| Press Release 17 August 2001
VLV Views on the renewal of the ITV
News Contract
In a letter to the Daily Telegraph, published
on 4th August 2001, VLV Chairman Jocelyn Hay said:
" It is vitally important to the health of
British democracy that the ITV companies consider more than simply the
cost of the bid when awarding the next ITV news contract.
New technology has allowed all the broadcasters,
but especially the news broadcasters, to effect huge economies in their
working methods. But there is a still limit beyond which economies
will result in a poorer service. At present viewers in
Britain are well served with three successful and respected competing news
providers. Each provides a different editorial team and stance which
adds to plurality of view and informs public debate.
None of the news providers is perfect but
if the number is reduced or the quality of that competition is weakened
there could be further dangerous repercussions. The BBC needs
a strong competitor to keep it on its toes. But also, if, as
a result of having a weak, under-funded competitor the Corporation becomes
even more dominant in the provision of news, it will become much more vulnerable
to political (and commercial ) pressure to curb its editorial independence.
In either case the result will be a poorer service for viewers and a corresponding
threat to the democratic process."
For full details of VLV contact:
Voice Of The Listener & Viewer
101 King's Drive, Gravesend
Kent
DA12 5BQ
Telephone: 01474 352835.
Fax: 01474 351112.
E-mail: vlv@btinternet.com
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