Media Reform Coalition

Media Reform coordinates the work of advocacy groups campaigning to protect the public interest in light of the Leveson Inquiry and Communications Review.

About

UPDATE 1August 2019

As of 19 July 2019, one nomination from Natalie Fenton was received for Chair of the MRC and one from Tom Mills for Vice-Chair. These roles will be held for the a period of 2 years

ELECTION OF CHAIR/VICE CHAIR BY MRC- CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE

Nominations are invited for the roles of Chair and Vice-Chair of the MRC. Each position is held for 2 years and no one person can hold a position for more than 2 consecutive terms of office. Nominations should be made by the individuals standing and include, name, email contact, and a short statement of no more than 300 words outlining why they are the right person for the role. Nominations should be submitted to the current Chair (N.Fenton@gold.ac.uk) by 19 July 2019.

In the event of more than one nomination being received for each role, the MRC-Co-ordinating Committee will elect the roles accordingly at their next committee meeting.

The Media Reform Coalition was set up in September 2011 to coordinate the most effective contribution by civil society groups, academics and media campaigners to debates over media regulation, ownership and democracy in the context of the phone hacking crisis and proposed communications legislation.

We work with partner groups and supporting individuals to produce research and to organise campaigning activities aimed at creating a media system that operates in the public interest.

The Media Reform Coalition is committed to:

Media Reform represents an independent coalition of groups and individuals committed to maximising the public interest in communications.

The current Chair is Professor Natalie Fenton, Goldsmiths, University of London and the current Vice-Chair is Dr Tom Mills, Aston University.

MRC is governed by a Co-ordinating Committee composed of individuals from supporting organisations with the following remit:

1: Election of Chair and Vice-Chair of the MRC every two years from nominees (as from July 2019). Process for nominations will be posted on the website. Nominations will be invited at least one month prior to the July MRC-CC meeting. No-one can stand as Chair or Vice-Chair more than twice consecutively. Immediate past chairs go directly onto the Co-ordinating Committee. There is an assumption that Vice-Chairs will stand for the role of Chair but there is no obligation to do so.

2: To agree the working groups (that will carry out the main actions of the MRC) and to set the general direction of work.

3: To offer general advice at the Co-ordinating Committee meetings to be held at least twice a year. In addition there will at least two ordinary meetings a year open to everyone plus a Media Democracy Festival.

The Co-ordinating Committee can receive nominations for membership at any point and can co-opt members at any point by simple majority. There is no term of office but if members are inactive for 12 months they will be asked whether or not they wish to continue. Due to lack of funds, no travel expenses are available for attendance at meetings. But whenever possible and required attendance by Skype will be facilitated.

Members of the current Co-ordinating Committee are:

James Curran (Past chair/founding member MRC/Goldsmiths); Maggie Chao (38 Degrees); Natalie Fenton (Chair/Founding memberMRC/Goldsmiths); Des Freedman (Past chair/founding member MRC/Goldsmiths); Sarah Kavanagh (NUJ); Jonathan Hardy (UEL/formerly CPBF); Gareth Lowe (formerly CBPF, UNITE); Riaz Meer (BECTU); Kerry-Ann Mendoza (The Canary); Tom Mills (Aston University); Angela Phillips (Founding member MRC/Goldsmiths); Justin Schlosberg (Past chair/Birkbeck); Nathan Sparkes (Hacked Off); Damian Tambini (LSE); Einar Thoresen (Bournemouth University); Leo Watkins (Formerly Enders Analysis); Henna Zamurd-Butt (Media Diversified); Alaphia Zoyab (Avaaz)

MRC is run on a voluntary basis but we are grateful for funding to pursue specific research projects, disseminate research findings and undertake advocacy work to promote our core values. We acknowledge support from the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust, Open Society Foundations, MeCCSA, and the Andrew Wainwright Reform Trust. Tickets sales from the annual Media Democracy Festival support the running of the festival itself and and any immediate post-festival content dissemination.

You can contact us at:
MRC c/o Goldsmiths Leverhulme Media Research Centre
Dept of Media, Communications & Cultural Studies
Goldsmiths, University of London
London, SE14 6NW
Email: info@mediareform.org.uk