Media Policymaking and Power (Symposium)

Friday 23 September, 2005 - Goldsmiths, University of London

Session One transcript
Session Two transcript

Organised by the Unit for Journalism Research, Goldsmiths and the Economic and Social Research Council

Media policy is changing both in its direction and in its co-ordination. The 'shape' of the British media was traditionally decided on by a handful of government ministers and officials and reported largely in the business pages of the press. At a time of considerable change in the global media environment, new actors and new paradigms are emerging that have increased the profile of media policy-making and shifted the balance of power between corporate and public service interests in the policy-making process.

This symposium brings together informed participants in and commentators on British media policy-making to address key questions that have arisen out of recent developments like the 2003 Communications Act and BBC Charter Review. To what extent is the policy process dominated by industry lobbyists or government voices? How open and accountable is the policy-making process? What role can the public play in influencing decision-making? Is media policy-making increasingly centralized in Downing Street or dispersed as the number of 'stakeholders' grows? What are the principles and objectives that are guiding policy-makers today?

The symposium offers the opportunity for academics, regulators, industry members, students and the general public to debate and reflect on a process that shapes the structure and performance of the British media.

Participants included: Eric Barendt, Bill Bush, James Curran, Robin Foster, Des Freedman, Tim Gardam, David Levy, Michael Moran, Lord Puttnam, Don Redding, Jean Seaton, David Seymour, Nick Toon.