Life after Leveson: The challenge to strengthen Britain's diverse and vibrant media
Article
The 2011 crisis in the print media calls for a new system of press regulation, but this must be seen in light of the digital convergence which is uniting text, audio and video content onto the same platforms. Continuing to treat media as existing in discrete markets with regard to competition and content regulation risks inhibiting adaptation and growth in the sector.
The report recommends:
- a new, platform-neutral approach to media regulation
- a new, independent regulator for the press - the News Publishing Authority - with statutory back-up from Ofcom
- an end to the quasi-judicial role for the secretary of state over media mergers
- enhanced external oversight for the BBC, balanced with greater security over the licence fee.
It argues that this new approach would deliver more consistent standards across all media, with more freedom for media companies to innovate and develop new business models.
Simply applying tougher regulation to the printed media will further undermine its economic position. The report says the polarised debate around statutory or non-statutory regulation is out of date and that a new approach is needed for all media - print, broadcast and online - with independent regulation as standard and a single statutory backstop for all. The four independent authorities would focus on:
- licensed news content (broadcasters)
- unlicensed news publishing
- non-news content
- advertising
Related items
Dr Parth Patel on BBC Politics Live - July 2024
IPPR's Dr Parth Patel on BBC Politics Live discussing the new Labour government, Covid, migration and international affairsA ‘mandate’ to deliver: Who voted Labour and what do they want?
This year’s general election saw the Labour party achieve a historic landslide, winning 218 new seats and a comfortable majority in the House of Commons.Half of us: Turnout patterns at the 2024 general election
One-half of adults in this country voted at the 2024 general election, the lowest share of the population to vote since universal suffrage.