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AGM calls for new direction for the CPBF
153/Barry White, Jim C orrigall
DATELINE: 3/10/06
This year’s annual general meeting, held in London on 9 July, agreed to shift the Campaign’s focus from public service broadcasting to the UK press. It approved a paper presented by the Campaign’s co-Chair, Julian Petley, entitled Future Work Programme which put forward plans for a greater focus in the coming year on the Press and the acute problems facing it. In particular: concentration of ownership—especially at the local and regional level; changes to the distribution chain— which could force thousands of newsagents and smaller circulation magazines to close if supermarkets get greater control over the supply chain; the failure of self-regulation; the use of laws of libel, official secrecy and confidentiality to stifle serious investigative journalism and the negative role played by the press in the political process.
It was pointed out that campaigning around these issues would dovetail neatly with work being undertaken by the NUJ and their ‘Journalism Matters’ campaign. Julian Petley expressed a strong interest in this and discussed the possibility of meeting the NUJ’s General Secretary and/or President to discuss how the two organisations might co-operate on this campaign.
In reviewing the work of the Campaign, the meeting was told that the bulk of its work 2005 and into 2006 involved campaigning around the issues of public service broadcasting in general and the renewal of the BBC’s Charter in particular. A detailed report was received on a successful conference organised by the CPBF, supported by the TUC and the Federation of Entertainment Unions, which took place in London on 1 April 2006, shortly after the Department of Culture, Media and Sport’s (DCMS) White Paper on BBC Charter Renewal was published.
The report also highlighted evidence given by the Campaign to Parliamentary Committees, the DCMS and the regulator Ofcom on public service broadcasting consultations. European work, particularly on the debate on the European "Television Without Frontiers" directive, was also discussed. The Campaign is responding to the DCMS consultation on the revision of the Directive and details will be placed on the Campaign’s web site in late September.
The meeting agreed that details of the Greg Palast Investigative Fund should be placed on the CPBF web site. The fund, a non-profit organisation, supports those investigations, which are too risky, costly, controversial or difficult for American newspapers, radio and television to attempt. These are pursued and then disseminated through traditional and new media, with an emphasis on reaching individuals and organisations whose goal it is to affect systemic change. Visit http://www.gregpalast.com/premiums.htm for more information and on how to make a donation.
The annual meeting also elected a new national council for the next 12 months. The council, which directs the work of Campaign between annual general meetings, meets next on 25 September at 6.30pm at UNISON headquarters 1 Mabledon Place, London WC1. Meetings are also open to any paid up CPBF supporter. Ring the National Office (0208 521 5932) for further details.
Details of the report of work undertaken in 2005 and presented to the annual meeting may be found on this web site.
LINKSGreg Palast fund
Last modified: Tuesday, October 3, 2006
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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
Miscellany
Report of Work 2005
Give money to Greg Palast
The UK Terror plot: what's really going on?
The war on Palestine's orphans
Interpal accuses Panorama of lack of balance
Free Press index launched
Without Comment
How the US media destroy democracy
John Pilger
It’s Not Cricket
Without Comment
Without Comment
Digital TV and state abuse of power
Beyond TV: everything for the video activist
Without Comment
In the USA today
Spies like us....
Sir Frank Rogers: Obituary
Not so public launch
Indymedia seizure explained - in part
NUJ's new place in the Sun
Without Comment: FA hires from DCMS
Jim’s Journal
Without Comment
Without Comment
Without Comment
Read this...
The G8 Alternatives Summit spotlights the media
Transport police seize Bristol Indymedia server
Without Comment
