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Wales, OFCOM and the democratic deficit
By Tom O'Malley/125
“Broadcasting and film possess a unique power to project Wales's image abroad, as well as to contribute to economic development within Wales. S4C along with BBC Wales and HTV, have helped to generate a distinctive film and television culture, and have stimulated a whole new generation of film and programme makers, together with ancillary support services.” (Jenny Randerson, Minister for Culture, Sport and the Welsh Language, 28 March 2001).Jenny Randerson's remarks echo the widespread understanding that broadcasting plays a central role to play in Welsh life. The existence of a strong Welsh dimension in broadcasting is the product of struggles in the 1920s and 30s for a distinctive Welsh service on the BBC as well as those in the 1970s that led to the establishment of S4C, the Welsh language broadcaster. Yet, in spite of this centrality, the Welsh Assembly has no powers over mass communications in Wales. It can comment, suggest, exhort, seek influence, but the Welsh people, through their elected assembly, have no formal role in shaping media policy.
Political control has always resided, primarily in London, in spite of both the ITV and BBC systems having strong regional production centres in Wales. Nonetheless the BBC Board of Governors, the governors of the Independent Television Commission and the Radio Authority all have national members for Wales. This reflects the, albeit poorly implemented notion, that in some sense those who 'govern' broadcasting must have a representative brief.
The White Paper on Communications, 'A New Future For Communications' published in December 2000 threatens to undermine this limited degree of accountability. OFCOM, which will replace the ITC and the Radio Authority, will only be required to 'develop good links' and 'consult with' the Assembly. This has provoked justified criticism in Wales. Critics of the lack of a Welsh dimension on OFCOM were vocal at a 'media summit' of broadcasters in Cardiff in the summer.
The Welsh Assembly has pressed for a much more formal role for the Wales in OFCOM structures. It has recommended that any legislation should provide for a Member for Wales on the Board of OFCOM; a Welsh member on the Consumer Panel; and establish a Welsh Advisory Committee on Communications.
Even if there were a Welsh national member on OFCOM, without major changes to its remit then the problems facing public service media in Wales generated by government policy will be multiple. OFCOM's role is to promote economic efficiency. This, in spite of protestations to the contrary, is the central pillar on which OFCOM will rest. In this context, the use of public monies to sustain Welsh public service broadcasting will be harder and harder to justify as the commercial sector complain about the lack of a level playing field.
What is needed is a strong accountable regulator, with the powers to promote public service media, and to limit media cross ownership. It must also genuinely represent the range of views in the UK. This is not on the cards for the UK generally, no more than it is for Wales.
The CPBF is working with media unions on these issues. There are plans for a public meeting in Cardiff in early 2002. We plan to bring together people to campaign for a much more accountable and public service orientated conception of communications policy in Wales. Anyone in Wales who wants to participate in this please contact the CPBF office. We need to work, not only to remedy the current democratic deficit, but also to press for fundamental changes to current government proposals.
Last modified: Thursday, December 6, 2001
Previous government policy stories
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The Communications Revolution : Who Benefits? (CPBF Pamphlet)
Response to the Communications White Paper - February 2001
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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
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.
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Previous stories
Government Policy
Roadshows raise awareness
Trade unionists take up the gauntlet
CPBF to give oral evidence on bill
Media Ownership Consultation
Diverse and Public - Public Service Broadcasting and the Communications White Paper
Consultation on Media Ownership Rules
5 December: CPBF Policy Seminar on Media Ownership
CYMRU RESERVATION:
HEALTH DEVOLVED BUT NOT CASUALTY!
CPBF COMMENTS ON THE COMMUNICATIONS WHITE PAPER
WHITE PAPER OR WHITE FLAG?
DTI DCMS Communications White Paper - A new future for communications
Corporate Media Trends in Europe
CPBF/Public Voice seminar on media ownership
JOWELL ANNOUNCES CONSULTATION PAPER ON MEDIA OWNERSHIP
12 November - Communications revolution: who benefits? Nottingham.
30 October - Communications revolution: who benefits? Bath.
30 October - Communications revolution: who benefits? Preston
Public service broadcasting on the brink
The Communications Revolution : Who Benefits? (CPBF Pamphlet)
Response to the Communications White Paper - February 2001
Additional Submission to the Communications White Paper Reform Team - November 2000
Comments for the Communications Reform White Paper - 22 June 2000
