(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is a 19 June 2003 ARTICLE 19 press release: ARTICLE 19 today published a briefing on the UK Communications Bill, which will be discussed in the House of Lords on Monday, 23 June. ARTICLE 19 is concerned that the Communications Bill, as originally proposed, would relax the rules relating to […]
(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is a 19 June 2003 ARTICLE 19 press release:
ARTICLE 19 today published a briefing on the UK Communications Bill, which will be discussed in the House of Lords on Monday, 23 June.
ARTICLE 19 is concerned that the Communications Bill, as originally proposed, would relax the rules relating to media cross ownership, paving the way for further concentration of media ownership to the detriment of media diversity and the public’s right to receive information form a variety of sources. This would have a detrimental effect in the United Kingdom, where a strong regulatory approach has so far proved relatively effective in preserving diversity and quality in the media. It would also, however, coming on the heels of the recent relaxation of such rules in the United States, have global repercussions, sending a signal around the world that media concentrations are no longer viewed as a threat to diversity in the developed democracies.
This Briefing elaborates on the scope of the right to freedom of expression and argues that, under international human rights law, the United Kingdom is required to preserve and protect media pluralism. Such obligations are now, with the entering into force in October 2000 of the Human Rights Act 1998, part of domestic law in the United Kingdom.
Part of the Bill will be voted on on Monday. We urge Peers to continue to protect media pluralism by amending the Communications Bill to limit cross media ownership. In particular, we urge Peers to ensure that the law does not allow corporations with large holdings in the print media to gain control over the fifth terrestrial TV network.
The briefing can be found on the ARTICLE 19 website, at http://www.article19.org/docimages/1635.doc.
