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...]
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...]
NUJ General Secretary: media freedom hangs on a very thin thread
"Whether the power's being wielded by the state or a multi-national corporation, media freedom can hang on a very thin thread indeed," said Michelle Stanistreet, General Secretary of the NUJ, at our Rally for Media Reform, calling for a market share cap to be set at 25% and a public interest test to be introduced whenever any market share reaches 15%. Watch her speech in … [Read more...]
Our Media, Not Theirs: report from the Media Reform rally, 17 June
This post is reproduced, with kind permission, from the website of the National Union of Journalists. It does not represent our views, but does offer a fair summary of the rally that night. As the explosive events in Turkey played out on news networks and Twitter around the world, and protesters were being attacked in Taksim Square by the police, the Turkish national news … [Read more...]
Free workshops on making community-owned media work
This is a guest post by Dave Boyle, a experienced community organiser who is trying to revitalise local media from the bottom up. He believes that community ownership of local media groups can make them both profitable and accountable. We think his project is greatly welcome in these pessimistic times and we want to give it a platform. Media Reform has talked about the … [Read more...]
Our media – not theirs! Rally for media reform, June 17th
7pm, University of Westminster, 309 Regent Street, London W1 (closest tube Oxford Circus) The last year has given us an unprecedented understanding of the power of the owners and editors of the British press. The Leveson Inquiry showed that a handful of people have the power to destroy lives, make deals with Prime Ministers, collude with corrupt police - and to label anyone … [Read more...]
The NUJ and Internaware’s advice on unpaid internships
By Carolina Are Representatives from the National Union of Journalists and Internaware took part in an advice panel on unpaid internships on Friday at City University. Donnacha Delong, Immediate Past President of the NUJ, and Gus Baker, from Internaware, advised City’s students on what they can ask for and expect from during an internship. With an eye on the media’s … [Read more...]