We need media which is owned by us, accountable to us, where we all get to play a part in creating it: we need to build a media commons. A commons is a collective resource sustained through the active participation of those who rely on it. In a media commons, our media would be funded through significant public resources, and managed collectively so they serve our needs and help us face the challenges ahead.
In a media commons, our media would be:
- Independent – able to hold powerful interests to account —————–>
- Accountable – facing consequences when they cause harm —————–>
- Democratic – participatory and representative of diverse lives —————–>
- For everyone – serving everybody’s needs and accessible to all —————–>
These are similar to the founding principles of our public broadcasters, the BBC and Channel 4, but we believe these institutions need updating and reimagining for a digital, cross-platform age. As part of ‘BBC and Beyond campaign’, we’ve written a Manifesto for a People’s Media which imagines a system where significant new public investment and new forms of participation ensure that our media are held to these values. It contains a wide range of proposals to build towards that vision by transforming the BBC and Channel 4, and properly supporting independent media.