COMMONS

Media Plurality

24 November 2011

The Culture, Media and Sport Committee is launching a new inquiry into media plurality.

Issues

The Committee is inviting written submissions and requesting views on the following issues:

  • what degree of plurality is desirable for UK media
  • how media plurality should be defined, measured and monitored and by whom
  • whether and how the impact of the BBC should be taken into account when assessing media plurality
  • whether current regulations adequately reflect the cross-media landscape including online platforms
  • what could trigger a review of media plurality, and who should conduct that
  • what impact current media ownership rules have had on local and regional media organisations
  • whether there are sufficient safeguards to the editorial independence of news and current affairs coverage
  • the extent to which requirements for accuracy and impartiality in broadcast news serves to protect or inhibit plurality
  • which principal factors are driving market dominance and the concentration of ownership in print, broadcast and online media

How to submit evidence

A copy of the submission should be sent by e-mail to

and have 'Media plurality' in the subject line.

Submissions should be received by Thursday 19th January 2012.

Further Information

Select Committee Inquiries

Select Committees carry out inquiries on areas ranging from the work of government departments to economic affairs. The results of these inquiries are public and many require a response from the government.

Related information

Stages of an inquiry

Most, but not all, Select Committee inquiries are conducted as follows:

  • Written evidence called for
  • Oral evidence sessions held
  • Report published
  • Response published

Not all inquiries result in a Report