Efforts to avoid fragmentation in the provision and consumption of news probably have ancient origins. I’m sure 5000 years ago, some nomads were huddled around a tree and the priestly-learned one amongst them was blathering-on about the neighboring tribe of goat herders and their plans for an invasion. Inevitably, someone (a proto-blogger) stands up says the priest has it wrong — he knows that the neighboring goat herders are a peaceful bunch.

And of course, the priest has him killed on the spot because he wasn’t a trusted source…

Anyway, 5000 years later Ofcom has decided to examine the news and how it is related to the changing nature of television. The link to Ofcom’s research is here. Here is a part of what Ofcom have to say:

Plurality and competition in UK news

Broadcasters themselves recognise the importance of news within their overall output. Several highlight the value it adds to their channels’ brands; and, with personal video recorders increasingly used to watch programmes on a time-shifted basis, news provides a valuable ‘live’ element to schedules.

The report concludes that it is likely to remain in the interests of the commercial public service broadcasters (ITV, Channel 4 and Five) to maintain high quality UK and international news services in competition with the BBC. At the same time, broadcasters accept that commercial challenges might impede the delivery of some in-depth and investigative forms of news programmes.

News for the UK nations and regions

People value news stories affecting their area. The BBC’s average audience share of 28 per cent makes its bulletins for the nations/regions the most watched news programmes on television, for example.

The Government’s Charter and Agreement on the future of the BBC safeguards the provision of nations and regions programming on its channels. However, new competition in digital broadcasting has created real challenges for ITV in relation to its own regulatory requirement to provide an alternative to the BBC.

After digital switchover in 2012 there will be fewer benefits for ITV in maintaining PSB commitments in areas such as programming for the UK nations and regions. Ofcom’s economic analysis suggests that in the absence of effective requirements after 2014, ITV would have a strong incentive to replace nations and regions content with network programming.

New technologies such as broadband and other initiatives - for example, the release of spectrum previously used for analogue broadcasting - may allow the provision of more localised news programmes produced by other parties. It is likely, however, that to safeguard the long-term future of news in the nations and regions, some new kind of public funding intervention may be required.

Disengagement, trust and impartiality

Research shows a lack of involvement with TV news among the young and some ethnic minorities, and this trend is growing. More young and ethnic minority viewers perceive bias and exaggeration in news reports than do other groups in the population. This raises the broader issue of trust and impartiality in news programming.

• 16 to 24 year olds now watch less than 40 hours of television news a year, compared with around 90 hours a year for the wider population;
• Qualitative research elicited strong views on the UK media among minorities. Some black viewers, for example, fear the media links them negatively to crime while some Muslims feel that the media links them to extremism.