JOWELL AND HEWITT PUBLISH MEDIA OWNERSHIP RULES

PROPOSALS to reform media ownership rules were published by Culture Secretary, Tessa Jowell, and Trade and Industry Secretary, Patricia Hewitt.
The proposals, published in a document Consultation on Media Ownership Rules, are intended to maintain diversity, plurality and competition in the media market.
Jowell said: "The existing media ownership rules are outdated, inconsistent and not flexible enough to respond to the rapid change we have seen in media markets. In devising new rules, we must strike a balance between economic growth and our nation's democratic health. We need both if we are to preserve the unique culture of dissent, debate and public service that is our media. Given the possibilities of new technologies and new services that offer greater choice for consumers, there may be less need for ownership rules in the future. But, while most people engage with the media in its traditional forms, legislation must also reflect the present situation.”
Hewitt said: As with any other industry, it is important that the regulatory regime for the media industry should promote competition, and not impose unnecessary regulations. But the media remains unique because of its role informing public opinion. Competition between opinions and viewpoints is as important as economic competition and we need to create a framework in which both will flourish. New rules must provide a framework that the industry and consumers can rely on, while being flexible enough to respond to the challenges of technological and market development."
The key aims of reform are to: retain a diversity of content from a plurality of sources; promote competition; be deregulatory where possible; be flexible in allowing legislation to adapt to changing market conditions; and provide as much predictability as possible for business.
The consultation paper builds on the framework for reform of media ownership rules set out in the White Paper, A New Future for Communications, published in December 2000. The consultation will last two months - the deadline for responses is January 25 - and will inform the draft Bill on Communications, due for publication next year. (CD)