Could universities host local news?
Good question from BJTC secretary Jim Latham at the Westminster Media Forum on October 14 (from jourbalism.co.uk):
http://blogs.journalism.co.uk/editors/2009/10/15/wmf-could-unversities-provide-facilities-for-new-local-news-networks/
Could journalism schools at UK universities offer equipment, facilities and trainee reporters in the form of students to local media groups and proposed independently funded news consortia (IFNC)?
What’s an IFNC?
That’s another good question. They are meant to be the “long-term replacement to ITV regional news”. They were proposed by Ofcom in September 2008, and are explained in slightly more detail in this Ofcom statement.
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/media/speeches/2009/apr/consortia
Who’s in charge?
There are three suggestions about who would award the contracts:
the BBC Trust (Gawd ‘elp us…)
Ofcom’s Content Board (odd role for a regulator?)
a new body (another quango … excellent)
separate regional or national bodies (no idea. See above)
Who pays?
Where is the ‘independent’ funding (the consortia could cost about £100m) to come from? The statement sets out a few options.
From the taxpayer? “A very, very difficult case to make”, says Ofcom. Nicely put…
From an industry levy? “Nor is an industry levy likely to be an attractive proposition in the middle of a recession.” Spot on again.
The licence fee switchover surplus? The strongest candidate, though lots of people have their eyes on this pot of gold. (Of course, this also came from the taxpayers, who might just like it back…)
All these seem to stretching the meaning of the word, ‘independent’ to breaking point.
And no-one seems to have considered that the consortia could be paid for by investors willing to fund news outlets that will provide content people want at a price they’re prepared to pay; and that the state and its hangers-on should stop trying to find people to chuck our money at.
I mean, there is a recession on.
Good question from BJTC secretary Jim Latham at the Westminster Media Forum on October 14 (reported by journalism.co.uk):
Could journalism schools at UK universities offer equipment, facilities and trainee reporters in the form of students to local media groups and proposed independently funded news consortia (IFNC)?
What are IFNC?
That’s another good question. They are meant to be the “long-term replacement to ITV regional news”. They were proposed by Ofcom in September 2008, and are discussed in slightly more detail in this Ofcom statement.
Who’s in charge?
There are three suggestions about who would award the contracts to set up and run these consortia:
- the BBC Trust (Gawd ‘elp us…)
- Ofcom’s Content Board (odd role for a regulator?)
- a new body (another quango … excellent)
- separate regional or national bodies (no idea. See above.)
Who pays?
Where is the ‘independent’ funding (the consortia could cost about £100m) to come from? The statement sets out a few options.
- From the taxpayer? “A very, very difficult case to make”, says Ofcom. Nicely put…
- From an industry levy? “Nor is an industry levy likely to be an attractive proposition in the middle of a recession.” Spot on again.
- The licence fee switchover surplus? The strongest candidate, though lots of people have their eyes on this pot of gold. (Of course, this also came from the taxpayers, who might just like it back…)
All these seem to stretching the meaning of the phrase, independently funded, to breaking point.
And no-one seems to have considered this option:
- the consortia could be paid for by investors willing to fund news outlets that will provide content people want at a price they’re prepared to pay.
Business, after all, is business.
The answer to the question has to be: “Why not?” When five BBC departments move to MediaCity at Salford Quays in 2011, they will be joined by a second anchor tenant on that site – a University of Salford Higher Education Centre.
In the same region, MEN Media / GMG Regional’s Channel M has expressed interest in leading an IFNC. But replacing the current ITV regional news output obviously presents serious financial challenges. Who pays? Good question. So why wouldn’t any provider want to explore what local universities have to offer? Quite apart from the benefits of further breaking down barriers between local communities and universities.