UK: Convergence think tank to examine media mergers

Posted by Jean Yves Chainon on January 14, 2008 at 1:35 PM

Editors are concerned after ministers commissioned a 'convergence think tank' study that could trigger regulatory changes for online news, without involving newspaper journalists.

The convergence think tank will examine challenges posed by the merging of broadcast and communication companies. However, only one of the four people composing the think tank has had experience working in the media (John Willis, who is a former director of programmes at Channel 4, managing director of LWT and director of factual and learning at the BBC)

"It seems strange when one of the most active online organisations in Britain is The Guardian, and other newspapers have made huge steps online in the past 18 months, that no one appears to have been recruited to give the newspapers’ view," said Bob Satchwell, executive director of the Society of Editors.

In the past, prime minister Gordon Brown reassured editors, by saying the industry could continue to regulate itself through the Press Complaints Commission. But the findings of the think tank could lead to legislative changes.

Source: Press Gazette