ID :
207104
Wed, 09/14/2011 - 14:18
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/207104
The shortlink copeid
Media bosses warn about govt regulation
SYDNEY (AAP) - 14 Sept - Major news groups have warned against government regulation of print and online media, as Labor launched the first big inquiry into the sector in two decades and flagged the possibility of a single body to deal with complaints.
Communications Minister Stephen Conroy on Wednesday announced the independent inquiry, which was sparked by government and Greens MP concerns about the blurring of news and opinion in Australian political coverage, and privacy issues raised by the News of the World phone hacking scandal in the UK.
But the minister said the aim of the inquiry - which won't have the power to compel witnesses - was not to provide a forum for politicians to attack the media.
"The government is not interested in attacking any one media organisation or in seeking to reduce the necessary scrutiny of the political process that is at the heart of a functioning democratic media," he said.
John Hartigan, the chairman and chief executive of News Limited, which controls 70 per cent of Australia's print media and whose newspapers have been accused of bias by some MPs - including Senator Conroy, said the way the inquiry had been set up was "regrettable".
"This inquiry started life as a witch-hunt by the Greens and has morphed into a fairly narrow look at a mixed bag of issues ostensibly focused on print journalism," he said in a statement.
"Any substantive inquiry into the media should cover all media and all media equally, particularly if it intends to investigate the need for a new overarching regulatory system."
Currently, the electronic media is regulated by a statutory body, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) and the print media is covered by an independent industry-funded body, the Australian Press Council (APC).
Senator Conroy said the APC was widely seen as a "toothless tiger" in a world of 24-hour news cycles and converging media platforms.
"I don't think any editor and any of you quake in your boots about a complaint to the Press Council," Senator Conroy told reporters in Canberra.
He said the idea of a single regulator - overseeing complaints about all media from print to television and the internet - was "a legitimate question in the converged world".
APC chairman Professor Julian Disney, who took over the role 18 months ago, said the council's funding was "hopelessly inadequate" and he welcomed bolstering its role.
But he said the rate of upholding complaints had risen from 45 to 70 per cent in the past year and the council was having great success in introducing standards, such as the recent advice on media reporting on suicide.
Prof Disney said he had no problem with a single body regulating news and comment across all media platforms but it should be independent of the government and media.
Greens leader Bob Brown said while he did not think media firms should be forced to divest their interests, he hoped the inquiry would find other ways to improve the number of voices in the Australian media and flagged his support for a single regulator.
"Surely that seems to be one good option that inquiry might assess," he said.
Fairfax Media and Australian Associated Press (AAP) cautiously welcomed the inquiry and pledged their participation but warned against government regulation of the press.
"Fairfax Media will be an active participant in the inquiry, championing the importance of independent journalism the likes of which are best able to flourish in a less regulated environment," CEO Greg Hywood said in a statement.
AAP CEO Bruce Davidson said it was vital the print media remained independent and free from any regulation that would impede its role in a democratic society.
"I trust that this inquiry would rightly reject such a notion, and AAP certainly will be pressing that point in any submission to the inquiry," he said.
Opposition communications spokesman and former journalist Malcolm Turnbull dismissed the inquiry, to be headed by former Federal Court judge Ray Finkelstein and assisted by journalism academic Dr Matthew Ricketson.
"This is just a political stunt by a government that is bitter about being criticised by the media, in particular by News Limited," Mr Turnbull said.
The inquiry will also look at the effectiveness of media codes of practice and the impact of technological change on the media business model.
But Mr Turnbull said its four terms of reference could easily be covered by the government's ongoing convergence review.
Australians should be suspicious of more regulation placed on the media, he said.
The inquiry will report to the government by February 28, 2012.
Communications Minister Stephen Conroy on Wednesday announced the independent inquiry, which was sparked by government and Greens MP concerns about the blurring of news and opinion in Australian political coverage, and privacy issues raised by the News of the World phone hacking scandal in the UK.
But the minister said the aim of the inquiry - which won't have the power to compel witnesses - was not to provide a forum for politicians to attack the media.
"The government is not interested in attacking any one media organisation or in seeking to reduce the necessary scrutiny of the political process that is at the heart of a functioning democratic media," he said.
John Hartigan, the chairman and chief executive of News Limited, which controls 70 per cent of Australia's print media and whose newspapers have been accused of bias by some MPs - including Senator Conroy, said the way the inquiry had been set up was "regrettable".
"This inquiry started life as a witch-hunt by the Greens and has morphed into a fairly narrow look at a mixed bag of issues ostensibly focused on print journalism," he said in a statement.
"Any substantive inquiry into the media should cover all media and all media equally, particularly if it intends to investigate the need for a new overarching regulatory system."
Currently, the electronic media is regulated by a statutory body, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) and the print media is covered by an independent industry-funded body, the Australian Press Council (APC).
Senator Conroy said the APC was widely seen as a "toothless tiger" in a world of 24-hour news cycles and converging media platforms.
"I don't think any editor and any of you quake in your boots about a complaint to the Press Council," Senator Conroy told reporters in Canberra.
He said the idea of a single regulator - overseeing complaints about all media from print to television and the internet - was "a legitimate question in the converged world".
APC chairman Professor Julian Disney, who took over the role 18 months ago, said the council's funding was "hopelessly inadequate" and he welcomed bolstering its role.
But he said the rate of upholding complaints had risen from 45 to 70 per cent in the past year and the council was having great success in introducing standards, such as the recent advice on media reporting on suicide.
Prof Disney said he had no problem with a single body regulating news and comment across all media platforms but it should be independent of the government and media.
Greens leader Bob Brown said while he did not think media firms should be forced to divest their interests, he hoped the inquiry would find other ways to improve the number of voices in the Australian media and flagged his support for a single regulator.
"Surely that seems to be one good option that inquiry might assess," he said.
Fairfax Media and Australian Associated Press (AAP) cautiously welcomed the inquiry and pledged their participation but warned against government regulation of the press.
"Fairfax Media will be an active participant in the inquiry, championing the importance of independent journalism the likes of which are best able to flourish in a less regulated environment," CEO Greg Hywood said in a statement.
AAP CEO Bruce Davidson said it was vital the print media remained independent and free from any regulation that would impede its role in a democratic society.
"I trust that this inquiry would rightly reject such a notion, and AAP certainly will be pressing that point in any submission to the inquiry," he said.
Opposition communications spokesman and former journalist Malcolm Turnbull dismissed the inquiry, to be headed by former Federal Court judge Ray Finkelstein and assisted by journalism academic Dr Matthew Ricketson.
"This is just a political stunt by a government that is bitter about being criticised by the media, in particular by News Limited," Mr Turnbull said.
The inquiry will also look at the effectiveness of media codes of practice and the impact of technological change on the media business model.
But Mr Turnbull said its four terms of reference could easily be covered by the government's ongoing convergence review.
Australians should be suspicious of more regulation placed on the media, he said.
The inquiry will report to the government by February 28, 2012.
