Club Lunch – Lost in Translation: Making the News in 42 languages

To reach its weekly target audience of 500m people on TV, Radio and Online in 42 languages, the BBC World Service makes the news in 42 different languages. But it’s not simple to translate complex concepts and stories from one language into another. How does the BBC make sure the news is balanced and accurate in every language? And how does the BBC work in oral languages which have never previously been formalised?

Jamie Angus is the Director of BBC World Service Group. BBC World Service broadcasts around the world on TV, Radio and Online in 42 languages. With more than 3,000 staff around the world and in London, the World Service currently reaches an audience of 347m per week globally. Prior to taking up this role, Jamie was the Editor of the BBC’s flagship Today Programme, which provides politics and international news coverage for 7 million radio listeners a week within the UK. He has worked in BBC News for twenty years and held a number of senior roles in both international and domestic programming.