» SubscribeMain section
-
Top story
OFCOM Watch
136/Freepress
WE ARE setting up OFCOM Watch. Maybe we should have thought of another title for the initiative, now that the Daily Telegraph has launched its ridiculous Beebwatch, to whip up hostility to the BBC. In contrast however, we think our initiative has a positive public function. OFCOM is a monster creation, replacing five other regulators, including the Independent Television Commission (ITC), the Radio Authority and the Broadcasting Standards Commission. It already has 230 legal duties, but the real worry is what its priorities are.One example.The ITC had a responsibility for regional ITV franchises, with offices and staff based in the ITV regions.This will now end. OFCOM will have a presence in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, but the other regional offices will close. We understand ITC staff will work from home and can apply for voluntary redundancy as OFCOM takes over the ITC function. Of course, a single ITV might make the old ITC structure redundant, but what about the commitments to regional production? How will they be monitored and defended if OFCOM moves to a centralised structure?
The OFCOM publication, From Royal Assent to Vesting, has a section ‘OFCOM for the Nations and Regions’ which is very general in terms of information. There will be an ‘OFCOM for the English Regions’ team and we need to monitor what it will do.
The first major piece of work OFCOM will initiate is a review of the whole of British public service broadcasting - the three commercial channels, ITV, C4 and Five, and the BBC. This will have very significant implications for the BBC Charter review because it will assess the public’s valuation of the corporation’s output against the cost of the licence fee. Again this will be a vital area for us to keep an eye on, and respond to The success of OFCOM Watch depends on our readers and supporters sending in information. We will have a dedicated section on the CPBF web site for material, as well as covering issues in Free Press. If you want to contribute information, comments or articles please send them to the CPBF office, or email them to freepress@cpbf.org.uk
Last modified: Thursday, October 14, 2004
Previous ofcom stories
On and Ofcom...
OFCOM AND PRESS REGULATION
OFCOM role to include the BBC?
-
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.
-
Previous stories
