A detailed study out today finds that three times in 15 months the chief investigative reporter of the Times, Andrew Norfolk, published sensational series of front-page articles portraying Muslims as threatening – and in every case central allegations were unfounded. The study, written by investigative journalists Brian Cathcart and Paddy French and supported by the … [Read more...]
BBC delivers government policy as it scraps free licence fee concession for most over-75s
The BBC has today taken a decision that effectively positions it as an outpost of the Department for Work and Pensions. By agreeing to take away free licences for the vast majority of the over- 75s, the Corporation is implementing government cuts instead of standing up to them. While some 1.5 million households may be eligible for free licences if at least one resident … [Read more...]
MEDIA REFORM COALITION CONDEMNS THE ARREST OF JULIAN ASSANGE
The arrest of Julian Assange and extradition charges brought against him set a grave precedent for press freedom. Both the US and UK governments have once again demonstrated contempt and cynicism for some of the basic principles of watchdog reporting in the public interest. Whatever the legal and political manoeuvrings at play in an attempt to disguise this brazen attack on … [Read more...]
Media Manifesto 2019
MRC has pulled together extensive academic research and a number of briefing reports produced by, and in consultation with, a broad range of experts and stakeholders to produce our latest Media Manifesto. It charts a roadmap towards genuine progressive reform that is both practical and radical; replacing legacy frameworks with a media policy fit for the 21st century. It … [Read more...]
Media Democracy Festival 2019
Tickets for our annual Media Democracy Festival are now on sale! The festival brings together media democracy campaigners, journalists, researchers and citizens to take part in discussions on a range of issues from challenging bias to confronting islamophobia and from how we can take on the tech platforms to producing a media manifesto for the next election. It has a fantastic … [Read more...]
A Public Service Internet for Europe?
By Professor Angela Phillips (Goldsmiths, University of London) The French Government announced in October that the National Assembly and Army Ministry would no longer be relying on American digital companies for Internet search. They are in future going to be using the French and German developed Quant search system which doesn’t track its users’ personal data and doesn’t … [Read more...]
An open letter to the Guardian Reader’s Editor
Both before and since publishing our research, which raised serious concerns about the Guardian's coverage of antisemitism within the Labour Party, we have made strident efforts to engage in constructive dialogue with both editorial and public affairs staff. Unfortunately, these efforts do not appear to have borne any fruit to date. There has also been no reporting or … [Read more...]