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IT IS STILL A BAD BILL
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Freepress 131 leads with a critique of the Communications Bill...
It was classic New Labour spin. When the government published its response to the Puttnam report on the draft Communications Bill, Culture Secretary, Tessa Jowell proudly said that, of the 148 recommendations, they agreed with 120 of them. She claimed, “A good bill has been made better.” We disagree. It is still a bad bill. There has been no movement on the key proposals which organisations like the CPBF have kicked up a stink about.
Britain is on course to become a satellite of the US if the Communications Bill, just published by the government, gets an easy passage through
parliament.
By ignoring widespread public concern and relaxing media ownership rules the bill opens up UK TV and radio channels to the highest bidder, in particular to powerful US-based global media groups like Sumner Redstone’s Viacom and AOL Time Warner.
Rupert Murdoch will also get a piece of the action - the bill will enable him to take over Channel 5. It would also make it easier for other powerful US-based media groups to buy into UK newspapers, radio and TV.
CPBF chair Julian Petley points out, “The Communications Bill is a product of the government’s eagerness to sell off public services. We’ve recently seen the disastrous results of market-driven policies on our railways. Now we’ll have US media moguls deciding what we can read, watch and what information
we receive.” He predicts a dumbing down of broadcasting as commercial companies go for mass-produced programmes attracting big audiences and the most profits.
The bill lets these companies completely off the hook, failing to stipulate the amount of special interest programmes, quality news, current affairs, education and entertainment material they must carry. At this rate the BBC will be left in a public service ghetto catering only for minority audiences.
The government has ignored the concerns raised recently in the Puttnam report, as well as by a host of media campaigners, trade unions and
community organisations - that programme quality, diversity and plurality should be protected. The bill is also a slap in the face for UK
nations and regions whose media can now be swallowed up by foreign owners with no regard to social and cultural factors and no commitment to local production.
The Scottish and Welsh assemblies have no voice, either, in the new super-regulator OFCOM. The bill provides for just 9 people on the OFCOM board, only slightly larger than that proposed in the original draft bill. The content board and consumer panel intended to work alongside OFCOM have no teeth and can only advise the regulator.
We expect a groundswell of public anger against the Communications Bill when people realise what is at stake. “We will fight this bill to the last letter to stop Britain being landed with an ultra-commercial, US-style media system,” Julian Petley said.
Last modified: Wednesday, November 27, 2002
Previous government policy stories
COMMUNICATIONS BILL WILL MAKE BRITAIN ‘A US SATELLITE’ WARNS CPBF
Government Responds to Puttnam Committee
CPBF sets up steering group to focus on the Communications Bill
Special Communications Policy Briefing: DCMS Secretary Tessa Jowell to address the Westminster Media Forum the day after
the Queen's Speech.
Why the Communications Bill is bad news
CPBF NEWS
Action Alert
Puttnam's shot across the bows
CPBF Response to Draft Communications Bill
New CPBF Pamphlet on the Communications Bill
WHY THE COMMUNICATIONS BILL IS BAD NEWS
Submission to the DCMS/DTI consultation on the draft Communications Bill
Update on the Communications Bill
CPBF attacks 'government arrogance' over Puttnam Report
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
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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
COMMUNICATIONS BILL WILL MAKE BRITAIN ‘A US SATELLITE’ WARNS CPBF
Government Responds to Puttnam Committee
CPBF sets up steering group to focus on the Communications Bill
Special Communications Policy Briefing: DCMS Secretary Tessa Jowell to address the Westminster Media Forum the day after
the Queen's Speech.
Why the Communications Bill is bad news
CPBF NEWS
Action Alert
Puttnam's shot across the bows
CPBF Response to Draft Communications Bill
New CPBF Pamphlet on the Communications Bill
WHY THE COMMUNICATIONS BILL IS BAD NEWS
Submission to the DCMS/DTI consultation on the draft Communications Bill
Update on the Communications Bill
CPBF attacks 'government arrogance' over Puttnam Report
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
