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CPBF attacks 'government arrogance' over Puttnam Report
The Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom (CPBF) today described as 'breathtakingly arrogant' the DCMS statement that 'the provisions in the Communications Bill were not tentative proposals, they were decisions'. "If this is indeed the case", asked CPBF chair Julian Petley, "why bother to set up the Joint Committee to scrutinise the Bill in the first place?"
The Campaign congratulated the parliamentary committee, chaired by Lord Puttnam, for firmly arguing in its report published today that US media giants should remain barred from buying into British TV and radio. It expressed the hope that both Houses of Parliament would show similar determination when the Bill came before them.
"This is not a matter of being anti-American", said Julian Petley, "but of defending the diversity and quality of our media." It was worth noting, he added, that the US had always strenuously resisted foreign ownership of its own television networks. And even in the extremely unlikely event of the US opening its media markets, no UK-based communications companies would be remotely powerful enough to begin to compete for a slice of the US media cake.
"The Campaign", Julian Petley continued, "remains profoundly sceptical about the alleged benefits of
'inward investment' in British broadcasting, believing instead that the government's plans will result in a massive increase of foreign imports, concomitant job losses in British media industries, and media profits haemorrhaging abroad.
"What we need is tighter restrictions on media ownership, and strong, positive, public service obligations laid upon media owners if we are to stop this government's headlong dash towards cultural vandalism."
ends
Further information: Barry White 07774 607419 or Julian Petley 01895 816290
Campaign for Press & Broadcasting Freedom, 23 Orford Road London, E17 9NL. Tel 8521 5932.
Email: freepress@cpbf.org.uk
Last modified: Friday, November 7, 2003
Previous government policy stories
The Puttnam Report: 'Making a good bill better'
Robert McChesney's 'Theses on Media Deregulation'
Communications Freedom and the Internet
Submission to the Joint Committee on the Draft Communications Bill by the Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom
The Dangers of Media Deregulation
Will opening the door to international ownership benefit UK media?
The BBC
Tiers threat to Public Service
Citizens and consumers
Where is Scotland in the Communications Bill?
A MARKET-DRIVEN BILL
Comms Bill scrutiny starts today
'Where is Scotland in the Communications Bill?' ask media campaigners
'Where is Wales, public service and quality in Communications Bill?' ask Welsh media campaigners.
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CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT COMMITTEE: HOUSE OF COMMONS (SESSION 2001-02), 1 May 2002, No 25
Wales needs more public debate on communications policy
NO OFCOM SEATS FOR REGIONS - but battle to defend regional voice goes on
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ITN NEWS PROVISION
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RESPONSE TO CONSULTATION ON MEDIA OWNERSHIP RULES
BY DCMS and DTI (November 2001)
Wales and the Future of Mass Communications:
Cymru a Dyfodol Cyfathrebu Torfol
The State of the Media - Media Policy and the need for reform.
The Danger in a Reasonable Approach
ITN to Embrace Madonna
Wales, OFCOM and the democratic deficit
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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
The Puttnam Report: 'Making a good bill better'
Robert McChesney's 'Theses on Media Deregulation'
Communications Freedom and the Internet
Submission to the Joint Committee on the Draft Communications Bill by the Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom
The Dangers of Media Deregulation
Will opening the door to international ownership benefit UK media?
The BBC
Tiers threat to Public Service
Citizens and consumers
Where is Scotland in the Communications Bill?
A MARKET-DRIVEN BILL
Comms Bill scrutiny starts today
'Where is Scotland in the Communications Bill?' ask media campaigners
'Where is Wales, public service and quality in Communications Bill?' ask Welsh media campaigners.
Communications Bill ‘puts market-driven media before public interest’ warns CPBF
Communications Bill unveiled....
CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT COMMITTEE: HOUSE OF COMMONS (SESSION 2001-02), 1 May 2002, No 25
Wales needs more public debate on communications policy
NO OFCOM SEATS FOR REGIONS - but battle to defend regional voice goes on
A Voice for Scotland
Communications Bill Roundup - Ownership Consultation
ITN NEWS PROVISION
Summary Response to Consultation on Media Ownership Rules
Culture Minister Promises Wide Consultation on Bill
RESPONSE TO CONSULTATION ON MEDIA OWNERSHIP RULES
BY DCMS and DTI (November 2001)
Wales and the Future of Mass Communications:
Cymru a Dyfodol Cyfathrebu Torfol
The State of the Media - Media Policy and the need for reform.
The Danger in a Reasonable Approach
ITN to Embrace Madonna
Wales, OFCOM and the democratic deficit
