CPBF/NUJ/BECTU Conference: ‘The future of the BBC and public service broadcasting'

events | On Saturday 5 March a major conference will take place in central London on ‘The Future of the BBC and Public Service Broadcasting'. The conference, organised by the Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom with the support of the NUJ and BECTU, will discuss the government's Green Paper on BBC Charter Renewal and the OFCOM Review of public service television broadcasting. Participants will map out campaigning strategies to defend public service broadcasting in the run-up to the general election and beyond.
Saturday 5 March 2005 / 10am-4.30pm, Conference Suite, Headland House, National Union of Journalists 308-312 Gray ’s Inn Road, London WC1 (King ’s Cross Underground/Thameslink Station)

Speakers include:
Andrew MacIntosh, Broadcast Minister; Robin Foster, OFCOM; Georgina Born, author of Uncertain Vision; Jean Seaton, Westminster University; Michael Darlow, director and author of Independents Struggle; Jeremy Dear, general secretary, NUJ; Tony Lennon, president, BECTU; Jim Pines, media arts specialistand broadcaster; Peter Murray, BBC Scotland/NUJ; Dorothy Byrne, head of news and current affairs, Channel 4; Nicholas Jones, author and former BBC political correspondent,CPBF.

Organised by the Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom (CPBF), sponsored by the National Union of Journalists and BECTU

Why we must defend public service broadcasting

The future of public service broadcasting in Britain—quality TV and radio programmes that inform, investigate, entertain and educate—hangs in the balance. New broadcasting regulator OFCOM is set to open the door to greater commercialisation of the media. Diversity, quality, local and regional programmes and distinctive programmes for Scotland and Wales could soon be things of the past. Meanwhile the BBC, standard-bearer worldwide for public service broadcasting, faces the biggest shake-up in its history and a full-scale review by the government as its Charter comes up for renewal.

At this major conference, organised by the Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom and sponsored by the National Union of Journalists and BECTU, trade unionists working in broadcasting, media reform campaigners and media academics will discuss cuts at the BBC and the government ’s Green Paper on BBC Charter Renewal, analyse the OFCOM final report on public service broadcasting and look at the likely impact on commercial and independent production.

The conference will map out campaigning strategies to defend the BBC and public service broadcasting in the run-up to the General Election and beyond.

Conference Programme
9.30 Registration
Tea and coffee

10 Welcome
Granville Williams, CPBF

10.10 Session 1/ Defending the BBC
What will be the consequences of the biggest shake-up in the history of the BBC? What are the
implications for the future of public service broadcasting?
Nicholas Jones, former BBC political correspondent/CPBF
Tony Lennon, president, BECTU
Georgina Born, author of Uncertain Vision
Peter Murray, BBC Scotland/NUJ
Chair: Tim Gopsill

11.30 Tea and coffee

11.45 Session 2 / Government Green Paper on BBC Charter Renewal
The government position, response and discussion.
Andrew McIntosh, Broadcast Minister

Tom O ’Malley, CPBF
Jean Seaton, Westminster University
Chair: Nicholas Jones

1pm Lunch

2 Session 3 / OFCOM ’s impact on public service broadcasting
Presentation of the OFCOM review of public service broadcasting followed by panel response. What will the new regime of regulation mean for independent and commercial production? What are the prospects for cultural diversity of output? What will happen to broadcasting in Scotland and Wales and to regional programmes?
Robin Foster, Partner - Strategy and Market Developments, OFCOM

Jonathan Hardy, CPBF national secretary
Michael Darlow, independent director
Jim Pines, Luton University
Dorothy Byrne, Channel 4
Chair: Pat Holland

3.15 Tea and coffee

3.30 Session 4 / Building for the future
Mapping out strategic campaigning tasks in relation to the Green Paper and OFCOM. Raising the defence of public service broadcasting as a general election issue. Launch of new CPBF Media Manifesto.
Jeremy Dear, general secretary, NUJ
Granville Williams, CPBF
Chair: Jim Corrigall

4.30 Close
(Programme subject to change)

Register now for only £10 including lunch; concessions £7 including lunch

Please print out the form, complete the details and send with your payment to:
CPBF, 23 Orford Road, Walthamstow, London E17 9NL.

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I wish to register for the conference: The future of the BBC and public service broadcasting.

I enclose a cheque for £        made payable to ‘CPBF ’.
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Registration will also be accepted at the conference but lunch can be guaranteed only for those who register in advance.

DATELINE: 25 January, 2010

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