BBC Cuts 75 Staffers

The BBC is cutting 75 staffers as part of its move to cut its English-language editorial unit overhead by more than $16M.

James Harding, director of news and current affairs, said the cutbacks are necessary due to the Beeb’s “trying year.”

He said cuts in money provided to the broadcaster force it to “deliver more for less.”

In a staff memo, Harding wrote he appreciates “the concern that cost savings come at a time that so many people are working hard to make the most of new technologies and striving to deliver the best journalism in the world.

The BBC news/current affairs department fields a staff of more than 8,000.

Earlier this year, it let 140 people go.

Mossberg, Swisher Make It Official

Walt Mossberg, technology guru of the Wall Street Journal, and Kara Swisher, former WSJ columnist and writer for the Dow Jones-owned AllThingsD website, are parting at the end of the year.

Their departure is timed to the expiration of DJ’s partnership with the online site and events operation.

Mossberg and Swisher are negotiating with investors to launch a new venture.

The DJ split with Mossberg/Swisher is by mutual agreement.

The duo says it’s time “to move up to a more independent structure.”

Swisher blogged that beginning Jan. 1 there will be a “web-siting and conference-producing and much more, albeit under a new corporate structure with new partners and investors.”

She expects the new venture will “finally be able to have “added resources, so we can grow in new and exciting ways, including hiring more journalists and doing much more video.”

The WSJ plans to expand its tech coverage and conference business by adding 20 new staffers, according to a statement from Gerard Baker, editor-in-char of DJ and WSJ.

Barnes Takes Houston Chron Edit Job

Nancy Barnes, editor of the Star Tribune in Minneapolis has moved to the Lone Star State for the editor/executive VP-news post at the Houston Chronicle.

The 52-year-old held the Strib job for five years.

At the Chonicle, she succeeds Jeff Cohen, who moved the head the paper’s editorial pages last year.

Barnes is the first woman to edit the Chron in its 112-year history