June 30th 2006
By: Russ
Folks, for Duncan's recent letter to Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell, click here. Duncan claims that Channel 4's most important food-related programming was Jamie's School Dinners.
I thought it was the Big Brother / Kit Kat promotion...
June 29th 2006
By: Roger Darlington
If today's Westminster Media Forum seminar on the Television Without Frontiers Directive is any guide, being a DCMS official with newly-appointed Minister for Creative Industries Shaun Woodward must be an exciting experience. Having a Minister who knows the subject (he worked for the BBC for 10 years) and his mind ...
June 28th 2006
By: Russ
EC Commissioner for Information Society and Media, Viviane Reding, yesterday spoke on the future of telecoms and radio spectrum regulation. For the MS Word version of her remarks, click here. It's an ambitious agenda she sets out. Among other things she calls for:
* The creation of ...
June 26th 2006
By: Roger Darlington
Ofcom remains in an intellectual confusion when it comes to its policy on consumer information. As I made clear in this posting, I am one of those who believes that the market is failing to provide consumers with the information they need to be informed and empowered and that Ofcom ...
June 21st 2006
By: Don Redding
The threat of a judicial review of Ofcom's consultation on the TV advertising of junk food has receded after what the campaigners see as a major concession. The National Heart Forum says Ofcom has today agreed to send a further consultation document to all interested parties, with the recently revised ...
June 20th 2006
By: Don Redding
According to today's Guardian, ITV is closing its in-house production unit, and a 'senior source' says it is looking to withdraw from children's programming altogether -- using the threatened 'junk food ad ban' as an excuse, and believing it can 'roll Ofcom over' on reducing its public service obligations in ...
June 17th 2006
By: Russ
With respect to the National Heart Forum (NHF) complaint below, two questions are raised:
1. Was it wrong for Ofcom to not include a pre-9pm total ban on junk food (HFSS) adverts in its consultation options? Probably. Ofcom could have easily made this option one of the options ...
June 16th 2006
By: Don Redding
The National Heart Forum coalition says it won't be scared off by Ofcom: here is the text of its news release.
Friday 16 June 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OFCOM ATTEMPTS TO SCARE OFF HEALTH AND CHILDREN'S CHARITIES FROM TAKING LEGAL ACTION
The broadcast regulator Ofcom has resorted to heavy-handed tactics to try and dissuade ...
June 15th 2006
By: Don Redding
Further to Russ's update, new voices are adding to the criticism of Ofcom, weightiest being the Food Standards Agency which discussed the consultation on advertising of junk foods at its Board yesterday, and rather innovatively has webcast the discussion: http://www.food.gov.uk/news/newsarchive/2006/jun/bristol
The FSA is likely to adopt today a draft position ...
June 14th 2006
By: Russ
Folks, if you want a really interesting blend of populism, science, politics and media policy -- look no further than Ofcom's junk food advert consultation. It's great! It's really one of the first occasions in which we've seen Ofcom thrown somewhat off its game with respect to a consultation.
Here's where ...
