» SubscribeMain section
-
Top story
Hunt shelves his controversial media Green Paper
Ian Burrell The Indepeendent 8 June 2012
DATELINE: 9/6/12
The Culture Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, has shelved his potentially controversial communications Green Paper until after the Olympics. The document had the potential to draw further accusations of bias, as it would have dealt with contentious issues such as the future of public service broadcasting, the handling of internet piracy and the allocation of broadcasting spectrum. It will be replaced by a series of five half-day seminars between July and September, intended to encourage investment and competition.
Mr Hunt said as he announced the postponement: "The UK's communications sector is one of the strongest in the world. We must ensure the sector can grow by being at the forefront of new developments in the industry. It is essential that we set the right conditions for the industry to enable businesses to grasp the opportunities created by new technology."
The Liberal Democrat Communictions minister, Ed Vaizey, added: "Through these seminars, we will look in detail at how best to drive investment and competition. We want to shape the Communications Bill so that we have the right framework to secure our place as Europe's tech hub."
Mr Hunt has managed to hold on to his job after the furore around his handling of News Corporation's attempt to take full control of BSkyB, but his political future remains vulnerable to further controversy.
A good reputation management consultant would advise him to stay out of the spotlight for a while in order to rebuild his public image. The last thing he needs just now is to find himself at the centre of further uproar.
The postponement of further discussion of the Communications Bill until after the Olympics has been justified by the explanation that there is no need for "root-and-branch" reform of the sector. Mr Hunt has something else he'd rather concentrate on. The Olympic Games are undoubtedly the most important part of his brief at this time and have enormous capacity to create public relations problems for the Culture, Media and Sport department.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/hunt-shelves-his-controversial-media-green-paper-7827995.html
Last modified: Saturday, June 9, 2012
Your comments:
» Click here to add your comment.
Comments will be subject to approval and should not be defamatory, obscene, racist, in breach of copyright, or contrary to law. The CPBF is not reponsible for any views expressed here.
Previous government policy stories
Communications green paper delayed while Jeremy Hunt deals with Leveson
New Defamation Bill welcomed by Index
Email and web use 'to be monitored' under new laws
Secret service pressed BBC to censor Panorama
"Government by leaking rules OK", says Cameron confidant
Libel reform: a final push
Put friendships aside. It's time for a robust register of lobbyists
Press challenged on regulation
Baby P tragedy: Cameron's culpability should not be overlooked
BBC's Craig Oliver replacing Andy Coulson at No 10
Andy Coulson quits Downing Street communications role
Minister announces local TV channel plans
Minister plans to end 'net neutrality' for broadcasters who pay more
Is coalition government the end of spin?
BBC chief talks to No 10 about selling the cuts
Charles Atangana - deportation halted but keep up the pressure
Help stop this deportation
Ministry of Justice announces draft defamation bill
Rules on stop and search changed
2010 general election: game changer for politics...and media
Rules tightened for council-funded newspapers
Media policies after the election
What are Jeremy Hunt's priorities as the new culture secretary?
MPs pass Digital Economy Bill
Jack Straw unveils plan to curb libel tourism
Straw acts on libel fees
Government announcement on Television Product Placement
Libel laws group announced
Alastair Campbell's 'unprecedented' role in preparing dossier on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction
CPBF submission to DCMS consultation on product placement on television
-
Notices
Events & Announcements
World Press Freedom Day
More reporters are currently imprisoned in Turkey than in any other country in the world. Only a matter of weeks ago lawyers failed to persuade a Turkish court to release a 76-year-old journalist from a Turkish internet news station.
World Press Freedom Day on Friday May 3, 2013 is being marked in Britain by a rally to highlight the dangers facing journalists in Turkey and in this podcast, Nicholas Jones speaks to Barry White, Organiser at the Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom, and Sam Bamford, the TUC's policy officer for Eastern Europe and Africa about the importance of a campaign to highlight international press freedom.
The World Press Freedom Day rally is being staged by the National Union of Journalists at the NUJ head office, Gray’s Inn Road, London WC1 on Thursday May 2, 6pm-8pm.
DATELINE: 27/4/13
UK launch of EU media campaign
DATELINE: 13/3/13
The UK launch of a 'European Citizens' Initiative' calling for EU rules against concentration of media power will take place on Thursday March 21 from 11:00am – 12:30pm in Committee Room 4A at the House of Lords, London. Guest speakers will include actor and activist Hugh Grant (pictured), media consultant Claire Enders, Professor Steven Barnett, Barry McCall (President of the NUJ) and Marc Gruber (Director of the European Federation of Journalists).
A European Citizens' Initiative is an official petition, like a Downing Street petition. If it succeeds in gathering a million signatures across the EU, the Commission is obliged to respond.
This petition calls for the EU to act to protect media pluralism and press freedom.
CPBF Annual General Meeting
DATELINE: 1/3/13
Make a note in your diary
Saturday 13 July 2013 from 10.00am
NUJ HQ, 308/312 Gray's Inn Road, London WC1.
Leveson, media ownership, CPBF future work.
DOWNLOAD FREEPRESS NOW
DATELINE: 26/3/10
Download Freepress in PDF, ePub or mobi format. Issue 194 now available.
MEDIA FOR ALL CONFERENCE
DATELINE: 26/3/10
Papers from the Media for All Conference
MEDIA MANIFESTO
DATELINE: 26/3/10
The media’s job is to inform and entertain us but we rely on them too to tell us what our rulers and representatives are up to. In the run-up to the Iraq war the government used spin and disinformation in the media to create panic and mislead people. The truth is coming out now, but we need stronger, more independent media to be able to scrutinise governments and make informed choices.
-
Previous stories
Government Policy
Communications green paper delayed while Jeremy Hunt deals with Leveson
New Defamation Bill welcomed by Index
Email and web use 'to be monitored' under new laws
Secret service pressed BBC to censor Panorama
"Government by leaking rules OK", says Cameron confidant
Libel reform: a final push
Put friendships aside. It's time for a robust register of lobbyists
Press challenged on regulation
Baby P tragedy: Cameron's culpability should not be overlooked
BBC's Craig Oliver replacing Andy Coulson at No 10
Andy Coulson quits Downing Street communications role
Minister announces local TV channel plans
Minister plans to end 'net neutrality' for broadcasters who pay more
Is coalition government the end of spin?
BBC chief talks to No 10 about selling the cuts
Charles Atangana - deportation halted but keep up the pressure
Help stop this deportation
Ministry of Justice announces draft defamation bill
Rules on stop and search changed
2010 general election: game changer for politics...and media
Rules tightened for council-funded newspapers
Media policies after the election
What are Jeremy Hunt's priorities as the new culture secretary?
MPs pass Digital Economy Bill
Jack Straw unveils plan to curb libel tourism
Straw acts on libel fees
Government announcement on Television Product Placement
Libel laws group announced
Alastair Campbell's 'unprecedented' role in preparing dossier on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction
CPBF submission to DCMS consultation on product placement on television
