Strength and unity in industrial recovery was the key theme discussed at this year’s annual reception hosted by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Media on Tuesday 26th October. The first in-person event since the start of the pandemic, the evening welcomed parliamentarians and media industry leaders to come together to discuss the challenges faced and, most importantly, the future of the sector.
Group Chair Andy Carter MP began the evening with an address touching on how the country has relied on the media sector throughout the pandemic:
“With quickly changing local, national and international restrictions, reliable journalism has needed to cut above misinformation and rumours. And from television to radio, there’s no doubt that the country needed the media sector to get through each day and have a means of feeling connected,” said Andy Carter MP.
The reception then heard from three speakers: Damian Collins MP, Chair of the Joint Committee on Online Harms, Group Director for Broadcasting and Online Content at Ofcom and David Dinsmore, COO of News UK.
“It was hugely valuable to meet Parliamentarians and many of our industry stakeholders to discuss some of the big issues of the day,” commented Kevin Bakhurst. “It was also a chance to set out Ofcom’s thinking as we prepare to take on regulating online safety – alongside our work in supporting media plurality; trusted news and a successful UK creative economy that delivers for audiences.”
Damian Collins MP added: “It was brilliant to see so many familiar faces back in Parliament after so long. The British media industry played a crucial role during the pandemic, delivering trusted, verified news to us all in the darkest of times. As we look ahead, Parliament is rightly putting an emphasis on how we can protect and empower the industry, through the Online Safety Bill, competition regulation, and media reforms, especially to ensure a fairer relationship with Big Tech.”
David Dinsmore commented: "The UK has a plural and diverse media, and we must protect that choice for consumers and at the same time, ensure a sustainable future for responsible journalism in a digital world.
"The APPG presented an opportunity for reflection on the last eighteen months, highlighting both the role that responsible media has played in delivering trusted information during a major public health crisis, and the accelerated change in consumer behaviour to digital consumption.
"News brands are now more widely read than ever before, but media owners are at a critical juncture as challenges lie ahead for distributing and monetising content online. As publishers, we take responsibility for all of our content, and as we look ahead to upcoming legislation, we must ensure that accountability is recognised and not engulfed in further regulation."
In his closing remarks, Andy Carter extended a special thanks to the Group’s sponsors: Bauer Media, Camelot, Global, NewsNow, News UK, Pact and ScreenSkills, for their dedication to driving forward the debate in media policy for the consistent improvement of the industry.