2008, the channel celebrated its 10th anniversary.

It broadcasts selected debates and committees from Westminster, and programmes that explore the politics behind the debates as well as historic programming from the BBC archive.

The channel is watched by more than a million viewers every month and is available on all digital TV platforms.

The music on all BBC television news programmes was composed by David Lowe, and introduced in 1999.

BBC News website

The BBC News website is the most popular news website in the UK.

It contains local, national and international news coverage, as well as political, sport, entertainment, business, education, health, technology and science/nature news.

The BBC News Website won the Online News Association's internet award for breaking news, for its coverage of the November 2008 Mumbai attacks, in October 2009.

Certain BBC television and radio news and current affairs programmes are available to listen or watch again online and on BBC iPlayer.

Steve Herrmann is Editor, BBC News website.

Audiences

Three quarters of the UK population use our news services each week, including 34 million adults who watch our weekday television news, 25 million individuals who listen on the radio, and 10 million who go online.

BBC News flagship programmes and bulletins

BBC Breakfast
The BBC's morning news programme on BBC One and BBC News channel, presented by Bill Turnbull and Sian Williams.

Broadcasting House
A weekly current affairs programme on BBC Radio 4 presented by Paddy O'Connell.

Click
BBC TV's flagship technology lifestyle programme on the BBC News channel.

The Daily Politics
A look at the stories behind the stories, on BBC Two when Parliament is in session.

File On 4
Radio 4's flagship investigative series.

HARDtalk
A daily current affairs interview programme on the BBC News Channel and BBC World News.

Newsnight
BBC Two's late night news and current affairs programme, presented by Jeremy Paxman, Kirsty Wark, Gavin Esler and Emily Maitlis.

Newswatch
Represents viewers to get answers to their criticisms of BBC News. Broadcasts on the BBC News channel.

BBC News At One
A round-up on national and international news, presented by Sophie Raworth on BBC One and the BBC News channel.

Panorama
The longest-running investigative television programme in the world, on BBC One.

PM
Radio 4's evening look at the day's events, presented by Eddie Mair and Carolyn Quinn.

Politics Show
Reports and interviews on politics, on BBC One.

Question Time
British voters quiz top decision-makers on the events of the day, on BBC One.

BBC News At Six
A round-up on national and international news, presented by George Alagiah on BBC One and the BBC News channel.

The Andrew Marr Show
BBC One's flagship political programme, presented by Andrew Marr.

BBC News At Ten
A round-up on national and international news, presented by Huw Edwards, on BBC One and the BBC News Channel.

This World
International documentaries on BBC Two.

The Today Programme
Radio 4's flagship news and current affairs programme, presented by John Humphrys, Sarah Montague, James Naughtie, Justin Webb and Evan Davis.

Working Lunch
A daily taste of the latest developments in business and personal finance, on BBC Two.

The World
BBC Four's daily news bulletin focussed on international news, presented by Lyse Doucet.

The World At One
Radio 4's leading political programme, presented by Eddie Mair.

World Tonight
Analysis of the day's national and international stories, on Radio 4.