Professor Steve Barnett, Professor of Communications, and Professor Jean Seaton, Professor of Media History who wrote a volume of the Official History of the BBC, are part of a small group that have launched a major campaign to protect Public Service Broadcasting (PSB).
The campaign, entitled ‘British Broadcasting Challenge: For Us. By Us. About Us.’, aims to begin an open debate about the contribution of PSB to the UK and how it can be improved. It was prompted by concern that various initiatives were being considered by government behind closed doors, as part of a PSB panel established by the Secretary of State Oliver Dowden.
As part of its launch, the campaign wrote an open letter to Dowden for which it secured signatures from over 120 high profile names across the arts, media and politics sectors including Hilary Mantel, Steve Coogan, David Harewood, Kwame Kwei-Armah, Michael Sheen and Meera Shyan and Richard Lambert.
To mark the launch of the campaign, the British Broadcasting Challenge group hosted a launch event on Thursday 20 May which featured contributions including those from Armando Iannucci and Frank Cottrell-Boyce. The group also have further plans for events throughout the year.
Talking about the campaign, Professor Seaton said: “The British Broadcasting Challenge’s open letter has been signed by experts from every part of the UK economic, cultural, scientific and political life - from our ex-UN Representative and the Astronomer Royal, Hilary Mantel and Kwame Kwei-Armah at the Young Vic, to Lenny Henry, Steve Coogan and Welsh and Scottish iconic cultural and political heavyweights. It is, in itself, a demonstration of the shared anxiety for the future of our impartial and creative broadcasting system. The University of Westminster has had a long tradition of analysis but also policy intervention and making a difference. Professor Barnett and I are proud to be another moment in that tradition.”
Professor Barnett added: “Our public service tradition has played a fundamental role in promoting Britain’s international pre-eminence in the creative industries, from original drama and comedy to Britpop and stunning nature programmes. Its democratic roots are vital in countering the dangers of fake news and information filter bubbles. We are delighted to be part of an evidence-led initiative designed to foster a PSB framework that is relevant to the digital era and that will promote British identity and exceptionalism in a post Brexit world.”
Learn more about the campaign, it’s open letter and supportive arguments around PSB on the British Broadcasting Challenge website.
Related articles
