Media joins forces to oppose Government's Media Council bill
Published by Admin on May 28th, 2010
BERMUDA’s mainstream media outlets are proposing that Government scrap its Media Council idea and instead allow them to implement their own.
The ruling Progressive Labour Party Government, under the leadership of Premier Dr. Ewart Brown, is expected to introduce legislation creating a Media Council with Government-appointed people sitting in most of the seats.
A joint statement by representatives of the Bermuda Broadcasting Company, The Royal Gazette, Defontes, the Bermuda Sun and Inter-Island Communications, promises that a self-regulating Media Council will be in place by mid September.
“We also made a commitment to jointly sign and adopt a Code of Practice by June 8, 2010,” the statement revealed.
“Our move comes in response to government’s tabling, earlier this month, of the Media Council Bill.
“The Bill calls for substantial government representation on the council, which raises concerns about the prospect of political interference in the dissemination of news.
“We plan to set up our own council and our proposal to the Cabinet Office today states that details about its aims, scope, membership structure and complaints procedure will be provided to government by June 8.”
Bermuda Sun editor Tony McWilliam coordinated the effort with the assistance of Emmy-award winning journalist Glenn Jones (Bermuda.com) and veteran journalist Meredith Ebbin.
They will work closely with all of the co-signatories of today’s proposal, namely Thaao Dill, Chris Lodge, Rick Richardson and Bill Zuill. The online-only news websites will also be approached for their input.
The ruling Progressive Labour Party Government, under the leadership of Premier Dr. Ewart Brown, is expected to introduce legislation creating a Media Council with Government-appointed people sitting in most of the seats.
A joint statement by representatives of the Bermuda Broadcasting Company, The Royal Gazette, Defontes, the Bermuda Sun and Inter-Island Communications, promises that a self-regulating Media Council will be in place by mid September.
“We also made a commitment to jointly sign and adopt a Code of Practice by June 8, 2010,” the statement revealed.
“Our move comes in response to government’s tabling, earlier this month, of the Media Council Bill.
“The Bill calls for substantial government representation on the council, which raises concerns about the prospect of political interference in the dissemination of news.
“We plan to set up our own council and our proposal to the Cabinet Office today states that details about its aims, scope, membership structure and complaints procedure will be provided to government by June 8.”
Bermuda Sun editor Tony McWilliam coordinated the effort with the assistance of Emmy-award winning journalist Glenn Jones (Bermuda.com) and veteran journalist Meredith Ebbin.
They will work closely with all of the co-signatories of today’s proposal, namely Thaao Dill, Chris Lodge, Rick Richardson and Bill Zuill. The online-only news websites will also be approached for their input.
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