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Minister gets the message over licence fee
NUJ news release
DATELINE: 5/11/09
The National Union of Journalists has delivered 1000 postcards to the UK government protesting against proposals to hand a slice of the TV licence fee to commercial organisations. Hundreds more have been sent direct to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport by supporters of the NUJ and the other organisations involved in the campaign.The broadcasting unions say there are alternative ways to pay for local and regional news on commercial TV. The campaign against top-slicing has included a parliamentary lobby and meetings at party conferences.
The unions have proposed an alternative method of funding regional news - levies on hardware manufacturers or telecom and pay TV companies, all of which make money out of quality public service content without paying for it.
NUJ General Secretary Jeremy Dear and Broadcasting Organiser Sue Harris handed in the postcards at the DCMS headquarters in Cockspur Street, central London.
Sue said: "We have handed out these post cards at party conferences, broadcasting events, trade union meetings and even on the street.
"People understand that the BBC is good value for money and many have been prepared to send our postcards to the minister."Jeremy said: "There is a funding crisis for other public service broadcasters - for ITV for Channel 4 - they should be supported to protect excellent public service programming and to deliver quality local news. But contrary to the claims of government ministers there are alternatives to top slicing; alternatives to undermining the independence of the corporation and opening up the licence fee to be raided by future governments. Other options are there - but the government has refused to consider them."
Last modified: Thursday, November 5, 2009
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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
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Download Freepress in PDF, ePub or mobi format. Issue 194 now available.
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Previous stories
'future Of The BBC...'
Dyke in BBC 'conspiracy' claim
BBC's future: a welcome dose of reality
Is BBC News online "next in line" for Conservative cuts?
Keeping Broadcasting Public
Keep Broadcasting Public - Victoria Brittain
Keep broadcasting public - Brendan Barber
Keep broadcasting public - Dr. Georgina Born
A view from the Guardian
Keep Broadcasting Public - observer's report
Keep broadcasting public - Tom O'Malley
Keep broadcasting public - James Purnell MP
BBC Conference Warns Against Complacency
Green Paper, white in parts
Ofcom's remedy is not ours...
Conference presentations can now be read here...
Ofcom's mission to destroy...
First cut or narrow escape?
PSB matters says Ofcom spokesman
Collective action & intervention can save public service
