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Could I make the simple point that this issue concerns those of us who don't reside in the UK but are equally concerned about the BBC's future under this review. This is because we directly access the BBC's services ourselves and because it is a model of public broadcasting to systems which, like my own, have largely abandoned this form of broadcasting. In other words, could I urge colleagues with networks beyond the UK to alert them to the seriousness of this review and ask them to lend their support to this initiative. John Farnsworth University of Otago New Zealand Sent from my android device. -----Original Message----- From: Natalie Fenton <[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask] Sent: Thu, 10 Sep 2015 22:51 Subject: PLEASE SIGN letter to Govmt on BBC Consultation Dear all, The letter that was published in The Independent regarding the terms of the consultation relating to the Green Paper on the BBC Charter Review has now reached 193 signatories from academics in the field. This letter is reprinted below. The Charter Review signals the most serious challenge to the purposes and funding of the BBC in a generation. Whatever your views on the future funding, scope and purpose of the BBC, as teachers and researchers in the field we encourage you to make sure your concerns are heard. The Consultation ends on 8th October 2015. We will be submitting this letter, addressed to John Whittingdale, along with the MeCCSA response to the consultation. If you have not yet signed the letter please consider doing so NOW by following the link below. The more signatures we have the better. PLEASE SIGN THE LETTER here: http://www.meccsa.org.uk/responses/bbc-charter-review/ Letter to John Whittingdale: As teachers and researchers in media and journalism, we are surprised and concerned that the terms of the consultation based on the government’s Green Paper on BBC Charter Review are so skewed; they are so preoccupied with an assumed negative impact of the BBC on the commercial media market that they ignore the considerable evidence of the BBC's enormous contribution to the UK's creative industries and to society more generally. The consultation therefore fails to consider the BBC's remit to serve all audiences, irrespective of background or geography, or to acknowledge the host of evidence about the public use, importance, and impact of the services of the BBC. We fully understand the complexities involved in assessing the performance of the BBC, and are well aware that it has much work to do in representing diverse perspectives and populations. However, the Green Paper seems determined to repeat (without any empirical justification) those criticisms of the BBC that regularly surface in the Murdoch-owned press and similar newspapers. It also seems to bury any notion that UK citizens might be best served by a content provider that produces both popular and minority programmes and which broadcasts them across a range of platforms. It is clear that the Green Paper's real intent is not to secure a future for a well-funded, genuinely independent and innovative public service provider, but to shrink the BBC in the interests of its commercial competitors. We urge the government to ensure that the Review embraces the widest possible range of independent evidence, and not to put at unnecessary risk an institution that remains internationally regarded as a major British achievement. __________________________________ We also encourage you to write to your MP with your concerns – it is quick and easy. Details are on the above website. You may also be interested in attending the following event jointly organised by the BBC Trust, the University of Westminster and the MeCCSA Policy Group: Tomorrow’s BBC: Who Governs? Date: Thursday, 1st October 2015 Time: 5.30pm – 8.30pm (followed by a drinks reception) Location: Fyvie Hall, University of Westminster, 309 Regent Street, W1B 2HW This seminar will look at how the BBC of the future should be governed and regulated. Attendees will hear from a range of experts from inside and outside of the BBC and will be given the opportunity to ask questions of our panellists and to express their views from the floor. Chaired by Steve Hewlett, the event will include contributions by Rona Fairhead (Chair, BBC Trust), James Purnell (Director Strategy and Digital BBC), Steve Barnett (University of Westminster), Richard Tait (Cardiff University), Tim Suter (Perspective Associates) and Sophie Chalk (Voice of the Listener & Viewer). To book your place, follow the link on the MeCCSA Policy network website: http://www.meccsa.org.uk/networks/policy-network/ Places at this event will be given to those who register on a first come, first served basis. Very best for the new term Natalie Fenton Chair, MeCCSA -------------------------------------------------------- MeCCSA mailing list -------------------------------------------------------- To manage your subscription or unsubscribe from the MECCSA list, please visit: https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?SUBED1=MECCSA&A=1 ------------------------------------------------------- MeCCSA is the subject association for the field of media, communication and cultural studies in UK Higher Education. This mailing list is a free service and is not restricted to members. It is an unmoderated list and content reflect the views of those who post to the list and not of MeCCSA as an organisation. MeCCSA recommends that the list be used only for posting of information (for example about events, publications, conferences, lectures) of interest to members or to promote discussion of current issues of wide general interest in the field. Posts to the MeCCSA mailing list are public, indexed by Google, and can be accessed from the JISCMail website (http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/meccsa.html). Any messages posted to the list are subject to the JISCMail acceptable use policy, which states that users should avoid engaging in unreasonable behaviour, or disrupting the general flow of discussion on a list. For further information, please visit: http://www.meccsa.org.uk/ -------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------- MeCCSA mailing list -------------------------------------------------------- To manage your subscription or unsubscribe from the MECCSA list, please visit: https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?SUBED1=MECCSA&A=1 ------------------------------------------------------- MeCCSA is the subject association for the field of media, communication and cultural studies in UK Higher Education. This mailing list is a free service and is not restricted to members. It is an unmoderated list and content reflect the views of those who post to the list and not of MeCCSA as an organisation. MeCCSA recommends that the list be used only for posting of information (for example about events, publications, conferences, lectures) of interest to members or to promote discussion of current issues of wide general interest in the field. Posts to the MeCCSA mailing list are public, indexed by Google, and can be accessed from the JISCMail website (http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/meccsa.html). Any messages posted to the list are subject to the JISCMail acceptable use policy, which states that users should avoid engaging in unreasonable behaviour, or disrupting the general flow of discussion on a list. For further information, please visit: http://www.meccsa.org.uk/ --------------------------------------------------------