Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom (CPBF)
for diverse, democratic and accountable media
Ofcom logoby Roger Darlington (for BECTU's Journal 'Stage Screen and Radio') Something really interesting happened towards the end of the Parliamentary passage of what is now the Communications Act 2003 [click here] that merged five regulators into a new Office of Communications or Ofcom. The House of Lords successfully forced an amendment to broaden Ofcom’s duties. The original … [Read more...]
BylineA series of crowd-funded investigative reports into the use of private investigators by Associated Newspapers, publishers of the Daily Mail, has provoked a threat of a libel action from editor Paul Dacre. The revelations were published on the Byline website following thorough research into original documentation. The reports allege that Associated Newspapers kept quiet in … [Read more...]
“George Osborne” by mrgarethm is licensed under CC BY 2.0The appointment of George Osborne as editor of the Evening Standard signals the continued demise of trusted mainstream media sources at a time of great political strife in Britain. We have come together to denounce the brazen conflict of interest advocated by this announcement, and to champion the growing need for independent, truthful and representative media … [Read more...]
Adam Christie (www.asperceived.com)Granville was presented with the long-service and outstanding development award by regional secretary Bill Adams at this year's Yorkshire and Humber TUC annual general meeting in Bradford this weekend. More than 120 delegates applauded as Granville received his certificate. In announcing the award at the start of the first day's proceedings, Bill said: “Granville has a … [Read more...]
“Modern Slavery event” by Foreign and Commonwealth Office is licensed under CC BY 2.0Sometime this week we should be hearing from Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, The Rt Hon Karen Bradley MP about whether or not she has decided to refer 21st Century Fox's bid to acquire the portion of Sky PLC it doesn't already own to Ofcom on public interest grounds. She has already said that she is 'minded to'. In the last week the case again the bid … [Read more...]
“Rupert Murdoch 2011 Shankbone” by David Shankbone is licensed under CC BY 2.0Culture Secretary Karen Bradley has said she is “minded” to order an Ofcom investigation into the planned £11.7 billion takeover of broadcaster Sky by Rupert Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox, over concerns about competition and broadcasting standards. Such a decision would not block the deal but would kick off an Ofcom investigation into public interests considerations. She said … [Read more...]
By David Shankbone from USA (Sir Harold Evans 2 Shankbone 2009 NYC blog) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commonsby Dominic Ponsford Press Gazette 1 March Former Sunday Times editor Sir Harold Evans has outlined in more detail why he supports Royal Charter-backed press regulator Impress. He has also said he supports Section 40 of the Crime and Courts Act, the law which says publishers who aren’t signed up to a Royal Charter-backed press regulator should pay both sides’ costs in libel … [Read more...]
Pixabay CC0 Public Domainby Hacked Off statement A cross-party Committee of MPs has slammed the press industry for its campaign of misinformation around the Government's 'Leveson consultation'earlier this year. It hasconcluded that:“If IPSO itself were to fall short of what is expected of it under Leveson, the Committee would support the full commencement of Section 40 in one year’s time” and … [Read more...]
Media Reform Coalitionby Media Reform Coalition Analysis by Media Reform Coalition and 38 Degrees suggests that Murdoch’s lobbying of government intensified ahead of the recent government consultation on the Leveson Inquiry and the announcement by Murdoch’s renewed bidto take over Sky. Between April 2015 and September 2016, senior News Corp executives met with government ministers or their … [Read more...]
By Pax Ahimsa Gethen (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commonsby IFJ/NUJ news releases The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has called for felony charges against six US journalists arrested while covering protests against new President Donald Trump to be dropped. They are facing up to 10 years each in prison after being arrested covering unrest around Donald Trump´s inauguration on 20 January in Washington.Journalists Evan … [Read more...]