Sir, - The proposed cost cutting in the BBC World Service is to be challenged because it ultimately threatens the quality of a broadcasting service which functions 24 hours a day in English and in 43 other languages. From a personal viewpoint, I find the World Service an access point to a diverse variety of voices and programming.
In a world where the information which we receive through the mass media is increasingly homogenised, contingent upon the sound byte, it behoves us to support a world news service which aims for diversity and impartiality. If running costs are to be controlled, let it not damage the effectiveness and the separateness which combine to make the World Service what it is, and should continue to be. Yours, etc.,
Leycester's Lane, Cork.