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We must save regional TV...
In a statement issued on 24 November, Europe Minister Dennis Macshane supported the NUJ campaign to save regional broadcasting. The NUJ is warning that regional news and programming on ITV could be wiped out unless the regulator Ofcom acts to save them. In its response to Ofcom's major "Phase Two" policy document on Public Service Broadcasting the union says it is "deeply concerned that the proposals for broadcasting in the nations and regions wholly fail to satisfy Ofcom's duty to maintain and strengthen public service broadcasting."
The response has been submitted today as government minister Denis MacShane has come out publicly in support of the NUJ campaign. Denis MacShane, currently Minister for Europe and a former President of the NUJ, has issued a statement that is attached below.
"Ofcom has stood back and allowed ITV companies to enact cuts in staff, prior to any final decision being made.
"The proposals & indicate that Ofcom would consider a financial sustainability test for regional news. This could be taken as a green light for such a change by any new owner of ITV.
The union says: "Ofcom should enforce a much higher level of regional programming across the schedules of ITV, as part of strategy to build ITV as a branded public service platform in the digital future.
"At very least Ofcom should seek to ensure that the current level of revenues going towards PSB is kept at the current level."
On the BBC, the union confirms that the licence fee remains the "fairest, the most widely supported and most effective means of funding" - and adds that the revenue should not go to any other broadcaster.
It adds that there should be "no sell off or transfer of BBC assets to other bodies." The NUJ is "deeply concerned about the degree of casualisation, poor working conditions and lack of equal opportunities in the independent sector. Any proposal to expand this sector without putting these problems right will result in a reduction in training, employment rights and equal opportunities."
But Ofcom is "in danger of throwing the baby out with the bathwater, removing a major component of public service provision in the UK, in the hope that a relatively miniscule Public Service Publisher (PSP) will fill some of the gap in the future.
The plan for a "Public Service Publisher", is, says the union, "a diversion & designed to foster public support for the removal from the system of public service broadcasting of ITV, and with it the removal of revenues worth eight to nine times more to the system than will be provided by the PSP."
"ITV, like the BBC, is part of an overall system of broadcasting, and it is false and misleading to suggest that only "bits" of its schedule should qualify as public service TV.
"Ofcom should nurture and extend the current system in the digital age, not preside over its decline."
In addition, the union reaffirms that PSB programming must remain "universally available" in the new multi0-channel digital age, rather than merely "widely available", as Ofcom proposes.
The full text of the response is available on the NUJ website.
Contact:
Paul McLaughlin 0780 305 0865
Tim Gopsill 0207 843 3701
________________________________________________________________________________
STATEMENT BY DENIS MACSHANE MP, NOVEMBER 24 2004
News Release
MINISTER JOINS FIGHT TO SAVE REGIONAL NEWS
Denis MacShane, MP for Rotherham, has thrown his weight behind a campaign to maintain regional broadcasting news centres and save hundreds of jobs.
The MP, who is also Minister for Europe, says he is concerned at the suggestion of a reduction in regional news, and has added his name to tens of thousands fighting to save it.
The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) says the future of regional programming at ITV is under threat after OFCOM, the broadcasting regulator, gave ITV permission to halve its regional non-news output.
The union further claims there is a proposal to allow ITV digital licences, with no requirement for regional news.
It has joined forces with sister union BECTU - the union for broadcasting, film and entertainment - to mount a petition to protect jobs and promote quality regional programming, including news.
MacShane said: "I am very concerned at reports that could see any reduction in regional news on tv. As it is we have a news centre that is over-dominated by the metropolitan elite in London. In particular, as Europe Minister, I am concerned that the fashionable London
cynicism and scorn about Europe permeates the approach of broadcasters.
Outside of London, people who travel, trade, invest, study or get benefits from Brussels, understand far better than the London elites the importance of Britain staying in the EU. All over the world from Australia to America, and in every old and new European country there is a growth of regional and local news broadcasting. I hope the authorities that regulate this part of public life in Britain defend regional news broadcasting vigorously."
The NUJ says hundreds of jobs have already gone and 200 more are expected to be axed. Some departments have already stopped making programmes, budgets have been reduced, studios closed and regional programmes moved out of key time slots.
ITV has announced it is pulling its production out of Nottingham. Central News is to be broadcast from Birmingham.
Contacts:
Denis MacShane, MP for Rotherham, Minister for Europe
Pager 07699 757803
House of Commons 020 7219 4060
Constituency Office 01709 837 577
Constituency Press Carolyn Waudby 0114 234 5856
National Union of Journalists 020 7278 7916LINKSNUJ website
Last modified: Thursday, November 25, 2004
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Previous stories
Ofcom
ITV regions face more job cuts
NUJ launches protest at job losses in the ITV regions
Charter Review Monthly Report No 6 - October 2004
First tranche of October Ofcom documents published
Ofcom publishes report on BBC's digital services
Consultation on OFCOM broadcast code
Ofcom review: A flawed, contradictory document
ofcom watch
Ofcom Consultation - Principles for setting Licence Fees and Administrative Charges
ofcomwatch - bloggers with no agenda!
Other submissions to Ofcom and Charter Review
OfcomWatch
OFCOM NEWS RELEASE - Ofcom simplifies advertising regulation with 'one-stop-shop' for consumer complaints
OFCOM UPDATE - Ofcom publishes process for the future licensing of FM commercial radio
Ofcom consultative documents
OFCOM Watch
OFCOM Watch
On and Ofcom...
OFCOM AND PRESS REGULATION
OFCOM role to include the BBC?
