Voice of the Listener & Viewer Working for Quality and DiversityBulletin in Broadcasting Winter 2005/06 Issue 84 VLV offers opportunities to debate the future of The BBC Charter & Digital Switch-over The Government White Paper on BBC Charter Review has now been postponed until late February. The Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport, Tessa Jowell MP in London... has re-iterated that it is likely to follow policy outlined in the 2005 Green Paper, Tuesday, 21 March, 6.30pm – 8pm but some powerful interests are still pressing for radical change in both the BBC’s public service remit and its future funding. James Purnell MP, the Minister for the Creative VLV is therefore organising a number of high profile events in England, Wales and Industries and Tourism, will Scotland in order to provide opportunities for listeners, viewers and licence payers speak at a .VLV Westminster Evening Seminar on the to hear and question some of the key players on these important issues. Three one- Government White Paper on day conferences in London, Cardiff and Edinburgh will also provide opportunities to BBC Charter Review, Palace of learn more about the process and implications of digital switch-over, which is due Westminster, London SW1. to start in Border region in two years time. All these events are open to the public. Thursday, 23 March, 6.30pm – 8pm Sir Christopher Bland, in Edinburgh... in Cardiff... Chair of BT and former Chair, BBC Governors, will be the Thursday, 23 February, 3pm – 7.45pm Thursday, 16 March, 10am – 4.30pm speaker at a VLV Westminster Broadcasting in Scotland: Broadcasting in Wales: Evening Seminar on the Government White Paper on Technology, Culture & Enterprise Radio, Television and Public Service BBC Charter Review, at One VLV’s annual conference in Scotland to be held in in the Digital Age Whitehall Place, London SW1. association with The Royal Society of Arts and In association with Cardiff School of Journalism, Napier University. Media & Cultural Studies, University of Wales Wednesday, 26 April, 10.30am – 5pm At the Scottish Parliament In the Glamorgan Building, Cathays Park Campus, After the BBC Charter: (Committee Room 1) Edinburgh. Cardiff University. what future for pluralism in public service broadcasting? SPEAKERS INCLUDE: SPEAKERS INCLUDE: VLV ‘s 23rd Spring Conference Ford Ennals, CEO, Digital UK Aled Glynne Davies, BBC Radio Cymru at The Royal Society, Carlton Caroline Thomson, BBC Director of Strategy Julie Barton, Editor BBC Radio Wales House Terrace, London SW1. and Charter Review Andy Carter, Managing Director, Real Radio 11.00am: morning speaker: Professor Neil Blain, Paisley University Andrew Jones, Station Manager, GTFM Peter Fincham (above left), Professor Vincent Porter, Ministerial Consumer Huw Roberts, Head of Public Policy, Controller, BBC 1 Expert Group on Digital Switch-over & VLV BBC Wales Board Member 2.30pm: afternoon speaker: Professor Elan Closs Stephens, Chairman, S4C Andy Duncan, Chief Hugh Mackay, Open University Jocelyn Hay, Chair, VLV Executive, Channel 4. Jocelyn Hay, Chair, VLV Roger Lewis, Managing Director, ITV Wales 1.45pm: the presentation of Representatives from the main political Rhodri Wales, Director, Ofcom Wales. the VLV 2005 Awards for parties (invited). Excellence in Broadcasting will take place immediately after lunch during Full details of the programmes and of how to obtain tickets for these and other planned VLV events the Conference. are available from the VLV office: 01474 352835 or on VLV’s website: www.vlv.org.uk. Inside Stop Press VLV 3rd AGM Editorial Comment VLV Visits Wednesday, 24 May, 6.30pm –8pm VLV Spring Lecture Programme Student Essay Competition Book Reviews Mark Thompson, BBC Director General will speak VLV’s Children’s Conference Guest Contributor Letters at a VLV Evening Seminar on BBC Charter Review. Venue to be confirmed. VLV’s Autumn Conference Responses and Papers Competition ISSN 1475-2948 3rd AGM of VLV Ltd Nearly fifty members attended VLV’s 3rd AGM held at Hamilton House London WC1 after the autumn conference on 30 November 2005. Voice of the Listener & Viewer Working for Quality and Diversity in British Broadcasting When introducing the annual report, the This huge amount of activity was entirely Chairman referred to the decision taken at the dependent on the voluntary support and expertise VLV Patrons previous AGM to change VLV’s financial year- given to VLV by its supporters. All of VLV’s policy Lord Barnet PC JP end from 31 March to 31 August. Her report work is done by volunteers, she said. VLV simply Archbishop Lord Eames of Armagh and the accounts therefore covered the 17 could not run without them. She thanked everyone Sir Francis Graham-Smith FRS involved, including members of the Board and Lord Inglewood MEP months from 1 April 2005 to 31 August 2006. VLV’s Gravesend staff, Linda Forbes and Sue Sir Charles Mackerras, KT, CBE This period included the launch of VLV’s 21st Dame Mary Peters DBE Anniversary Appeal by Lord Puttnam of Washbrook. They had been joined for 18 months Lord Phillips of Sudbury OBE Queensgate in July 2004 and a celebratory by Eddie Tulasiewicz, VLV’s first (part-time) Lord Puttnam of Queensgate CBE lunch at the House of Lords in November kindly Education and Development Officer, who was Lady Solti hosted by Lord Thomson of Monifieth, with funded by the Voice of The Listener Trust. Lord Thomson of Monifieth KT PC guest speaker Lord (Melvyn) Bragg. By the time Eddie left In September to take a full time post Sir John Tusa the Appeal closed in July 2005, she said more as Communications Officer at the Archdiocese of Westminster. Since then, she was delighted to Directors than £30,000 had been raised for VLV and the Trust. She was particularly pleased that the work report, the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation had kindly Jocelyn Hay CBE (Hon Chairman) of VLV had been recognised in its anniversary offered to fund a full-time Director for the next Colin Graeme Thompson FCA, FIRM (Hon Treas.) two to three years. The Board and she were Bob Fletcher year by the award of a CBE to her in the extremely grateful to the Trustees of EFF and the Robert Beveridge Birthday Honours and she was extremely confidence they placed in VLV and its future. John Clark grateful for the support and generosity of so The report and accounts for the 17 month Professor Bob Franklin, PhD many people during those 21 years. Terry Glover The period had been the most active in VLV’s period, presented by the Hon Treasurer, Colin Professor Máire Messenger Davies, PhD, FRSA, history. VLV had responded to Government Thompson, were adopted unanimously. Warren Newman consultations on the future of the BBC, European Bob Fletcher, Company and Honorary Secretary Professor Vincent Porter Commission on revisions to the Directive on Trans- of VLV Ltd resigned in October 2005 but remains a Dr Andrew Taussig frontier Television, and Ofcom on a range of its member of the Board. The Board thanked him and had since appointed Messrs Waterlow Registrars Company Secretary operations and codes of practice. VLV had run an extensive conference and seminar programme as Company Secretary. There were no nominations Waterlow Registrars Ltd including two international conferences, one each for the post of Honorary Secretary. The Voice of the Listener Trust in Wales and Scotland, another on Children’s The two longest-serving members of the Board, (reg charity 296207) Television and several seminars including two at John Clark and Vincent Porter, stood down under VLV’s sister charity the Palace of Westminster with the Culture Company rules but, being eligible, were re-elected which supports VLV’s educational work Secretary and leading Party Spokesmen. In nem con. There were no other nominations. Interim Chairman: Elizabeth Smith OBE association with CSV Media and others, VLV had At the end of the formal business a wide Interim Secretary: Jocelyn Hay CBE also organised seminars on the BBC and digital ranging discussion on current issues took place. Treasurer: Professor Naomi Sargant switch-over in Birmingham, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Copies of the annual report and accounts Michael Barton London, Manchester, Norwich and Oxford with and an audio-cassette of the proceedings are Professor Sylvia Harvey financial help from the Andrew Wainwright Social free to members in return for a large SAE with Dr Andrew Taussig Reform Trust. 47p in stamps. VLV office hours: 9.00am - 5.00pm Mon-Thurs New CAMPAIGNING IN BROADCASTING Voice of the Listener & Viewer Ltd (VLV) Member Director represents the citizen and consumer £40,000 interests in broadcasting and works for of VLV quality and diversity in British broadcasting. A small, highly influential, campaigning body VLV is free from political, sectarian and representing the citizen and consumer in Board broadcasting seeks a Director to work with the commercial affiliations. VLV is concerned Terry Glover, who Board in developing its role and services. with the issues, structures, institutions has been a member and regulation that underpin the British Responsibilities include external relations, of VLV for nearly ten years, was co-opted membership liaison and development, fund raising, broadcasting system and in particular on to the VLV Board in October 2005. conference organising and budgetary control. to maintain the principles of public He is a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of An excellent opportunity for a talented media service in broadcasting. Personnel and Development and has an MSc professional with proven leadership, financial, VLV does not handle complaints. in Organisational Psychology. managerial and fund-raising skills to join a After holding a number of senior personnel growing organisation at a time of unprecedented Design & Production roles in financial services companies he set up industry change. High Profile Ltd, Tel: 01474 533077 his own consultancy in 2003 where he Offices in Gravesend, Kent with regular Published by Voice of the Listener & Viewer Ltd, specialises in executive selection and opportunities to work from home and A private company limited by guarantee development and in working with organisations some business travel.