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...]
“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...]
“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...]
English PENThe IFJ/EFJ, English Pen and other trade unions and press freedom organisations have called for the immediate release of leading investigative journalist Ahmet Sik, who was taken into custody in Istanbul on 29 December. Following his detention Ahmet Şık has now been charged. He is accused of making terrorist propaganda for the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), the … [Read more...]
LAWARNby CFOI news release A new legal block on the disclosure of information about NHS safety investigations will fuel public suspicion of cover-ups and protect poor quality inquiries from scrutiny, says the Campaign for Freedom of Information. The Department of Health has proposed new arrangements for investigating serious hospital safety incidents. The aim is to encourage … [Read more...]
by Source BBC News web site An ex-Crimewatch presenter and phone-hacking victim is launching a legal challenge to test the government's commitment to press regulation. Jacqui Hames wants judicial review of the decision by the culture secretary to consult on whether to go ahead with part two of the Leveson Inquiry. “Leveson 2" would examine relationships between police and … [Read more...]