The UK’s media landscape is at a crossroads. In June, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport published its Green Paper, Watch this space: a new strategic direction for UK media, launching a major consultation on the future of television, news and public service media in a rapidly changing digital environment.
These issues are explored in depth in Prof Cathy Johnson’s recent interview on Roger Bolton’s Beeb Watch podcast: she discusses what the Government’s proposals mean for public service broadcasters, the implications of the ITV-Sky deal, and why questions of prominence, discoverability and amplification have become central to contemporary media policy.
The Sandford St Martin Trust’s response to the Green Paper argues that UK media must continue to support content that serves the public interest, even where it does not deliver the largest audiences or commercial returns. For the Trust, this has particular implications for programmes exploring religion and belief; in an increasingly diverse and polarised society, we argue religious literacy is not a niche concern but an important contribution to democratic citizenship.
As the Government considers the future of public service media, it is vital that changes in technology do not come at the expense of diverse and trusted broadcast content. If public service content is to fulfil its purpose, it must be visible and accessible to audiences wherever they choose to watch.
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