Campaigners leading a charge to keep BBC Radio Foyle in Derry from being affected by proposed cuts have said the immediate response to the news has been "uplifting".
The 'Save Radio Foyle Campaign', which includes figures such as former People Before Profit MLA Eamonn McCann, has said the proposals are " a slap in the face for Derry and wider North West".
In November, BBC Northern Ireland announced that eight news staff at the station are at risk of redundancy and output, including the Breakfast Show as well as local news bulletins, would be cut in an effort to save £2.3m and put more money into online services.
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The plans are part of wider proposals at BBC NI to cut 36 posts in total, with the other 24 jobs being cut from their BBC Radio Ulster station.
It's understood the total saving from the cuts at BBC Radio Foyle will be £420,000.
Speaking in November, the interim director of BBC NI, Adam Smyth said the corporation faced "some difficult choices, none of which are easy".
However, campaigners in Derry said they now aim to "protect journalists' jobs" by trying to convince Mr Smyth to "reverse his harmful decision".
A spokesperson for the campaign said: "There's a clear consensus across Derry and the North West that Radio Foyle must be protected.
"Following the lunchtime protest at Radio Foyle, the Save Radio Foyle community campaign held a public meeting this week in Brooke Park Sports Centre.
"The meeting was attended by a diverse grouping of campaigners, trade unionists, political parties and Radio Foyle supporters."
They added: "The meeting committed to fully backing the NUJ campaign to protect journalists' jobs and the station, and to mobilise the broadest possible support in favour of convincing the BBC interim director Adam Smyth to reverse his harmful decision.
"The proposed running down of Radio Foyle is a slap in the face for Derry and the greater North West but it is also yet another attack on a vital public service.
"No public consultation on the future of Radio Foyle is planned but we are committed to playing our role to make clear to the BBC the strength of feeling for the protection and expansion of Radio Foyle.
"The community campaign agreed on a number of initiatives that we hope will help mobilise support for Radio Foyle and for the NUJ.
"We are determined to play our role to make sure what's happening to Radio Foyle isn't passed over by other events. We will fight this decision all the way."
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