Ofcom Is No Threat To Press Freedom, Insists Jowell
The Department of Media, Culture and Sport has moved to dismiss speculation that the Government is planning to bring in restrictions on the content of newspapers, claiming that “the free press will remain free.”
Culture Secretary, Tessa Jowell described as ‘highly misleading’ reports in a number of newspapers which suggested that changes in media ownership rules proposed in the new communications bill threatened to introduce censorship through the back door.
“There are no plans to extend content regulations to newspapers,” Jowell told delegates at the Westminster Media Forum. “Whatever our irritations with papers from time to time, we know it’s their job to be the grit in the oyster.” She insisted that the Government was actually committed to deregulating the newspaper industry and said that the new super-regulator Ofcom would only have an advisory role with regard to newspaper mergers and takeovers.
A number of observers, including the shadow culture secretary, John Whittingdale, had queried the wording of a clause in the bill which stated that Ofcom would assess the effect of a merger on “accurate presentation of news and free expression of opinion” (see Tories Warn Ofcom May Jeopardise Press Freedom).
Jowell also sought to clarify Ofcom’s role with regard to the BBC, claiming that while it will have greater powers of self-regulation than commercial broadcasters, it would receive the same treatment if it stepped out of line. There have been accusations that the corporation is moving away from its public service duties and becoming too competitive.
The Conservative Pary has called for the BBC to be brought fully under the auspices of Ofcom (see Tories Urge Government To Bring BBC Under Ofcom) but this has been resisted by the DCMS which claims that it will be subject to exactly the same fines as other broadcasters for breaches of programming regulations (see BBC To Face Regulatory Fines Under Ofcom).
On the contentious subject of competition rules, the Culture Secretary said yesterday that “where the law bites it will be applied to the BBC just as vigorously as it is to commercial broadcasters.”
DCMS: 020 7211 6200 www.dcms.gov.uk
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