Jowell Announces Communications Consultation

A consultation asking for views on how to regulate the media industry will be published next month, it was announced yesterday by Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell, but in a speech in Belfast, while supporting the idea of building a competitive market, she hinted that support for a reduction in the plurality of ownership could be limited.

The consultation paper will cover the principles behind the need for reform of the rules and give some suggestions for change. Two months will be allowed for comment on the paper, which will be published jointly by the DCMS and DTI. The results will inform the content of the Communications Bill, due for publication next year.

In a speech to the Society of Editors in Belfast, Jowell underlined the importance of retaining public interest while maintaining competitiveness in the media industry. “The legislation we introduce will have to stand the test of time in a rapidly changing market.” she said

“But it is as important to preserve the responsibility of the media and its independence as it is to build a competitive market” she continued, “So Government would be rightly concerned about the dangers if too much of the media was in too few hands.”

Last week the chairman of the ITC issued a plea to the Government to allow it to rule on the creation of a single ITV ahead of the Communications Bill publication, saying that the health of the commercial TV sector could be jeopardised by waiting (see ITC Chief Calls For Interim Legislation). The plea was quickly rebuffed by the DCMS (see DCMS Dismisses Emergency Legislation Plea) and in her speech yesterday Jowell did not seem well disposed to reduced pluralism in the industry, despite the fact that a single ITV is seen by many as an inevitable destination:

“A single source [of media provision], however well intentioned, could never provide the wide range of strands of news and opinion that result from competition between different corporate and individual perspectives, and allow the citizen to develop their own view.” she said.

DCMS: 020 7211 6200 www.culture.gov.uk

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