Would you like Murdoch to have even more power and influence over UK media and politics? No? Here are three things to do right now: Sign these petitions: Hacked Off petition to "demand Leveson part two before the Murdochs' bid can go ahead": https://hackinginquiry.eaction.org.uk/lobby/skybid 38 Degrees petition asking Karen Bradley to refer the Fox Sky … [Read more...]
Will Karen Bradley Refer SKY-FOX to the Competition and Markets Authority?
by Damian Tambini It’s the Politics, Stupid I am in Italy so I am going to make Machiavellian assumptions. When it comes to media mergers, like Machiavelli’s Prince, politicians act on the basis of moral considerations or the ‘public interest’ only to the extent that failing to do so entails political cost. Machiavelli’s advice would be that the Prince, to strengthen … [Read more...]
Urgent media reform organising meeting
Thanks to all those who joined CPBF's public debate last Saturday on how to create a movement for a #BetterMedia in the UK (see the quick Storify just published here) This is just a quick reminder that today at 4pm our partners at the Media Reform Coalition are having an urgent media reform organising meeting. The meeting will take place at 4pm in the Keynes Library, 43 … [Read more...]
Karen Bradley ‘minded to’ refer Fox/ Sky bid to CMA on media plurality grounds only
Plurality In a statement outlining her decision on the proposed takeover of Sky plc by 21st Century Fox, Inc., Secretary of State for Culture Karen Bradley announced this morning that she is "minded-to refer to a Phase 2 investigation on the grounds of media plurality". You can watch the full video of the statement here. An invitation for representations (deadline 14 … [Read more...]
Creating a movement for Better Media in the UK
The Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom (CPBF) are hosting a public debate on Creating a movement for a Better Media in the UK after the formal business of our AGM on Saturday 1 July 2017. RSVP on Eventbrite. To get the discussion going we'll be joined by three great speakers working at the forefront of this burgeoning movement: Hazel Healy from New … [Read more...]
22 June 2017: Yorkshire Premiere of BELONGING: The Truth Behind The Headlines
BELONGING: The Truth Behind The Headlines shows what happened behind closed doors in three major industrial disputes. It also reveals disturbing new information about government and business collusion. A powerful, must-see film. THURSDAY 22 JUNE Unity+Works, Wakefield WF1 1EP Doors open 6.30pm Tickets £4 on the door Venue Conference Room 1 Film … [Read more...]
Tories let press barons off the hook
This week the two main parties published their election manifestos. Labour’s, which is set out below, is tighter on media reform than the leak from the previous week, and represents a good basis to build on (see CPBF's Media Manifesto for what that could look like). The Conservatives, on the other hand have thrown the press owners a life line by pledging to scrap part 2 … [Read more...]
Fair Media to Give the Truth a Chance
The crisis in the media must be resolved by putting checks on the big corporations that dominate the market, according to an election manifesto published by a media campaign group today. There should be limits on how much the companies can own, and if they exceed them – as Rupert Murdoch’s corporations do, they must be required to stick to certain standards in the public … [Read more...]
Kelvin MacKenzie suspended on eve of Hillsborough anniversary & the 28-year search for justice
Kelvin MacKenzie has been suspended from The Sun on the eve of the anniversary of 96 deaths at Hillsborough, making CPBF's Granville Williams' "Truth lies and a 28-year search for justice" for the latest edition of ColdType more pertinent than ever. Before we share Granville's article (below), here is a snippet of the article that led to Kelvin MacKenzie's … [Read more...]
At last the OdaTV13 are acquitted
After a 6 year ordeal an Istanbul court on 12 April ordered the acquittal of 13 suspects, including journalists and writers, charged with membership of the Ergenekon organisation in the OdaTV case. Among those acquitted is journalist Muysser Yildiz who was adopted in a solidarity move by the NUJ in 2012. According to press reports the court unanimously acquitted the suspects … [Read more...]