We have just published, in association with the Centre for Media, Data and Society at Central European University, the second part of our major research into the UK media landscape, the UK Media Influence Matrix. This report, written by Leo Watkins, focuses on the funding of journalism and provides a comprehensive account of consumption trends, financial performance, key … [Read more...]
Media and the manipulation of language
by Calum Rosie Criticising the current state of the English language can be risky; one can easily (and in many cases, justifiably) be accused of snobbishness and elitism, countered with the argument that language evolves and that we should all be willing to adapt to it. And while this is true to a point, it’s incredibly important to remember that language is a tool developed … [Read more...]
Media Influence Matrix UK report: Government, Politics and Regulation
JUST OUT! The Media Reform Coalition is working with researchers from the Center for Media, Data and Society (CMDS) at Central European University to investigate the influence of shifts in policy, funding, and technology on contemporary journalism. This is part of the international Media Influence Matrix project, coordinated by CMDS, which has so far produced 19 reports … [Read more...]
Report: Who Owns the UK Media?
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...]
Facebook v Australia: Murdoch wins
by Benedetta Brevini The day after Facebook, the Digital Lord, banned Australian news from its platform, the world is still watching. Of course, it’s watching. After two decades of absence of regulation, the Digital Lords of the Western world such as Google and Facebook are finally under pressure. The fight did not start in Australia and it is already global: from the United … [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...]