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. … [Read more...]
What will the coronavirus pandemic mean for the business of news?
At a time when we need trusted information and analysis more than ever, Covid-19 threatens the very fabric of our news environment. With an announcement today by JPIMedia that it is suspending 12 of its local print titles because of a collapse in advertising and huge problems with home delivery, and the recent decision by Newsquest to put a 'significant number' of its staff on … [Read more...]
A Report on the Special Meeting on the Cairncross Review
By Isaac Costley On the 4 October the Media Reform Coalition (MRC) held a public meeting to discuss the Cairncross Review established by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport to examine the sustainability of high-quality journalism in the UK. The Cairncross Review was established in March 2018 and is due to run for 9-12 months. It is currently examining the … [Read more...]
Selling Scotland’s local television to That’s TV is a travesty
Given the Cairncross Review's ongoing consultation into the future of 'high quality news' in the UK, we thought it would be useful to re-post this sobering account of recent developments in the local news environment in Scotland. It was originally posted in Bella Caledonia and is published here with kind permission of the author. by Dale McEwan Job adverts have been … [Read more...]
Blogs are be exempted now – but does the new wording work?
The Government, responding to urgent approaches from Media Reform and others, has confirmed that the cost benefits available to those who sign up for regulation will be extended to all those news bloggers who are too small to sign up. This is a major victory for small publishers and for news pluralism which Media Reform welcomes. Moreover, it has announced proposals for a … [Read more...]
Leveson vs the bloggers: how to make regulation work for everyone
First, they came for the tabloids; then, they came for Guido Fawkes; will they come for the bloggers next? … [Read more...]
Conference: Media policy post-Leveson
On Friday 8 February at Bournemouth University will host a one day conference entitled: 'Media policy post-Leveson: opportunities for reshaping media ownership and control at the national, regional and community level'. … [Read more...]