Category: News

Be the Media, Know the Media, Change the Media.

Submission to the Ofcom BBC Performance Measurement Framework Consultation

Over the past few weeks, we at Better Media have been working on putting together a submission to the Ofcom consultation on proposed changes to the performance measurement framework (PMF) it uses to assess the BBC’s performance. The proposed new PMF updates the existing framework from 2017, but in our view it is lacking in several respects.

Submitting Evidence on the Draft Media Bill

Over the past few weeks, we at Better Media have been working on putting together a submission to the Culture, Media and Sport committee in response to their call for input to the government’s draft Media Bill. The Bill, drafted in March, is intended to update the Communications Act 2003 and provide new guidance for the development of public service broadcasting (PSB) in a time of major change throughout media. Our submission was completed and submitted on 11th May.

Climate Misinformation in the UK Media – a discussion

Last week, Better Media hosted a live online discussion on Climate Misinformation in the UK Media. Watch it back now.

The BBC and the new King: an exercise in propaganda

In 2017, a now famous Guardian Long Read by Sam Knight brought the “secret” plans for the death of the Queen, long-rehearsed by palace, government and media, to the attention of much of the public. Knight reported that maintaining these highly-detailed and pre-approved plans “is a practice that makes some journalists uncomfortable.” A week into their execution, we can see why.

Introducing Our New Campaign Coordinator

Hello! My name is Rowan Gavin, and I am the new Campaign Coordinator here at Better Media. This post is both an introduction to me, and an overview of what you can expect from Better Media in the coming months.

Better Media is hiring!

Better Media is a campaigning co-op run by members. We are looking for a part time worker to lead the fight for media reform and media justice by helping people to be the media, know the media, and change the media. ROLE: Campaign Coordinator CONTRACT: Part-time freelance contract, 1 day a week for 12 months…
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Election 2019 – Future of the Media – what the parties say

CPBF stalwart Barry White has very usefully written up what all the 2019 election manifestos say about media: With less than three weeks to go before the general election on 12 December all the main parties, have published their election manifestos. Below are their proposals on the future of the media which I have taken…
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Try the twenty quid test

THINK BACK: if you were around at the turn of the century, how much do you reckon you were spending on media each week? On a couple of papers a day, magazines, or (heaven forbid) pay-TV? What d’you reckon? £20 a week in today’s values? Perhaps more? So what do you spend that £20 on…
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What do we mean by Better Media?

Ultimately, what Better Media becomes will depend on what our contributors collaboratively do and decide together. We want a more diverse, democratic and accountable media, but how can we get there? As a starter for five here are the headings of the main proposals in this Media Reform Manifesto (.pdf), the output of a broad…
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Why do we need Better Media?

There is a severe lack of diversity, democracy and accountability in UK media, which is dominated by a handful of corporations. As co-founder of the Media Reform Coalition Des Freedman has explained, the UK media landscape is: “characterised by the domination of attention, audiences and agendas by a relatively small number of very powerful companies…
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