The government needs to distance itself from reported plans to privatise Channel 4 and ‘retract on the BBC’We are writing this open letter in advance of BBC charter and agreement to account for what we feel the principles should be governing government policy towards the future of the BBC. We write as two former chairmen of the House of Lords select committee on communications who were involved in the debate on the current royal charter and the agreement which went with it.
First,we believe that the BBC remains, despite any shortcomings, or the cornerstone of broadcasting in the United Kingdom. BBC News (on television,radio and online) is rightly valued for its accuracy and impartiality. In spite of the views of some politicians, the British public regard the BBC as the most trustworthy of news sources. abroad, and the World Service is seen as the most objective international radio broadcaster – rather than as an agency for propaganda. We believe that the starting point of policy is that the government underline its belief in the BBC and distance itself from suggestions that its intention is to “retract on the BBC”,as was widely reported immediately after the 2015 election.
Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com