Young People To Be Asked Views On BBC - Jowell
002/04
Children and young people throughout the UK are to be asked their views on the BBC as part of a major review of its future, Media Secretary Tessa Jowell announced today.
She spelt out how the public consultation on the BBC, launched as part of Charter Review last month, will be extended to include the views of under 18s.
The centrepiece is a young person-friendly version of the core consultation document, which has been drawn up in co-operation with the Uwhat? Campaign of the Children's Rights Alliance for England. It sets out the key points of the Charter Review consultation in accessible, easy-to-understand language.
It sets out a variation on the key questions which shape the Charter Review consultation, such as:
- What do you like or dislike about the BBC?
- If you live in Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland, do you like the way the BBC tells you about where you live?
- Do you have any advice on how the BBC can make the best use of new technology?
- Should the BBC continue to sell things (like DVDs, magazines, toys)?
- How do we make sure the BBC listens to the views of young people?
Children and young people will be invited to give their views by e-mail, post or telephone.
The document, aimed at eight to 17-year-olds, is available on the Charter Review website. It will be publicised in the DfES publication, Spectrum, which is distributed to schools, to encourage teachers to use it to get children and young people to contribute to the review.
In addition, the DCMS will be publicising the document to around 150 organisations that have an interest in increasing the participation of young people in decision-making.
Young people will also be encouraged to attend town hall meetings in the regions, where the public will get the chance to put their views directly to Ministers.
Tessa Jowell said:
"Children's programming has changed beyond recognition since the days of Muffin the Mule and Listen with Mother. And its audience has changed with it.
"Broadcasters are more eager than ever to attract young viewers. This is reflected in the wealth of channels and services aimed at them.
"The BBC has been at the vanguard of extending choice, with dedicated channels such as CBBC, Cbeebies and BBC3, not to mention that now old stalwart Radio One and also BBCi.
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"This proliferation of channels empowers children and young people as consumers as never before. They have greater influence than ever before.
"The Charter Review consultation is a perfect opportunity for them to make that influence count, by letting us know what they want from the BBC."
Speaking at the Oxford Media Convention 2004, at Oxford University, Tessa Jowell highlighted progress of the public consultation so far.
A total of 450 responses have been received, the dedicated website has received nearly 7,000 visitors, 2,000 copies of the main consultation document, Review of the BBC's Royal Charter, have been distributed and 400,000 leaflets are being sent out to libraries across the country.
Tessa Jowell highlighted the important social and cultural role the BBC and other public services broadcasters play in British life. She said:
"This Charter Review needs to look in the broadest sense at what the BBC should be expected to deliver for the public and for the nation as a whole: not just in terms of what we see and hear on our screens and through our radios, but also in terms of the wider social and democratic function it fulfils.
"And, of course, we also need to consider the way in which the BBC accounts to its "shareholders" for what it does and takes account of their views and interests."
Tessa Jowell also gave details of the pending reviews into the BBC's new digital channels – BBC 3, BBC4, Cbeebies, CBBC, 1Xtra, BBC6, BBC7, BBC Asian Network and Five Live Sports Extra.
She said there would be two reviews – one for TV channels and one covering radio. The names of the lead reviewers are expected to be announced in the spring and to start the process off, the BBC has been asked to provide its own assessment of the channels.
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Tessa Jowell also underlined the BBC's role in switchover to digital TV. She highlighted progress so far - latest indications are that 50% of households now have access to digital TV - but she stressed that there is still a challenge in persuading people that digital TV is right for them.
She also stressed that, as broadband, the internet, text and instant messaging will be as important a means of communication as digital TV and radio in the future, it was essential to ensure that people were included in the digital revolution.
Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt announced last month that the Government planned to appoint a Digital Inclusion Panel to advise the Government on this issue.
Tessa Jowell announced that work has now begun between industry and the Government to take this forward.
An industry working group has been formed to work with officials from Cabinet Office, DTI, DfES and DCMS to produce a report, advised by the industry and voluntary sector panel.
The working group will compile a report of who might be digitally excluded and how plans should be drawn up for these people to access digital networks.
The names of the advisory panel will be published shortly as the remaining members are appointed.
Tessa Jowell said:
"We need better to understand how people will access digital networks in the future, what technology they will use and what they will be doing with it.
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"We need to bring the work Patricia Hewitt has announced on digital inclusion alongside the work of the digital switchover team on bringing digital TV to everyone.
"The two will inform each other and show the path to a digitally United Kingdom, connecting every citizen to a two way digital network so that everyone can send as well as receive."
Patricia Hewitt said:
"The Digital Inclusion Panel will play a key role in helping us ensure that every home in the UK should have a connection to online services through a digital network by 2008 – whether through a personal computer, DTV, mobile phone or other device. I look forward to receiving the report later this year."
Notes to editors
1. The BBC's current charter, expires at the end of 2006.
2. The document Review of the BBC's Royal Charter, the young person-friendly version and further information on the BBC and Charter Review can be accessed at http://www.bbccharterreview.org.uk/
3. Contributors to the Charter Review consultation should send their views to:
E-mail: bbccharterreview@culture.gsi.gov.uk
Post: BBC Charter Review Consultation
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
2-4 Cockspur Street
London
SW1Y 5DH
Telephone: 0207 211 6418
All responses should be sent by 31 March 2004.
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4. The BBC's Royal Charter is a formal document granted under the Royal prerogative, establishing the BBC and defining its general objectives and functions. It is supported by the Agreement between the BBC and the Government, which sets out how the BBC will meet its general obligations, the services it will provide, and the standards, it will meet. The current charter and agreement can be accessed at http://www.bbc.co.uk/info/policies/charter//
5. The first Charter Review was in 1927. Since then reviews have been carried out about every 10 years. The current Royal Charter is the seventh in the history of the BBC.
6. The BBC provides the following publicly funded services:
- TV channels – BBC1 and BBC2, BBC 3 and BBC4, CBeebies, CBBC, BBC News 24 and BBC Parliament.
- Radio services – Radio1, Radio2, Radio 3, Radio 4, Radio Five Live, Five Live Sports Xtra, Radio 1Xtra, BBC6 Music, BBC7 and BBC Asian Network, as well as 38 local radio stations and a further six stations covering the nations.
- BBCi – the BBC's interactive services, including online services, interactive text and interactive digital television.
- Services in the nations and regions – BBC Scotland, BBC Northern Ireland, BBC Wales and BBC English Regions.
7. In addition, the BBC runs a number of commercial services, including BBC Worldwide Ltd and BBC Ventures Ltd.
8. Further details of the Charter Review public consultation can be found on DCMS press release 139/03, available on the Charter Review website.
9. Further details on the digital television project can be found at http://www.digitaltelevision.gov.uk/
10. For further information / enquiries about the Digital Inclusion Panel work please contact Cabinet Office Press Office on 020 7276 0393
Press Enquiries: 020 7211 6052/6277
Out of hours telephone pager no: 07699 751153
Public Enquiries: 020 7211 6200
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