NEW REPORT ON UK MEDIA OWNERSHIP JUST PUBLISHED We produced our first comprehensive report on media ownership in the UK back in 2015 when we argued concentrated ownership was a significant problem for any modern democracy. In 2019, we produced an updated version that suggests that, not only does concentrated ownership persist but that the problem may be getting worse. Sadly, … [Read more...]
Media Democracy Festival 2021
We're thrilled to announce the schedule for our forthcoming Media Democracy Festival, a week-long celebration of independent media voices and analysis of why our current media system is not fit for purpose. We kick off with a keynote and Q&A from former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn on 'A Free Media for a Free Society' - 6pm, Sunday 14 March Do Black Lives Matter … [Read more...]
A Secret Australia: Why Julian Assange’s own country ignored him and WikiLeaks’ exposés
by Benedetta Brevini As a journalist, scholar and media reformer, I have been following the activities of WikiLeaks for over a decade, assessing the disrupting force of new radical platforms for disclosure. WikiLeaks is a crucial example of a digital platform that exposes the contradictions of the internet as a tool for openness and secrecy, freedom and surveillance, free … [Read more...]
Decriminalising TV licence fee evasion will cut BBC funding without helping the poorest
by Leo Watkins On 9 December last year, mere days before the General Election, Boris Johnson was having a bad news day. He was televised in the morning trying to avoid being confronted by a reporter’s evidence of a young boy sleeping on the floor of an NHS hospital (with the insinuation being that he was being denied proper medical care). Later in the day, his health … [Read more...]
TV Craft Awards: lifting the lid on structural racism
By a member of BECTU “Did no-one look around and stop and ask: ‘why are we so white?’” In part of David Olusoga’s welcome and powerful MacTaggart Lecture he referred to the stark division between the 2020 BAFTA Television Awards and their companion, the Craft Awards. “The Television Awards for 2020 recognised our many successful diverse actors and presenters. … [Read more...]
A FREE & REGULATED PRESS: THE CASE FOR COMPULSORY PRESS REGULATION
by Paul Wragg, School of Law, University of Leeds and co-host of @medialawpodcast In a newly published book, A Free and Regulated Press, I ask: why are newspapers not regulated on a compulsory basis, as broadcasters are? There are several pragmatic reasons, of course, but what, if any, are the principled reasons? Back in 2011/12, Lord Justice Leveson, … [Read more...]
Media, Race and Religion: Silences and Scapegoats
Watch the video of a crucial discussion with Maya Goodfellow, Omega Douglas, Rizwana Hamid and Narzanin Massoumi … [Read more...]